fletching tape help

[rluttrell]

Do any of you guys have a problem with vehicle heat and fletching tape?
I went on the range to do some work, I left the arrows in my truck and when i got back the fletchings were coming off in the middle.
It was warm day but I still dont think the should of broke lose like that...

[Bjorn]

They definitely will move around on the shafts as a result of heat.

[Blaino]

never had any problems at all.  i live in a hot and humid part of the country and still no issues.

it's my opinion that it is even more critical that your shafts be squeaky clean using the tape then with glue.

[Zradix]

I use tape but have not left them in high heat for long.

I've heard others having the tape move.
I haven't.
I do glue the front and back.

I've thought about running a very fine line of duco or superglue the length of the fletch just to help alleviate any problems that might come up.

[rluttrell]

What do you clean the wraps with? I was using denatured alcohol

[Zradix]

I don't use wraps.
Wood arrows with minwax wipe on poly.

I use methanol, but ethanol should work just as well....most of the time...

There are LOTS of different formulas for denaturing ethanol. Some types will leave a very slight "oily" or waxy residue. Many of the most common formulas include using kerosene as one of the denaturizing agents. There is always a slight oily residue left from that.


So little it normally doesn't matter, but when it comes to adhesives a little is all it takes sometimes.

I know this is splitting really thin hairs here but it's true.

[Jon Stewart]

I LIKED fletch tape until the heat made the feathers move around too much.  Now its Krylon and Duco, easy and end of problems.

[Bud B.]

I always run my fingernail firmly down the quill to seat the quill to the fletchtape and shaft. No problems yet....


Will eye this now though. Thanks for the heads up.

[Craig Schoneberg]

I do the same as Bud B., always run a fingernail down the quill a couple times after removing the clamp.

[Craig Schoneberg]

I do the same as Bud B., always run a fingernail down the quill a couple times after removing the clamp.

[cahaba]

Me too. Living in Alabama where it gets hot and humid I can say I never lost a fletch either. Inside of a vehicle can delaminate a bow so I can see where it could affect fletch tape.

[jcar315]

Originally posted by Craig Schoneberg:
I do the same as Bud B., always run a fingernail down the quill a couple times after removing the clamp.

Me three!

[el greco]

Did you put a drop of glue in the beggining and the end of the feather?

[Mike Vines]

I used the tape for a while...because it was easy.  I glued the front and back with Duco, and I still had some start to move around, and had to do something different.  So, I started using Duco along the whole shaft, and don't see myself going back.  I took 2 arrows and fletched one with duco, and one with fletch tape.  When viewed from the rear, you can visually see more helical on the duco one.  I was actually amazed.  The glue held the quill down tighter to the shaft allowing the feather to bend around the shaft better than when I used the tape, and if the duco comes loose, it's because something physically moved it.

Just my .02 for what it's worth.

[Killdeer]

Fingernail trick and gluing both ends, those buggers crawled like earthworms on a rainy night. If I gotta run a bead of glue the length of the fletch, then I may as well skip the dad-gum tape.

I use glue matched to the finish of the arrow.
I used denatured alcohol ONCE on TG wraps. They turned white.    
Killdeer

[Friend]

Have utilized fletch tape on a couple of dozen arrows over the past and have never encountered premature failure nor any hint of an impending issue.

Must be lucky.

Note: Don't recall ever exposing them to hi heat conditions.

[magnus]

Clean your feather base.

[manitou1]

I have fletched about seven dozen arrows with fletch tape and have never had one come loose that I'm aware of.
I haven't left any arrows in a hot vehicle to date yet either, so I don't have experience in that area.
I clean with denatured alcohol and run my thumbnail down the tape once it is affixed to the feather quill and before removing the film.  Then I run my fingernail down the fletch after attaching it to the arrow, like those folks do as stated above.  I use a toothpick and put a small touch of S. glue on each end of the fletch. Works for me.  I can't ever see going back to my old glue methods, unless, of course, my fletching starts to move around!

[manitou1]

I have hunted and shot 3D's in downright downpouring rain and haven't had any fletching come loose from the moisture to date either.

[John Scifres]

I've used tape quite a bit and I have had them creep and outright come off.  Some stick, some don't.  I"ve concluded that glue is a sure thing for me.