Originally posted by Kevin Dill:
Originally posted by pumatrax:
Just wondering if there are any companies out there that fletch arrows for a living that use the tape ? If there is ; I don't think I've seen them...my distributor uses NPV glue exclusively ...I'm thinking there is good reason for that...they fletch thousands of arrows a year..
Fair question.
I believe part of the answer lies in speed/efficiency for the fletcher. Once the feather is in the clamp it takes very little time to run a bead of glue and apply the clamp. An accomplished fletcher does it with serious speed. Whether accurate or not, I suspect arrow manufacturers and custom builders (for profit) look at glue as being the more dependable adhesive over time. Is that accurate? Does it matter? Like Rob and most of us have said, it's really an individual thing. I think the biggest question is this: if your system works and works well, why in the heck would you change? Stick with what works the best for you, but be smart enough to know it won't be everybody's best. [/b]
good input, and i'd like to add ...
most fletchers have a production setup to fletch more than a few dozen shafts at the same time, so the 15 minute or so wait 'tween gluing on another fletch isn't an issue and no time is saved using fletch tape.
however, if yer not in the business of making arrows and only have a jig or two, the time saved using fletch tape makes huge sense.
if fletch tape works quite well for others, but ain't working for you, at least try to find out what the problem is before moving on. i see too much blame going toward the tape when in reality it's either a people, or process, or materials issue.