Straight clamp or helical clamp?

[ishoot4thrills]

Okay guys, I have just acquired a JoJan 2-arrow fletcher from a fellow tradganger. It came with a straight clamp. I have recently traded it for a left helical clamp and now I have a right helical clamp coming soon. A buddy of mine from work has given me some RW feathers, so I will use them ASAP after I have received my RW clamp. I haven't fletched arrows in years, and back then I used an Arizona EZ Fletch fletcher.

Now I read about people using straight clamps to get a certain degree of helical twist in their fletching setups by adjusting the clamp position.

   :confused:  

My question is, should I have kept my straight clamp and adjusted it to get a good amount of helical twist on my arrows or is the helical clamp more desirable when fletching arrows for trad bows? I also acquired some fletching tape and some white arrow wraps, neither of which I have ever used.

     

So, let's here from some of you all as to which one you prefer to use for fletching helical arrows: Straight clamps or helical clamps?

Thanks to all,
Doug

[sputterman]

helical  

[beaver#1]

i have always used straight and did fine.  if you want to try a straight they are not that expense.  when using that tape be sure to at least put a jrop of glue at the front and back of the feather.  keeps it from cacthing stuff and tearing off.  i use that tape alot and it is easy to remove if you ever want to change your fletching

[bdog]

Hey man , just use your straight clamp and off set your fletching,that will be enough for the right wing fletches,when its tuned right(arrow set up) don't worry about the helical,to much helical just slow down the arrow,but it sure will straighten out a poorly tuned arrow

[Joel Darnell]

Ditto the above,You can get a decent amount of spin with offset and to me it seems like less noise in flight. Plus you only use one clamp for LW and RW. Just my opinion

[Chuck Hoopes]

Another vote for HELICAL.  Straight can give a  a little more speed or distance, but can result in  big sacrifice in stability --particulary with Broad heads.  I love watching the flight of a large fletched Helical. Straight fletch arrow flights bore me, even if they are not Knuckleballing.

[Fletcher]

IMO, the helical clamp does a much better job of making an offset feather lay well on the shaft.  An offset straight clamp just moves the end of the feather (usually the front end) off the center of the shaft a bit.

With the helical clamp, adjust the jig so the feather lays perpendicular to the shaft along it's full length.  This will give you plenty of twist and a good strong gluing base on the shaft.

[Mo. Huntin]

Nothing looks cooler than a hard helical feather.  It is all I shoot and you should to because I said so.  Man I am full of it tonight.

[Dick in Seattle]

I used to shoot nothing but helical and liked it, but it did slow arrows down.  Now I shoot real light arrows... very skinny... and I find that the helical clamps are difficult to impossible to set for a good mount on the skinny shafts, plus, with the light weight bows, i don't feel I can afford to give up any speed to the helicals, so I've been using straight and it seems to work fine.

[ishoot4thrills]

Thanks for the great info, guys. I'll put it to good use very soon.

Any special advice on using the arrow wraps and the fletching tape?

Doug

[Frank V]

I like fletching tape, I've been using it for about 4 years now. Be sure to have your feather in the position you want it when you touch it to the shaft & don't forget to put the drop of cement on the front & back of the feather. Frank

[ishoot4thrills]

Thanks Frank and everyone else.

[yekrut]

I use a rw helical clamp and love it works every time and love how ,my arrows fly its great!! I just fletched some up the other day infact. LoL  --------------------------------------------There are many good moccasin tracks along the trail of a straight arrrow!

[DELTA]

HELICAL, better broadhead control.