Author Topic: Feathers falling off (Read 1170 times)

Wayde Burke · « **on:** March 27, 2011, 06:10:00 PM »

I fletched some aluminum shafts and had some feathers just fall off. They had at least a 3 week drying time. I used Trueflight feathers and Fletch-tite Platinum glue. The glue was a fresh tube and the feathers brand new. I wonder if anyone has heard of any problems with this glue. I've been fletching arrows for over 25 yrs. and did not do any thing different this time. Anyone have any ideas?

jcar315 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 27, 2011, 06:13:00 PM »

The only "idea" that comes to mind is this: did you "clean" the shafts before you fletched them up? Alum. likes to be wiped down before fletching.

Spectre · « **Reply #2 on:** March 27, 2011, 06:18:00 PM »

Alcohol and a cotton ball are good things.

ProArcher · « **Reply #3 on:** March 27, 2011, 06:19:00 PM »

Personally I wipe fathers and the shafts of anything I’m fletching with denatured alcohol.

Wayde Burke · « **Reply #4 on:** March 27, 2011, 06:24:00 PM »

I have always cleaned my shafts with MEK before fletching, and never had this problem.

Hud · « **Reply #5 on:** March 27, 2011, 06:32:00 PM »

Hi, yep you should clean the shafts first, Easton has recommended AJAX, it is also been used by the aircraft industry to clean aluminum before painting. Put some on a wet paper towel and clean shaft where paint, nocks and feather will be. Rinse with water and let dry. Keep fingers off, or wear cotton gloves.

Some recommend Acetone, but I have used Ajax for 30+ yrs without a problem. Don't substitute any other powdered detergent, it will leave a film, which is what caused your problem in the first place.

You can clean the feather quill by wiping with lighter fluid, or Acetone. Let it dry.

Anything touched with hands, yours or others will leave some oil and cause problems.

If you decide to use fletch tape, follow the same procedure, but clean both shaft and quill first, then cut and trim feathers, add the tape to the feather in a clamp, trim excess tape and press onto the shaft in your jig.

You will not have this problem once everything is clean.

Ronyag · « **Reply #6 on:** March 27, 2011, 06:32:00 PM »

Try the tape. Works very good for me on eveything.

Brandon Stahl · « **Reply #7 on:** March 27, 2011, 06:54:00 PM »

jarhead_hunter · « **Reply #8 on:** March 27, 2011, 07:23:00 PM »

I have had the same experience as Brandon.

The feathers fall off with the new Platinum.

So I also use Saunders NPV.

Charles.

Flying Dogg · « **Reply #9 on:** March 27, 2011, 07:42:00 PM »

I will second Sanders NVP for both aluminum and carbons.

Wayde Burke · « **Reply #10 on:** March 27, 2011, 08:06:00 PM »

Thanks guys I'll give the Saunders a try. I never had this trouble with the old Fletch-tite.

cyred4d · « **Reply #11 on:** March 27, 2011, 08:26:00 PM »

I have also had a bad experience with glue, that is why I switched to the tape.

ChrisM · « **Reply #12 on:** March 27, 2011, 08:30:00 PM »

Had some platinum on carbon shafts on a trip last year and it rained during the night and my arrows were in my tent and by midmorning the next day the feathers started dropping like fall leaves.

Jake Diebolt · « **Reply #13 on:** March 27, 2011, 08:30:00 PM »

I've used the Fletch-tite platinum. My feather's don't just fall off, but the glue is certainly not what it once was. It just seems to take a long time to set.

I have trouble getting anything other than Fletch-tite up here because I can't seem to find anyone who'll ship fletching glue in the mail...something about it being flammable...and all they have up here is Fletch-tite.

Swamp Yankee · « **Reply #14 on:** March 27, 2011, 08:30:00 PM »

You have to use Ajax (or similary cleaner) or an acid etching solution to get a good bond with alumiminum. Been fletching them for many years with the old fletch-tite and the new Platinum; never had a problem with either.

MercilessMing · « **Reply #15 on:** March 27, 2011, 08:36:00 PM »

Same problem with Fletch-tite Platinum. Probably will try what Brandon suggested or to use tape going forward.

Javi · « **Reply #16 on:** March 27, 2011, 08:39:00 PM »

Simple solution... use a wrap the Platinum sticks like glue to them... and they're easy to remove..

I buy bumper sticker (tag end) rolls for about $30 buck (makes hundreds of wraps) from a label company in Dallas and cut them with a paper cutter the wife uses for her scrapbooking...

If anyone wants the url for the place pm me and I'll give it to you..

Pops · « **Reply #17 on:** March 27, 2011, 08:42:00 PM »

I used a new tube of the platinum one time
and the feathers did fall off. Fletch them again with NVP and still shooting them 3 years later.

Tree Rat · « **Reply #18 on:** March 27, 2011, 09:30:00 PM »

Platinum seems to be very sensitive to cleaning. Methods that have been considered failsafe (acetone, MEK) for 40 years don't work with Platinum.

Try some of the alchohol or cleanser type preps or switch to Saunders.

Birdbow · « **Reply #19 on:** March 31, 2011, 03:35:00 PM »

I've had the same problem on some types of carbon. Once I started using vinyl wraps on my shafts, never had another adhesion proplem.


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Author Topic: Feathers falling off (Read 1170 times)

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