Unheard of Fletching problem

[Tall Paul]

I absolutely agree it's a tuning issue.  Having two feathers hit the shelf will (probably) cause me to go to a higher nock point.  I've shoot a 1/2" nock point for 10 years.

One of these feathers is dragging the outside of  my rug rest and causing wear.

These are 23/64 85-90 and they're all within tolerance according to my dial indicator.

Part of the problem here is that I shoot a 31.5" arrow and 85-90 spine.

[Tall Paul]

The arrowsmith says he uses Bitzenburger jigs.

[JC]

I have never been able to tell any difference with flight no matter how many feathers are hitting the shelf, as long as the arrow was spined properly. I shoot 4/90 fletch and can rotate my arrows in any fashion with no visible difference whatsover. Could do the same with 3 fletch too.

Now, if the feather is dragging the shelf, that's a different problem. Is there a sharp leading edge on that feather? If so, that seems pretty easy to fix with a drop of glue and or gentle application of sandpaper. If not, usually it's not a feather wearing the rest, but an overspined arrow that's the cause.

So the spines are exactly the same between the old and the new? Nock tension is the same on both? Same heads, feathers size etc.? Exactly the same save for fletching alignment? If so you truly do have an unheard of problem...send the bow to me and I'll dispose of it for you  

[snag]

I would call and talk with him about it.

[Tall Paul]

I've talked to him about it, faxed diagrams, and sent e-mails.  I'm just on here because I had never seen an arrow fletched that way, and wondered if anyone else had.

Apparently that's just the way he fletches arrows. I spoke with him a few minutes ago, and he uses MAXIMUM

JC, the only variable is the fletching.  All other factors are the same.

Thanks, everybody for trying to help.  I appreciate it.

[Tall Paul]

Oop!  I posted before I finished!

Anyway, he puts the MAXIMUM helical that his Bitz jig will allow.  Thats why the rear of the feather is aligned with the index, but the front of the feather is much lower.

I think I'm just used to seeing much less helical!

Does that make sense?

[cvarcher]

Im curious but when you say the arrow rest is showing wear is it right in the last part of the rest the beginning part or the whole length of the rest? I use bitzenburger and fletch LW full helical with the maximum twist I can get too. That puts the quills base centered on the shaft for and aft.If you cut down the amoutn of helical it will end (or start off center ) My 2 hen feathers ride the riser so only one hen is hitting the shelf but it is a feather and so theres give .The cock rides out left of the riser (right hand shooter). Im thinking if your arrow rest is getting hit in the beginning of the rest (toward the string) it could be your nocking point is too low and so you twist the string up.You might want to check that brace hwight anyway,maybe it changed. If its the back part of the shelf then it may be too high.

[Widowbender]

Its probably the shaft that's causing the wear on the outer part of your rest. The fletching orientation you're describing is exactly how I shoot mine, although in my opinion fletching orientation doesn't make any difference.

David

[Tall Paul]

I e-mailed Kelly Peterson, and he says there's nothing wrong with using the maximum helical on the bitz.

The problem, he says, is that the index of the nock should be aligned with the MIDDLE of the cock feather, not the REAR of the cock feather.

That way you get cock feather 90 degrees to riser.

CV, I'll have to check later.

[James Wrenn]

You can twist the nocks or just refletch the arrows if you don't like the way they are done.My guess however is they are probably stiffer than you need is the reason you are having problems.If it was me I would just try a heavier point on a couple of them before I worried about it too much.Might fix the problem and give you a better shooting arrow than just moving the feathers around.jmo

[Tall Paul]

The arrowsmith maintained that it was too difficult to adjust his Bitz jigs to fletch them the way I wanted.

So he's shipping the shafts and feathers, and I'm going to buy a jig and learn how to fletch.

Is a Bitzenburger really that hard to adjust for cock feather out?  I always heard that was the best jig available.

[Jaberwok]

If you can drive a pushbike you can adjust a Bitz as well. If you order your Fletcher make sure you order the right Receiver as well. For Right-helical the Receiver should be marked with an 'R'.

To adjust you just have to open the two Hex-Screws on top of the Knobs so you can shift the position of the Magnet. Put the clamp on the Magnet and a shaft into the Fletcher for a dry-run first. Adjust the position to your liking and refasten the screws. It took me abt. 5 minutes back in 2002 and never had to readjust it so far.

PS.: IT IS THE BEST FLETCHER AVAIABLE!

[Orion]

The cock feather out is the standard setting on a Bitzenburger.  You have to mess with it to get it to do anything else.

[Big Dave]

It's possible that he forgot to rotate the nock holder before he started yours causing the cock feather to be out of alignment. My 2 cents