Fletcher

[Alexander Traditional]

I bought a Bitzenburger a few years back and love it. I had a BPE and it gave me a lot of good years also.

I had a pretty hard time getting the fletching to lay flat,and get it adjusted just right. I finally got it,and they are adjusted perfect it seems for 5/16 and 9/32. I'm having some good flight out of some 2117,but I didn't do a good job of cleaning the aluminum shafts back when I fletched these. I'm refletching some of these,and it's not surprising that they don't fit perfect. They are on there plenty good,but aren't all the way flat. I have put a bead of glue down where they don't lay flat and they are holding great.

I don't want to move the set up because I don't do many bigger shafts,and they are perfect. My question is how many of you have more than one fletcher,and leave them set up for different shafts? I wouldn't have three or four,but thought about another one for a total of two.

Just wanted to see if there was anyone else out there thinking the same thing? I know if I didn't have the money I would be making the one work for sure 

[trad_bowhunter1965]

We will get you help out on this I have fletched everting for aluminum, carbon and wood with the same Bizenburger jig. but I do have four of them. Now when you put the clamp down on the shaft does any part of the clamp touch the arrow that doesn't have the fletch in it? if it does you will just need to sand it down all my clamps are like this, .

[M60gunner]

When I use my Blitz for doing feathers I clamp up the feather, add glue, put in jig , then I use the back of dull knife to run down the quill of feather to insure its seated correctly on the shaft.

[Alexander Traditional]

Those are both good tips. I will check to see if that's the case Blake.

I just figured the thing had to be readjusted with the bigger shaft,and didn't want to mess with it since the other shafts are so good.

[dnovo]

I have 2 bitzenbergers and 1 Jojan multifletcher. I mostly just do wood arrows anymore but I’m set up for anything.

[BAK]

As M60 explained.   

[Captain*Kirk]

I have one Bitz. And that's enough for me.

[McDave]

I have a Bitz adjusted for my “regular” sized arrows, ranging from Goldtip Ultralight to 11/32” wood. I have a Martin J-6 adjusted for my skinny arrows, such as Victory VAP’s.  The Martin has slightly less helical than the Bitz, which accommodates the skinny arrows better.  I have a Jo Jan that has a straight fletching clamp that I use on all the grandkid sized arrows and for some students. They all have their advantages.  The Bitz is the classic fletcher first introduced in the 1920’s, I believe, with a strong magnet and pronounced helical.  The Martin was about 1/3 the price of the Bitz, slightly less helical, with more adjustment options than the Bitz.  The Jo Jan is the best engineered and simplest fletcher I have ever seen: it uses the force of gravity and the weight of the fletching clamp to perfectly position the clamp on the arrow every time, without needing any magnets or effort required on the user's part to press the clamp down onto the arrow.

Unfortunately, neither the Martin nor the Jo Jan are available anymore.  A pity.

It has been so long since I have adjusted a fletching jig that I had to struggle to remember how to do it when a friend bought one recently.

[M60gunner]

Each jig no matter who makes it has some sort of learning curve. I have a couple jojan multi fletchers besides two blitzes. What happens when you have a 50 year collection of “stuff”. Another long time issue with the Blitz, it has an issue accepting the Bohning nocks because of the indexer. Years ago it was Bjorn nocks. I removed the indexer and drilled out the hole with a 1/2” drill. Reason I recall this is this issue came up on another site, thought I would pass along

[Wudstix]

My Jo-Jan multi-fletch works good on Woodies and 22/23xx.  Have had difficulty with 400/340 arrows, but usually receive those fletched. 
 

[tradslinger]

I am down to one fletcher, just a cheapy and I too forgot what a problem it can be going from one kind of shaft to another. yeah, sometimes it would be nice to have another but on the other hand, I don't fletch as many as I used to.