making arrows videos - using fletch tape, burning feathers

[Rob DiStefano]

fletching up a carbon with bohning fletch tape.  the vid is 8.5 minutes long.  the fletcher is a nifty new grayling i just got from tim @ braveheart archery, w/full helical left wing clamp.  the 5.25" fletches are cut from full length feathers and will be burned to shape in another vid i'll be adding to this thread.

observations - i clean the shaft and quill bases with naphtha (lighter fluid) on a piece of paper towel. i cut the front and end of each feather fletch at an angle, to best make the quill base flow into the shaft.  after fletching the shaft, i snip off the ends of the fletches, to better fit into the young feather burner.  

click on the image below to kick off the photobucket video ... soundtrack courtesy of occasional female frivolity.      

   

[xia_emperor]

thanks for sharing.

[raghorns]

I've been wondering how the tape thing works...you have obviously fletched a few arrows...great video...you inspired me to give it a try. Thanks

[sawtoothscream]

what fletching jig is that and how much?  thanks

[sawtoothscream]

never mind just saw you mentioned it. duh

[Rob DiStefano]

feather burning - after bending the burn ribbon to shape, slip into the 'lectrode holders, put a bare shaft into the burner nock receiver and arm, adjust the ribbon so it's about 1/16" or a bit more away from the shaft.  lock down the ribbon and test it again with the bare shaft.  

put a feathered shaft into the shaft holder and adjust so that the ribbon will burn evenly at both ends of the feather.  this all about trialing and testing.  

click on the pic to run the short vid ...

   

[Dave Bowers]

Thanks for the video  

[30pointbuck]

Thats great Rob i want to do my own.

[kennyb]

Rob-that was great! Thanks for sharing your talent of making your own arrows. A question I have is left or right helical? I shoot right handed, which should I use? I really want to do my own arrows this year. Thanks again.
Kenny  

[1oldbowguy]

 Thanks, very helpful for sure.  

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by kennyb:
...A question I have is left or right helical? I shoot right handed, which should I use?...

left or right, it doesn't matter at all as long as any one arrow is fletched with all the same wing.

make arrows, have fun!

[LONGSTYKES]

Thanks Rob, very informative. I think I'll give it a try.

[bkyrdshooter]

Are you wiping the base of the feathers with a cloth only or are you using alcohol on them? I have never used tape and didn't know if you were just wiping them off or do you need to clean them.

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by bkyrdshooter:
Are you wiping the base of the feathers with a cloth only or are you using alcohol on them? I have never used tape and didn't know if you were just wiping them off or do you need to clean them.

as i said in my very first post on this thread ...

"i clean the shaft and quill bases with naphtha (lighter fluid) on a piece of paper towel."

[kennyb]

Thanks Rob...you've been a big help!
Kenny

[SuperK]

Would denatured alcohol work for cleaning the shaft and feather quill?  I'm thinking the problems I had a while back when using fletch tape was because I didn't clean the quill of the feather.  Thanks for a great video.

[Rob DiStefano]

alky is fine, too.

[sawtoothscream]

so does this really save money down the road or is it just to say you did it and enjoy it and can mess around with different vane styles?

is it cheaper buying full length feathers in bulk?

thanks

[rdoggsilva]

Thanks for the videos, I learned something. Now to give it a try.

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by sawtoothscream:
so does this really save money down the road or is it just to say you did it and enjoy it and can mess around with different vane styles?

is it cheaper buying full length feathers in bulk?

thanks

there are basically two camps - those who have a need to build and shoot their own arrows to shoot, and those who just need arrows to shoot.  if you need to ask what camp you belong in, yer probably better off buying ready-to-shoot arrows.    

as to 'what does it cost to build arrows?', do the math - what it costs for raw shafts, the minimal tools and finishing materials, the feathers or fletches, points and nocks ... yes, buying in bulk makes it all cheaper ... and then, how many arrows will you need for the rest of your archery/bowhunting life?  now compare all of that against a set of store-bought ready-to-shoot arrows.