Fletching tape feather curl

[T Folts]

Todd
Another trick I use is after you put your tape on take a butter knife and run it between the quill and the clamp this will give a little space there and when you seat the clamp onto the jig it will help get better contact onto the shaft, then I run my finger on the feather pressing down on each one after I take the clamp off the feather.
Terry

[xtrema312]

I got new AMG feathers with much better bases.  I read on one of the feather packages I have to clean carbons with a comet type cleaner then alcohol.   I did all that and took out some of the helical.  I would say it is a mild helical now.  Definite not what I am used to having.  They look great when fletched, but a couple hours later they are curled.  I have pressed them down all kinds of ways pushing hard on them in the clamp, right after the clamp comes off my running my nail down the feather base, and pressing hard down the feather pressing it down.  They look stuck good, but then they curl.  The tape is still on and kind of under the feather, but it is like it moves about half or a little more than the width of the base of the feather.  The tape is like gum stretching.  I can push it back to where it should be, but it just goes back.  The back also kind of turns up so instead of laying flat down on the shaft it is tipped up on the edge in the direction of the curl.  

Could I just have a bad role of tape?  I have gone through half a role and almost a pack of 50 feathers with out even one really good looking arrow.  I am thinking about getting another roll this week at The Kzoo expo, but I don't want to waist my money.

[Preacherman]

Wow- gotta be bad tape.  I have never had that kind of trouble.

[xtrema312]

I also had two fly off today shooting this AM in the cold.  One was a little loose for the first half inch on the back, but the other had no sign of being loose at all. I didn't shoot through anything.  It half hit the ground just under my 18-1 target.  It may have had a slight contact, but not much and it just flew off.  I was able to peal the tape off the shaft like, well tape.  Not at all like anything sticky.

[AkDan]

hmm...why not just glue them and ditch the tape all together?

You should be able to reuse the feathers, just rub the tape off.

[xtrema312]

Well I plan to get some glue today, but I would like to use the tape.  It is fast.  If I just have a bad roll then I would like to try a new roll.  Some of my feathers I think I can reuse, but some I can't.

[T Folts]

I use Bohning tape. Not sure if its your tape or not (strange)
T

[2treks]

I used the bohning tape for years with great results. Then I noticed that I had curling problems and then "not sticking" problems with the last few batches of arrows I made up. I am not sure what was up, the only thing changed was a new roll of tape. I used duco for my last batch and just waited for it to dry.
I do not know whats up with the tape.
Chuck

[bearsfeet]

thanks for the post I am waiting for my tape to get here and then going to give it a try. Seems like the way to go!

[J. Cook]

I'm one of the unique ones that still prefers glue.  I just haven't gotten the results with tape I expect.  I think it's more habit than anything, but whatever works for you.  The ones I have done with tape though, I immediately put a drop of superglue gel on the ends though -- it worked fine.

[eric101]

The only time i had a problem with tape was due to the gateway feathers quill not being smooth had rough cut to them. I smoothed them up and never had another issue but i went to true flight feathers now i use no glue don't have to.If the quill is not smooth could be the culprit.

[sagebrush]

I like the glue myself. I like building arrows and am not in a hurry when I do. I have never had one come off. Gary

[Possum2]

I cut some feathers in a trad cut tonight and used the fletching tape for the first time on a martin jig lw clamp and I love it!!!

[bearsfeet]

well I tried the tape I got... Not to impressed. The first one I did I put to the side and 10 min. later it was curled in. the next one I tried with just a dap of glue on both ends. worked ok but if I am using the glue I might as well just do the whole thing that way.

So if anyone is looking to try some pm me your address Ill put it in an envolope and send it your way. I only did 2 arrows and it says it enough to do 3 dozen.  I am just going to stick with glue.

[bearsfeet]

Looks like I have a taker for fletch tape just to let y'all know