Rookie question about fletching with Bitz jig

[duck'n]

I just bought a new Bitzenberger fletching jig from a local pro shop. He helped me set it up but said I would need to fletch an arrow to make sure it is on. I fletched one up last night with 5" RW shield cuts and they look good position wise, but there is not as much helical as I am used to. The way I understand it, the helical is in the clamp. I am using a right clamp obviously but didn't know if there was a way to adjust the jig to get more helical out of it? One other thing, the clamp seems to have more helical towards the leading edge, but if I set my feather that far forward, it leaves a heck of a gap between the nock and the trailing edge. Any suggestions?

I read the manual but didn't find anything. The shop I bought it from is close to an hour away and with fuel prices, I thought I would check here first and see if it was a simple adjustment.

[tenbrook]

You cannot set the helical.  If both hash marks on your dial are on the same side then its correct. If they are opposite then it is set up for straight fletching.

You can either do straight, or helical with the clamp, but you cant adjust the degree of twist.

[duck'n]

Thanks, I will check that...it just may be set up for straight because it was packaged with a straight clamp but I traded for a RH clamp.

[TexMex]

duck'n try talking with the folks at Glick Twins in Pharr, they make lots of arrow, I do not know what jig they use though.

Good Luck

[Rick McGowan]

You can adjust the angle or position of the front and rear of the clamp. I have both R and L helical clamps for mine, plus I use different diameter shafts, so everyone involves resetting the clamp holder angle. I do have pencil marks for the common settings, but initially, put in what ever shaft you are using, put a feather in the clamp and loosen the two "dials" at the ends of the clamp holder, then adjust them while watching how the quill of the feather contacts the shaft, it should end up with the quill on the centerline of the shaft at both ends AND the quill making good contact its full length. You have to make the adjustments with a feather in the clamp as the thickness of the quill alone makes a big difference.

[Steve O]

Also, I believe the Left clamp is set for 6 degrees of helical and the Right is set for 3 degrees.

[Eric Krewson]

You can adjust the jig to get as much helical as possible as long as the feather doesn't rase off the shaft.

[duck'n]

Thanks all.  I played with it some at lunch but was cut short.  Hopefully I can get it figured out tonight.  Thanks again!

[last arrow]

I adjust it with an shaft in the jig and a feather in the clamp by twisting the nobs (front or back to keep the quill on the shaft) in the direction of helical until the  degree looks good and the quill lays well on the arrow.  The adjustment may need to be varied based on the diameter of the shaf, length of fletch and whether the shaft is tapered or not.  I have found that I have to re-set it whenever I change one of those three items.