Feather length??

[RedTx]

Well I have found myself with quite a few bare shafts, and need to get some feathers on them.

I dont have a fletching tool?  What do yall suggest?  I aint looking to break the bank either.

I also looking at fetahers and am wondering about the length.  I always assumed 5" were better, but was thinking about getting some 4" because the were cheaper.  I dont want to skip on performance because im cheap.  What length do you use?

Thanks in advance

[Curveman]

I imagine that 5" parabolics would stabilize the arrow more quickly off the shaft. I never scrimp on my hunting arrows and I like my practice arrows to be as close to my hunting arrows as possible. Probably doesn't matter THAT much though but the difference in price isn't that much, right?

[1/2primitive]

If you don't have a jig, fletching with store bought feathers will be difficult, what do you have in mind?
     Sean

[RedTx]

Im going to buy a fletching jig.  Im just looking for suggestions before I run out and buy one.  I like the arizona ez-fletch but dont like the price

As afar as the feathers Im just curious which one performs better?  I like shield cut, and was thinking 4" but if they stink I would like to know

[jimneye]

If I were just starting out I would go with A JOJAN mono fletcher and 5" parabolic cut.  Make sure your fletching clamp and feathers are the same helical (right or left).

[Danny J]

I would agree with jimneye. The JoJan mono works fine and is less than $40.00. I use the straight clamp and offset it right or left and prefer parobolic. Some say they are quieter but that is all I use so I dont have an opinion there. Cheap isn't ussually best and you will get what you pay for. Be careful so you dont end up buying it twice to save a few pennys. Arrow making is addicting and you will have great pride in the quality of what you accomplish.

[Golden Hawk]

The Jojan would be a good first jig. Personally I like to shoot 4-4" banana cut feathers. They really do a good jobe of stabilizing an arrow.

[Orion]

4-inch feathers will work fine for field points, and they'll stabilize a lot of broadheads as well, but most folks use 5-inch feathers for broadheads/hunting.  Keep in mind that the arrow is the most important component of accuracy.  Arrow components and building materials are not the place to scrimp.  Good luck.

[TXRED]

The Arizona EZ Fletch works reasonably well for plastic vanes,but not for feathers IMHO.I got one in a trade as my first fletcher & after enough agravation,traded up to a Bitz.For not a lot of money,the Jo-Jan would most likely be my next choice.I still have the EZ Fletch & if you want to try it out just shoot me a pm.It's left helical & will do 5/16" & bigger shafts.I have about equal results with 3-5" or 4-4" feathers,YMMV.

[Razorbak]

I say get a grayling or BPE..price aint bad at all and they work just as good as alot of them..only thing I dont like about the Joja is you cant seem to get a good seat on Axis shafts to fletch..thats why I dont use my multi fletcher anymore and stick with my Bpe pro class and I also use a martin J-8 jig with a bitz clamp and that works great..I have about 30 jigs of various makes but I use the J-8 and the BPE exclusively and barely ever use my Bitz jig

[Jimbob]

If you like archery, and plan on doing it for awhile , buy a Bitzenberg jig. It is well worth the cost, and they hold their resale value.

[V I Archer]

the bitz gets my vote

[TexMex]

the bitz gets my vote too and I use 5" shield cut.