Four Fletch

[Captain*Kirk]

Thinking about whipping up a half dozen four fletch (90 degree) arrows. Why? Because I can.
Will probably use 4 four-inch RW shield cuts. Any tips or tricks I should use or be aware of? How much helical do you 4-fletchers generally like; same as with a 3 fletch, or less?

[kevsuperg]

I generally keep the same few degrees of helical that I would use on my 3 Fletch however if the shafts are micro diameter etc I'll generally Fletch them straight for no there reason than I think it looks better.
 For my shooting abilities I haven't notice any appreciable difference in 3 vs 4 or 4 x 90 or 4x105

[Captain*Kirk]

Originally posted by kevsuperg:
I generally keep the same few degrees of helical that I would use on my 3 Fletch however if the shafts are micro diameter etc I'll generally Fletch them straight for no there reason than I think it looks better.
 For my shooting abilities I haven't notice any appreciable difference in 3 vs 4 or 4 x 90 or 4x105

Thanks. These will be 11/32 woodies.

[Orion]

I use as much helical as I can. I don't need to adjust my fletcher when I go from three fletch to four fletch, even with small diameter Axis carbon shafts.  

With 11/32 woodies, you should be able to put as much helical on them as you want.

Like the Captain, I don't notice any difference in shooting three vs four fletch. The square inches of feather is just about the same for each, just a tad more for the four fletch.  I like the looks of 90 degree better than 105.

[Herdbull]

I use the 105 because they fit in bow mount quiver better and can extract quieter. I use 5 inch, but you will see a bit slower than four inch. I hunt in wet weather and I want the arrow to correct faster if I hit a twig or blade of grass.
Mike

[Rough Run]

I use 4-fletch at 90, almost exclusively, on 11/32 woodies or carbons.  As much helical as my Grayling jig will put on it.  I have no issues with clearance or abnormal wear, on my recurve or any of my longbows.  And I use a low-profile feather from Ozark, called Target Maxx.  I get the 4.5" feathers, and sometimes cut them down to shorter lengths, because it doesn't change the profile.

I use Jon-jans with as much helical as I can and still get the quill flat.  I move the top one way and the bottom the other, both my right wing and my left wing JJs are set, as close as I can measure, the same.  With three fletch and I do the nock rotation thing to tilt the bottom hen feather into the corner.  If you are using a Bitz jig the feather angles will be different than what comes off of a Jon-jan. With most bows the four  fletch will work with either left or right wing about the same. With mine, four fletch right wing looks more optimized for right hand and left wing better left hand shooting without any nock rotation. A small detail that most likely will not effect the arrow flight at all with four fletch that can make a difference when use large 5.5" three fletch.  The only annoying part of four fletch is fletch tape.  On aluminum arrows I use fletch tape after cleaning the bare shaft, four fletch requires that I play with the tape one more time for each arrow.  Some days, I am all thumbs with the tape.

[Captain*Kirk]

I forgot to mention; using a Bitz jig.

[bucknut]

I use 4 fletch on woodies for no other reason than being able to get double the life out of the feathers. And like you, I can. I keep my helical the same as on my 3 fletch arrows. I use a Bitz also.

I like using a Bitz when using fletch tape, there is no standing around waiting for glue to dry and they much more accessible. Fletch tape is a real challenge with the Jo-Jan, six slots and you only use one, but it is real easy to push things off when planting the feather with them.

[Biggie Hoffman]

Originally posted by Herdbull:
I use the 105 because they fit in bow mount quiver better and can extract quieter. I use 5 inch, but you will see a bit slower than four inch. I hunt in wet weather and I want the arrow to correct faster if I hit a twig or blade of grass.
Mike

I’m with Mike on that. I like the 105 on my 5” four fletch. If I’m shooting a hog in thick palmettos at 5 steps, I want that arrow to straighten out immediately. At my hunting ranges, I don’t see an appreciable difference in speed

[Terry Green]

1/8th inch

[Terry Green]

After reviewing this thread this AM...I have to agree with Biggie and Mike.  Speed is not an issue really, if you want more speed you need to drop arrow weight, and know your trajectory.

[YosemiteSam]

I fletched up some 4 x 4" feathers last year.  They were cheap feathers off Amazon.  They flew straight but sounded almost as loud as flu-flus.  It was probably the cheap feathers with soft edges.  But if I were to do it again, I'd fletch up one & shoot it a few times before committing half a dozen.

[Terry Green]

Yes sir must have been the feathers cuz mine are NOT loud not loud at all mine have never been loud I don't know what kind of cheap feathers you used but they should not be loud.... it doesn't matter if it's three or four two if they're loud they're loud....  I wouldn't shoot them if they were allowed no matter if it's one two or three Fletch... I can promise you that and I've killed more than my share with four Fletch let me tell you....

[YosemiteSam]

Same feathers in a 3-fletch config were fine.  I had glued them on some woodies and shot them out of my recurve.  These were flying faster than the 4-fletch carbons that were so loud.  3 fine.  4 loud.

Certainly not knocking the idea of 4-fletch.  Just a word of caution that bad feathers in a 4-fletch might create bad hunting arrows.  Better feathers would likely resolve that.  But testing one first is an easy way to find out for sure.

[Terry Green]

Yeah..mine aren't loud or I wouldn't use them...or they wouldn't work.   Yet they have time and time again. Faster?  got chrono #s? Most people can't shoot the difference in a feather. Most of these are 4 flech, bloodied and retired from some of my memorable kills.....

     

[John Krause]

5 inch 105 here. Shooting at 5-15 yds you want that arrow straightening up as fast as possible. I think 105 also clears the side plate slicker.

[Captain*Kirk]

You guys will have to explain 105 to me. My Bitz has the 105 setting but I never tried it. Can someone post a pic of what a 105 arrow looks like?

[kevsuperg]

Kirk, sorry no pick but imagine when viewed from the nock,  90 as an x and 105 as >< , like a v on top of an inverted v.
 Hope that explains it.