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What alternative fletching materials have worked for you?

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huntertrapper:
you could maybe even try fur like thick rabbit or coon. cut it into strips or somethin, cardboard

bikermikearchery:
I read years ago that some Mongol type arrows were fletched with silk cloth that had been stiffened with glue.
After reading that I stretched out a bandanna and varnished it, after it dried I cut veins with a pair of scissors bent a small foot on them and glued them on. they worked as well as modern plastic veins, and looked good to.

Ludi Mile:

--- Quote from: basil_brush on September 23, 2007, 11:07:21 am ---
This is interesting. Would certainly be a lot easier. Has anyone tried this? Any pics of arrows that were made in this way?

--- End quote ---

I tried it. Doesn't work. With forward of centre about 20% it stilll kinda floats and it also zig-zagged a lot since my arrow was overspined. BUT, I got caught on alternative fletching thingy so my arrow became an experiment hamster! I tried leaves, they work but are too "dragy", make a lot of noise and last two shots at best. They were fresh from the tree though and bound with simple twine. Then cloth inserted into a split, it's not bad but would not last I think. And then I came to this:



two pieces of leather simply laid onto the shaft, glued and bound in place. It works great and is very I would say rugged, no much care and pampering needed. The only thing where it isn't so great is when shot high into the air, it starts droping down a bit too late, it almost doesn't stay straight when hits the ground. But maybe three fletches would fix that, I don't know. You can see between the leathers one of the actual grooves that didn't work, hehe.


--- Quote ---I read years ago that some Mongol type arrows were fletched with silk cloth that had been stiffened with glue.
After reading that I stretched out a bandanna and varnished it, after it dried I cut veins with a pair of scissors bent a small foot on them and glued them on. they worked as well as modern plastic veins, and looked good to.
--- End quote ---

after i read this, I did the same thing with common cloth, it's cotton i guess, only I used carpenter glue instead of varnish. stiff and flexible, I like it. Haven't used it yet but I'm sure it will work well.

theguywitheyebrows:

--- Quote from: Ludi Mile on September 28, 2007, 09:31:30 am ---
--- Quote ---I read years ago that some Mongol type arrows were fletched with silk cloth that had been stiffened with glue.
After reading that I stretched out a bandanna and varnished it, after it dried I cut veins with a pair of scissors bent a small foot on them and glued them on. they worked as well as modern plastic veins, and looked good to.
--- End quote ---

after i read this, I did the same thing with common cloth, it's cotton i guess, only I used carpenter glue instead of varnish. stiff and flexible, I like it. Haven't used it yet but I'm sure it will work well.

--- End quote ---
after i read this, i created an account on this forum (hopefully this becomes one of my [few] go-to spots to share stuff online!) and i went to the shed to find out if i had any of these kinds of varnishes or glues....turns out i have half a can of min-wax polyurethane floor treatment and random bandanas/rags/cloth i can shred into flights. it was too cold out yesterday to make this happen, but today is warmer and im itching to make my own flights. i don't expect these things to win any competitions or family reunion shoot-outs (maybe!) but i wanna be able to not purchase 63,000 flights in my life when i can just reuse old random junk to create new things and space in the shed. i'll be back after i make this happen, with pictures and hopefully some of you guys are still sub'd to this thread so i can offer thanks after my trials.

aaron:
if your arrows are flying well, use nothing. If they need it, you could lash on a tuft of any hair or wool or yarn, keeping it symertical and even all the way around. The more point heavy your arrows are, the less fletch you need.

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