Fletch tape

[coaster500]

I use carbons for the most part and the tape works great. It took a bit of time and practice but now it's a snap. The tape sticks I don't have to worry about glue drying up  

[Hatrick]

Ok for a quick repair and I do keep some around but I stick to glue when fletching up a new batch. Like Killie, they have a tendancy to slide around too much for me. I also like the Saunders NPV when I can get it.

[Ringneck]

Mine stick but slide.  

[Butch Speer]

Mike,
Once you figure out how to get the backing off, you won't give it up.

[Sean B]

I've been using it for a few years now too.  Never had a problem.  I've lost arrows in the grass, found them a year or so later, the the tape still holds.  I can do a dozen arrows in no time at all.

[Mike Vines]

I love the stuff

[ArcticArcher]

I really like the tape. Used it in mo in the heat and humidity and now in AK in the bitter cold. No issues. One added suggestion is after the feather is on the shaft, run your finger down the feather to give it a good hold, then drop of glue at the ends.  Initially had the floating feather but no more.

[30coupe]

I like it! I've never had feathers slide with it either. I HATE waiting for glue to dry! The drop at each end seems to dry pretty quickly though. I can do several arrows in the time it used to take for the first fletch to dry with glue.

[xtrema312]

I must use to much helical or something because I have had problems with it sliding some.  It is a snap going on and I do all the prep and trick everyone says to use.  I put glue on both ends, but still had feathers fly right off the shaft shooting in teens to 20's this winter.  If they didn't fly off they were just holing on by the ends, and the tape was like cellophane wrap in that cold.  It curled right up, pealed off the feather and shaft clean, and had no stick at all in those temps.  Made it easy to reuse feathers I must say.  I don't have that with glue.  This was all on GT trad shafts.  I may try it again on some Beman shafts to see if there is a difference shooting then this summer.  I don't have problems with glue.

[bigbadjon]

I'll never use glue again if the tape is available. The instant bond is so convenient, and I have never had one come off even in the hot humid swamp.

[Soilarch]

A big selling point about the tape seems to be the "drying" time.

I HATE fletching glues for that reason too. (I've only tried 2 or 3 kinds.)

If you like the "fast" tape, and still want a "fast" glue to anchor the front and back of the feather get the namebrand superglue GEL...it isn't instant but will be set in 10 seconds. You'll get the best of both worlds I suppose.

It's what I use to fletch the entire arrow...love the stuff.
 

[Bjorn]

I don't peel very well, so duco and multiple jigs and clamps is where it is at.

[jchunt4ever]

I've tried it a few times and really don't see how its "quicker" at all, for me anyway. Maybe I'm just clumsy or haven't figured out the easy way  yet, but it takes me a lot of effort and time just to put the tape on the feather and not have it hanging over a side. It just always seems like I need at least one other hand. Then you've got to cut the tape and figure out how to peel the backing off all without peeling the whole bit of tape off the feather. By the time I get this all done, my nerves are shot.

Quite frankly, in the amount of time it takes me to do the above, I can have a bead of glue ran down a feather, the feather on the shaft, and the glue dried enough to remove the clamp and start on the next one. And of course I'll still be in a relaxed state, instead of all frustrated and full of anxiety.

Don't get me wrong, I think its a great idea and could possibly be a little quicker after you get a real good hang of it, but it just isn't for me.

[Toklat1]

Never had a problem with it!

[stickbowhafe]

I liked the ease of it, but my arrows moved on me as well. What jigs are you guys using that love the tape? Mine's a jo jan.

[metsastaja]

I use tape and a bitz jig.  NO problems as long as I prep the shaft correctly. I use tiny scissors to cut tape and an exacto knife to peel

[Bowspirit]

I'll admit, fletch-tape is a dandy thing. Used it for two straight years, and loved it. Feathers almost never came off, yet it was easy to remove them without damaging the shaft. The bond was almost instant. Plus, after a few feathers, you get a definate technique down that makes the application so much easier than when you start.
That said, I'm currantly using Loc-tite gel super glue. Almost as quick and just as tough, plus no feather movement whatsoever. No matter what I did, or how I cleaned the shaft/feather, they always moved. Not as bad as some have experianced, just enough to turn a helical fletch into an offset...

[onemoreshot]

The tape works for me.I always clean the shaft with alcohol before I start.Make sure the feather has made contact with the shaft before you remove the clamp.I found an arrow that had been in the ground for several months.The feathers were in bad shape but the tape was holdin like day one.

[kestimator]

I've had good luck with the tape.  For me the extra time lining up and putting it in place is still way faster than using glue.  Also, the tape seems to stand up to more abuse.  I was really surprised by that.

[Bush]

I hated it at first, but now that I have fletched several dozen arrows with it...I love it.  I just scrape the red stuff sideways with my thumbnail once the sticky side is on the feather and it comes right off...no problems.  I didn't like the way the directions say to do it, because it left a little hanging off, an I had to hassle with cutting it off or it sticking to everything.