Thanks for re posting the video Chuck. I've got tape but never tried it. I've always used Fletch Tite but I may give it a try with the Grandsons. They're more in a hurry than I am...lol
Deno, i do it for speed. I have little patience myself. I also follow up with a dot of glue at front and rear of the feather....and.....a small line of glue along the shaft at the center of each feather. Speed, for me, trumps beauty...unless someone else is making them for me.
You're right on the speed Chuck. I have 6 Bitzes which helps to speed up the glue process but it's more like relaxation therapy for me but I'll be giving the tape a whirl after seeing your tutorial.
I have used tape for a couple of builds during this year. I haven't shot them much, so I don't know how durable they are. I also recommend a drop or two of cement on the front end od the feather.
Sam, i like tape, but it has limitations too. Tape allows me to fletch up six arrows quickly. As above, i am not really into beautiful arrows. I shoot them into places they shouldn't oughta go. I recomend that quick line of glue along the quil too.
Nice work Chuck, I like your idea you make it look easy. Most tapes cure with age, do you find the adhesion improves with age? Do you etch the paint, and would it help?
I don't sand or etch. I have had good luck with tspe, but do always add that side strip of glue. Age?.....hmmmm, i don't know the answer to that. I fo know that glue has expiration so if you have really old or distressed tape, pitch it and get new stuff.
Another nice thing about tape is that if the arrow gets broke (I know right? Like that ever happens...) you can warm the feather quill and tape up with a hot air gun and recover the feather to be used on another arrow.
The only bug I have found with tape is that when the humidity and heat gets high, the feather can lift up in the middle. I think the feather expands from the heat/moisture and pulls away from the tape.
You can push the feather back down and it will stick for a bit, but will always pull up again in my experience. To fix it for good, I use a toothpick to put a small bit of barge cement on the bottom of the quill and on the shaft. Let dry for 10 minutes, and press together. I've not had a repair like this separate again.
We had an issue with the hot weather and aluminum arrows. In our 100+* days they heat up to the touch. The feathers will “roll” on the shaft. I didn’t have that issue last summer but I attribute that to fresh tape.
Nice tip Chuck! I have used tape for years with very good results. An issue now and then but not nearly as many as glue. You sure can't beat the speed.
Nice tip Chuck! I have used tape for years with very good results. An issue now and then but not nearly as many as glue. You sure can't beat the speed.
I make my own fletching so the base of the quill is never as nice and smooth as what you get with store-bought fletching, so maybe I end up having more problems.
That said, after I apply the tape to the quill and before I pull off the orange strip, I rub my finger back and forth on the quill till my finger gets a bit warm. I don't know if it helps the tape to stick to the quill or not, but it seems to in my mind anyway.
Thank you for posting. That is better than my way of using my razor knife to lift off the plastic.
I used fletch tape for 10+ years off and on. It made fletching an arrow fast but I still prefer glue.
Thanks for re posting the video Chuck. I've got tape but never tried it. I've always used Fletch Tite but I may give it a try with the Grandsons. They're more in a hurry than I am...lol
Deno
Deno, i do it for speed. I have little patience myself. I also follow up with a dot of glue at front and rear of the feather....and.....a small line of glue along the shaft at the center of each feather. Speed, for me, trumps beauty...unless someone else is making them for me.
You're right on the speed Chuck. I have 6 Bitzes which helps to speed up the glue process but it's more like relaxation therapy for me but I'll be giving the tape a whirl after seeing your tutorial.
Deno
I have used tape for a couple of builds during this year. I haven't shot them much, so I don't know how durable they are. I also recommend a drop or two of cement on the front end od the feather.
Sam, i like tape, but it has limitations too. Tape allows me to fletch up six arrows quickly. As above, i am not really into beautiful arrows. I shoot them into places they shouldn't oughta go. I recomend that quick line of glue along the quil too.
Nice work Chuck, I like your idea you make it look easy. Most tapes cure with age, do you find the adhesion improves with age? Do you etch the paint, and would it help?
I don't sand or etch. I have had good luck with tspe, but do always add that side strip of glue. Age?.....hmmmm, i don't know the answer to that. I fo know that glue has expiration so if you have really old or distressed tape, pitch it and get new stuff.
Another nice thing about tape is that if the arrow gets broke (I know right? Like that ever happens...) you can warm the feather quill and tape up with a hot air gun and recover the feather to be used on another arrow.
The only bug I have found with tape is that when the humidity and heat gets high, the feather can lift up in the middle. I think the feather expands from the heat/moisture and pulls away from the tape.
You can push the feather back down and it will stick for a bit, but will always pull up again in my experience. To fix it for good, I use a toothpick to put a small bit of barge cement on the bottom of the quill and on the shaft. Let dry for 10 minutes, and press together. I've not had a repair like this separate again.
Steve..that is why i put that " side strip" of glue on right away.
We had an issue with the hot weather and aluminum arrows. In our 100+* days they heat up to the touch. The feathers will “roll” on the shaft. I didn’t have that issue last summer but I attribute that to fresh tape.
Nice tip Chuck! I have used tape for years with very good results. An issue now and then but not nearly as many as glue. You sure can't beat the speed.
Nice tip Chuck! I have used tape for years with very good results. An issue now and then but not nearly as many as glue. You sure can't beat the speed.
I make my own fletching so the base of the quill is never as nice and smooth as what you get with store-bought fletching, so maybe I end up having more problems.
That said, after I apply the tape to the quill and before I pull off the orange strip, I rub my finger back and forth on the quill till my finger gets a bit warm. I don't know if it helps the tape to stick to the quill or not, but it seems to in my mind anyway.