Arrow Fletching

[Peach]

Looking to get a fletching jig to work on my own arrows.  I shoot a right handed bow and curious to know whether to get right or left helical clamp?  Right with right, left with left seems logical, but I don't know the advantages/disadvantages...Also, I've noticed jigs can also be right, left or straight, but don't understand the real difference...Any suggestions?  Thanks.

[McDave]

Right or left-handed bows can shoot right or left wing feathers equally well. If you decide to use left wing feathers, then you need to use either a left helical or a straight clamp in your fletching jig. If right wing, then use either a right helical or straight clamp.  A good, all around fletch would be a 5" RW or LW feather in a helical clamp of the same designation. If you shoot mainly targets, you might prefer 4" feathers, but 5" is good for both target points and broadheads.

A turkey has an equal number of RW and LW feathers, so it would be nice if shooters were divided 50/50 between them, but unfortunately it doesn't work out that way.

[petalumapete]

Right or left. it's all a matter of personal preference. just don't mix right and left wing on the same arrow.

[Doug_K]

What McDave and petalumapete said.

LW or RW doesn't matter, as long as you use the correct feather with the correct clamp, and keep all fletchings on an arrow from the same wing.

Traditional thinking was always that LW was better for right handers, but it doesn't matter.

[Bowwild]

Only time it matters beyond what the fellows wrote above is if you are using single bevel broadheads. Then you need to match the broadhead with the feathers -- L with L or R with R. It isn't a disaster if you don't because I hunted with a mismatch one entire year.

[Bladepeek]

One very minor thing I've noticed. If I'm shooting long enough distance for the arrow to get a good spin going, right wing will tend to tighten the head when it hits the target - left wing gradually loosens them. As I said, very minor.

[Zradix]

I agree with everything here..

Will add that left wing feathers are easier to find in all colors as are the clamps...just more commonly used.

[mike g]

Pick up a Jo Jan, Inexspensive and work well.

[Peach]

Thanks for all the great suggestions, very helpful!

[The Ole' Bowhunter]

Because I prefer to put a lot of helical on my fletchings, I prefer a Bitzenburger fletching jig because it has the ability to make a wider range of helical adjustment. These jigs are more expensive than most fletching jigs however.

[Paul_R]

Unless I'm missing something the helical is fixed by the clamp shape on a Bitzenberger. It's the offset that's adjustable. But I'll agree that the Bitz really has some helical and when combined with offset the fletching looks almost like a corkscrew! I apologize if I'm splitting hairs or mistaken but I'm still learning.

[The Ole' Bowhunter]

Paul you are correct...its the offset adjustment that I like as far asthe clamp goes, that's a fixed helical.