Best feather length?

[Turkhunter]

I have some Beeman black max arrows I would like to put helical feathers on but dont know what length to use. They are the same diameter as easton axis or mfx and I have had trouble getting 4" vanes to stick from a helical clamp. What about feathers? It seems like 5" would wrap almost completley around these little shafts. Just wondering what you guys use.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

did you try not using any offset with the helical jig? I shoot woodies and I use 4" and 5" feathers.

[30coupe]

I've kind of settled on 5" feathers, simply because I like the way they look. With a well tuned set-up you really don't need anything more than 3 x 4" fletching. Try Sal's suggestion. I don't see any reason either 4 or 5 inch feathers wouldn't work.

You are not trying to use right wing feathers in a left wing jig are you? I accidentally picked up a bag of right wing feathers once. Let me tell you, they don't like being bent the wrong way.    

[reddogge]

I use 5" on carbons without any problem in the old Jo-Jan multifletcher.

[MikeW]

Originally posted by reddogge:
I use 5" on carbons without any problem in the old Jo-Jan multifletcher.

Same here on Beman MFX but you have to back the Helical off a little to make full shaft contact. I split the difference from front to back.

[Easykeeper]

I like 5" shield for my recurve, but 4" works pretty well too.  I don't have any trouble getting good contact with 5" feathers on my ACCs, a relatively skinny arrow.  I use a Bitz jig.

[JamesKerr]

I like 5" parabolic cuts for my 5/16" arrows and 4" parabolic cuts for my 9/32" arrows.

[land_shark]

I use both 4" and 5" prefering 5". On small shafts I use straight clamps with 2 degree offset. They fly great with shield cut.

[lpcjon2]

I have done 5" on Radial X Weaves with no problem.The diameter of the shaft is a lot bigger than it looks to the eye.Take a napkin and place the edge on the shaft and wrap it around till it touches and mark it ,then unroll it and look at the length.It will have plenty of room for helical.

[stickbowmaniac]

I shoot Beman MFX with 4" pink parabolic cut.Fly like darts with my simmons interceptors.

[ChuckC]

Lots of adjusting available on some jigs, including using a helical jig straight up and down the shaft.
ChuckC

[Ragnarok Forge]

4 inch work great on carbons. I personally shoot 3 inch 4 fletch.  It gives me the same surface area as 4 inch 3 fletch.

[BrownA5]

5" on GTs 3555 and Carbon Express 150 shafts.  Fletching jig is a Bitz.

[chanumpa]

Ive tried them all and like4-4".

[Desperado]

Travis...Wow...I didn't know anyone else used Black Max but me...I love them when I'm not shooting wood.
I use 3 5" left wing shield cut feathers with my Bitzenberger helical jig and it works fine. Just need to adjust a bit. Good arrow choice.....Whitie

[Trad 4 life]

how well tuned is you bow you can shoot 2" feathers if you like but 3 or 4" feathers will work great on those shafts.
these are beman MFX shafts with 4" feathers of my own  

[Possum Head]

If using a Bitzenberger, follow Desperado's advice,Loosen the adjustment screws just a little as a bit snug is best clamp an unglued feather, place on magnet and with gooooooood lighting start at the front of the shaft doing a visual check. The feather should be centered. Now look at the back, you should expect the same results, If not very slightly turn your adjusting knobs until you obtain contact the length of the feather be it 4 or 5". you can make either work with a little patience.

[SS Snuffer]

I use a BPE pro RH Helical 4" on Axis arrows 17/64ths
Works good but like they said back off on the twist some.

[SS Snuffer]

Nice arrows Ron      To nice to shoot!!!

[Davesea]

I use the same helical jig for my 11/32 woodies and the 1/4" arrows I make for youth bows.  No adjustments needed.
Dave