Fletching Jig

Originally posted by Jon Stewart:
I have a half dozen of the 1960's Bitz jigs and use them all the time. I have one of those JoJan 6 arrow jigs and it is hanging from the floor joist in my basement.

Wanna sell it?

Bisch

[slowbowjoe]

Longbowcrowder,

You'll be glad you got a Bitz. Be aware it may take just a little tweaking to get it set up to your liking; from there, it'll last pretty much indefinitely.

By the way, if you haven't ordered one yet, I think there may be a used one still available from Huntryx on the arrows & arrow making page here. Totally solid seller, no worries.

[oops sorry]

I have a bitz and then a few years back bought a well used BPE from a tradgang member. I managed to produce some very strange results the first time or two with each. There was a learning curve but which one I use now depends only on the wing of the feathers at hand.

[stagetek]

I have a Bitzenburger I've used since the late sixties. Great jigs, and I doubt you'd be able to break one of those in half.

[LBR]

Bitzenburger for me.  I've used/owned lots of different ones, including the Arizona, BPE, Jo-Jan (single and multi).  Only one I kept is the Bitz.  With fletch tape or CYA glue, you can do a dozen fast, and they will all be the exact same (as long as there is no user error).

I like the fact that the Bitz is built pretty much bullet proof, and it uses a magnet to hold the clamp vs. gravity.  I like the consistency as well.

[meathead]

I use a Jo jan multi fletcher. Bitz's are a great fletcher as well. You won't go wrong with either.

[Captain*Kirk]

Bitz. My only regret is that it's R/H and all my pre-fletched arrows came lefty-fletched.

[Zradix]

Originally posted by Bisch:
I have 2 JoJan Multifletcher jigs. I bought them both used, and have $90 in both of them. I can fletch a dz arrows in just over an hour using glue.

Nothing better, IMHO!

Bisch

X2 ..but he has me beat..I only have 1 that I found for $40

[highlow]

The Bitz for me, but then again that's all I've ever used so can't comment, pro or con, on other types. It is slow but I'm in no hurry. I get a lot of enjoyment out of fletching my own so see no need to rush the job. Put a feather on and go about my other business and then come back and do another. It does a really nice job, too.

[FlintNSteel]

Years ago I worked in a pro-shop and we used Bitzenberger's...24 of them on a wheel...and I consider them the very best. Could fletch steady all day as by the time you got back to the first arrow of the two dozen, it was ready for another fletch.  Of course, after breathing fletch-lac and thinner and fletch-tite all day...maybe my memory isn't so good!!!     :eek:      :D  

Being the cheap son-of-a-gun that I am, my personal fletcher has been a multi-fletcher for over 40 years.  Does a good enough job for a LOT less money!  

I also had a Herter's fletcher that did all three fletch one arrow at a time and it was JUNK.  The springs didn't hold the clamp in and it would drift away from the shaft.

[Don Stokes]

FlintNSteel, my Bitz came off one of those wheels that was being retired. No telling how many arrows it has fletched.

[cedarshaft]

Originally posted by Sam McMichael:
I used my Bitz for the first time a few weeks ago. At first, I had a problem. In spots the quill was not fitting flush against the shaft, and wow, did I ever cuss that expensive fletcher. Then I started seating the feather not quite tight against the clamp. When pressed against the shaft the full length of the quill then made solid contact with the wood. Great results. Now I praise the Bitz.

[cedarshaft]

Had much the same problem until I read the instruction sheet and found that you need to keep the base away from the clamp. As you said, the pressure then seats the whole feather. Who needs to read instructions? I DO...

[Don Stokes]

I seat the fletch flush with the quill, then run my thumbnail down the quill to give it a little gap. Keeps glue off the clamp, too. Doing a set on my Jo Jan right now for a 22# "Catniss" bow I'm setting up.

[Babbling Bob]

Have had two Multifletchers (Jojans) for many years and they are great. Used them for very small Hamilton's Plastifletch for target arrows many moons ago when they first were manufactured and have a year old JoJan I use now for just ordinary everyday fletching.