Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: BOWMAN53 on February 19, 2014, 01:37:53 pm

Title: fletching tape
Post by: BOWMAN53 on February 19, 2014, 01:37:53 pm

just wanted to see what your guys thoughts on it were.

Title: Re: fletching tape
Post by: Pat B on February 19, 2014, 02:42:31 pm

I use it quite a bit. It works well on all the shaftings I've tried it on and it is easy to remove if necessary...and it is quick.

Title: Re: fletching tape
Post by: bretto on February 19, 2014, 02:57:03 pm

According to the Brain Giants that work in the Archery dept. at the Kansas City Cabella's fletching tape doesn't exist!! It has never been invented. Sounds like a awesome product though. :o

That being said I have used it on Carbon, Aluminum and Wood. My only grudge is I have very large hands and failing eyesight. Not a good combo for fletching tape.

It is fast and holds very well on all shafts I have used it on. If You are a person who re-fletches arrows to repair I think it would be the best product to use as far as prepping shafts if You only wanted to do one fletch or so.

bretto

Title: Re: fletching tape
Post by: Pat B on February 19, 2014, 03:09:11 pm

It can be tedious trying to line it up with the quill and removing the backing strip...at our age!  ;) For a young buck like yourself, Jordan these problems shouldn't be a concern.  ;D

Title: Re: fletching tape
Post by: BOWMAN53 on February 19, 2014, 03:34:42 pm

then ill buy some along with feathers.

Title: Re: fletching tape
Post by: Buck67 on February 19, 2014, 04:13:15 pm

Fletching tape is very handy.  Pulling the release tape off can be a challenge though.  I find that if I cut the tape a 1/4" longer than the fletching, I can adhere the tape to the blade of a knife and that makes the release tape easier to remove.  I don't have any fancy fletching clamps so I just put the feather upside down in a piece of scrap tin held in place with two binder clamps.  Once the tape is on I can put the fletching on where I want it and it sticks immediately without having to wait for the glue to dry.

Title: Re: fletching tape
Post by: bowtarist on February 19, 2014, 04:47:41 pm

I may be stealing his thunder here, but Ozzy uses it and and speaks highly of it. I've never used it. Seems a bit expensive to me, but if it works and is fast, heck maybe I'll try some if I ever run across it.

That's funny bretto.

Title: Re: fletching tape
Post by: bow101 on February 19, 2014, 04:53:31 pm

I bought some cheap 2 sided tape at the Dollar store and it is stickier than you know what.  I still use glue or thread on the front end just incase.  The tape is 3/8"  wide.
Fletching is not my favorite thing to do,  simply can not master it,  I do not have the fletch clamps, made one up but still having problems.    ::)

Title: Re: fletching tape
Post by: _Jon_ on February 19, 2014, 10:25:43 pm

I make a lot of arrows and it's all I ever use.   :)

Title: Re: fletching tape
Post by: Dharma on February 19, 2014, 10:55:59 pm

It doesn't work here in the very dry air of Northern Arizona. Nothing does except Duco. But the Hopi like it for ceremonial arrows. But they're only dancing with them, not shooting them. That's why it works for them.

Title: Re: fletching tape
Post by: Pat B on February 20, 2014, 12:33:08 am

Can you still find Duco.? I heard it was being phased out. That's all I used to use. Back then I could get a tube of Duco for $1.96 at Wally World.

Title: Re: fletching tape
Post by: tallpine on February 20, 2014, 01:21:50 am

You can still buy Duco. I buy it at the Dollar store, works good on river cane. Fletching tape doesn't fare well down here in the Texas heat, the fletching's stay on ok they just loose there helical and end up almost straight.

Title: Re: fletching tape
Post by: Dharma on February 20, 2014, 01:44:14 am

We sell Duco where I work, which is convenient for me.  :)

Title: Re: fletching tape
Post by: lostarrow on February 20, 2014, 08:34:54 am

Check for finish compatability. It's quick and easy but I've had problems with fletch popping off. Especially in humid weather, when the quill expands. Always put a dab of glue on the front, or wrap with  thread, for safety!

Title: Re: fletching tape
Post by: Pat B on February 20, 2014, 12:45:09 pm

I always put a wrap of the forward end of the fletching to protect my hand and sometimes on the rear so fletch tape basically holds the rest of the fletch to the shaft.

Title: Re: fletching tape
Post by: TRACY on February 22, 2014, 07:34:08 am

Quote from: bowtarist on February 19, 2014, 04:47:41 pm

I may be stealing his thunder here, but Ozzy uses it and and speaks highly of it. I've never used it. Seems a bit expensive to me, but if it works and is fast, heck maybe I'll try some if I ever run across it.
 Yeah, I've never used it but for the sake of everything taking longer to do for me now like Pat said, I'm going to order some and give it a try. Ozzy fletches a real nice arrow with the tape and without.

Tracy
That's funny bretto.

Title: Re: fletching tape
Post by: killir duck on February 22, 2014, 11:55:31 am

I've used the tape on a couple sets of arrow and it worked pretty good it's not as strong as loctite super glue which is what I usually use, the only thing is make sure the shafts are clean before fetching, any grease at all really weakens the bond.

Title: Re: fletching tape
Post by: Bryce on February 22, 2014, 09:45:35 pm

my experience with fletch tape has been.....not so good.
i use loc-tite gel. and havent had a problem since.

Title: Re: fletching tape
Post by: unkieford on February 22, 2014, 11:25:45 pm

I use the heck out of it, and I LOVE the stuff. I've experienced failures only from an old, very dirty roll kicking around in the bottom of a tool box. It even stays put in my lovely (cough) Phoenix desert environment.

---Ford---

Title: Re: fletching tape
Post by: Scottski on February 23, 2014, 12:43:56 am

I use it all the time and I like it.

Title: Re: fletching tape
Post by: Grasshopper Mouse on February 23, 2014, 01:54:40 am

I have mixed feelings on fletch tape.
The biggest advantage I see with the tape is it's fast. There is no waiting for glue to dry.
I make and sell wood arrows and folks pay me good money for good arrows, not quickly made arrows. I use glue.
Whenever I see folks advocate fletch tape one thing they point out is how easy it is to remove feathers for repair. I don't want feathers to come off easily. I want them to hang on to that shaft and only come off in pieces and kicking and screaming the whole while.
I did use tape on the first set of bamboo arrows I made for myself some years ago. It was easier to use tape on the undulating surface of the bamboo. Those feathers wandered a bit on the shaft in hot weather. Now I have learned how to use glue with bamboo.

No single method will work for everyone and I recognize that fletch tape works great for a lot of folks. But for me I use glue, usually Duco. Duco is readily available at a lot of places, just no longer at Wallmart for $.99 a tube.

Guy

Title: Re: fletching tape
Post by: kleinpm on February 24, 2014, 05:43:47 pm

I also bought the cheap double sided tape. I had good success with regular fletching tape but it was a little expensive.
I don't use either anymore, but I found that if I put tape on the front and back of the feather, I could put them on and align them, then run some glue under the quill and tie the ends.

Of course by the time I put tape on the front and back and got everything just right i could have tied the feather on just as fast, which is what I do now.

Patrick

Title: Re: fletching tape
Post by: Gaust on March 02, 2014, 01:19:21 pm

Make sure the surfaces are clean, then use new tape.  Old tape won't work as well.  Dab of Gorilla super glue on both ends of the feather and you are done.
George