Full Helical vs Offset

[Dozer]

I keep reading that you need to spin a two bladed BH with a helical but I've never had any luck getting my feathers to stick with my left helical bitz jig with out LOTS of glue. Anyone use a straight jig with an offset and still get good flight?

[swampbuck]

I switched from straight to helical but never had any trouble with st. offset.Also never had trouble with the feathers sticking could it be your glue ?? lots of folks use helical so I don't think thats the cause

good luck

[Matty]

I Have had the same problem Dozer Seems as if the Natural Spring in the feather overpowers the clamp and you get an Imperfect helical.  I just leave it my arrows work fine though.

[NY Yankee]

If you cant get feathers to seat, you are doing something wrong or don't have the jig adjusted correctly. you should only need enough glue to coat the base of the feather. I get a nice full helical from my Bitz jig. What arrows are you using?

[Bowtie]

Dozer, I fletch 5" and 5.5" feathers on 1916's and 2016's with a full LW helical using my Bitz jig. The feathers sit great on the arrow and don't come loose.  I wasted a few feathers to get the jig adjusted correctly, but it was worth it.  Good luck.

[woodchucker]

Ok, Maybe it's a stupid question,but are you using L/wing feathers with your L/Helical jig?????

That's the only reason I can see for your problem.....

[ductape]

Some really good folks at Snows Bow Shoot turned me on to fletch tape. It makes fletching with a Blitz jig a breeze, no more twisted fletches. Just my $.02

[Dave Bulla]

I know the Bitzenburger jig is the holy grail of fletching jigs to most trad guys, but for my money the BPE Profletch is the better jig.  That is, it's more adjustable and allows more fletching combinations.

That said, with the strong following that the Bitz has, ya can't say it's a bad jig and I'm not trying to.  It has to be something wrong with the way you have it set up.

[George D. Stout]

I've never had problem getting helicals to glue and stay.  You need to work on the jig/clamp alignment.

[Dozer]

Originally posted by woodchucker:
Ok, Maybe it's a stupid question,but are you using L/wing feathers with your L/Helical jig?????

That's the only reason I can see for your problem.....

I use nothing but left wing feathers. I just don't like using a lot of glue to get them to stay so I was wondering if anyone fletches  a strait jig with an offset setting to get there spin.

I haven't messed with that left helical jig in over a year so maybe I'll give it another try. I still prefer the straight fletch and if I can get good flight with it that left helical clamp is going in a drawer and never coming out.

[str8jct]

I shoot lw straight offset from a jojan, no probs yet.

[str8jct]

Dave, Is the BPE plastic?

[Dave Bulla]

Yes it is but don't let that turn you off.  They are very well built.

Kinda like a Glock pistol.  Remember when they first came out and people laughed at the "plastic" pistol?  I think they've proven their durability and so has the BPE.

[MnFn]

Just happen to have finished fletching my first arrow in about 20 years. I dug out my old Bitzenburger from storage. LW helical no problem. I can't believe how much easier it was with fletch tape, than the glue. But, I have not shot it yet either!

[novahunterpa]

Yes i have flected strait offset and they spin. I Just finished trying many different amounts of helical and fletching to see how they flew.  and they all spin its alittle dificult to see how much they spin as the arrows gets to the target so fast.  i found my arrows flew good with them all so i have decided to use a moderate helical. I like the fletching tape very easy to use once you get the hang of it, started using it last year and wish i started sooner it works gr8.

[EASTERNARCHER]

I don't have a helical clamp, so I have to use straight clamp with as much offset as I can safely get and still keep the feather seated on the shaft. Sometimes abit pickety, but it does work. and the arrows do spin as I've had to tighten my fieldpoints afterwards with the left wing offset. And I use fletchtape now instead of glue....much faster and a drop of glue front and back is added insurance against lifting..