Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: kid bow on December 06, 2014, 10:53:11 am
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what are the disadvantages of two feather fletchings over 3? which is better?
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2 fletch is better. Don't listen to anyone that tells you different >:D If done well a 2 fletch will shoot every bit as well as a 3 fletch. (<--- the only part of this worth reading) The advantage is that you're using fewer feathers. Technically you could make two 2 fletch arrows with two feathers but it would take three feathers to make two 3 fletch arrows. Most of the time I'm not that efficient with my feather usage so I'm heavily in favor of the two fletch.
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1 less feather and they still fly well. No advantage or disadvantage, just different styles. You can add 4 fletch to the mix too.
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2 fletch is better. Don't listen to anyone that tells you different >:D If done well a 2 fletch will shoot every bit as well as a 3 fletch. (<--- the only part of this worth reading) The advantage is that you're using fewer feathers. Technically you could make two 2 fletch arrows with two feathers but it would take three feathers to make two 3 fletch arrows. Most of the time I'm not that efficient with my feather usage so I'm heavily in favor of the two fletch.
confused the heck outta me hahah
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The most obvious advantage of two-fletched arrow is that you don't have to worry about where the cock feather is when you are shooting. It's faster to fletch, uses less feathers and shoots just as well. Not sure that I see a downside.
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All the fleching does anyway is add drag to the rear of the arrow and help steer it. I've seen arrows made with pine needle or leaf fletching that flew just fine.
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This is of interest to me as well. I like the idea of a two feather fletch because of the ability to use less feathers and not need a fletching jig.
One question though about two feather fletching. I have seen the Eastern Woodlands style that uses 1-1/4 or so of the feather on each side while there is another version that uses the whole feather on each side. Is one better then the other?
Another thing that seems nice with a two feather fletch is that you might be able to use smaller less stiff feathers like duck. Is this correct?
Thanks
Greebe
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I started using two Fletch a year ago. I have not had any issues. Usually I take the shortest turkey feather out of all the feathers on both wings, and cut it in half. That is the length I use for the rest of the feathers. Usually around 4 to 5 inch long over all, and trim back a 1/2'' of quill on each end for sinew wrapping on a river cane. Then burn in a profile with a stick and fire. The upsides have already been said. More arrows per lot of feathers and no worries with a "cock feather". No matter how you put the arrow on the string, the feathers are on top and the bottom of the arrow and ready to be launched. ;D
Of course I am using stone or glass points, so I just line the two cutting edges with the fletching.
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This is of interest to me as well. I like the idea of a two feather fletch because of the ability to use less feathers and not need a fletching jig.
One question though about two feather fletching. I have seen the Eastern Woodlands style that uses 1-1/4 or so of the feather on each side while there is another version that uses the whole feather on each side. Is one better then the other?
Another thing that seems nice with a two feather fletch is that you might be able to use smaller less stiff feathers like duck. Is this correct?
Thanks
Greebe
The first way you mentioned will spin more wheras if you leave the whole feather on both sides it won't necessarily spin as fast. Also depends a lot on the type of feather.
For question 2, yes. You can use pretty much any type of feather so long as it's big enough. There's a lot of variations you can use with a two fletch.
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Cool. It is good to know that there are a lot of workable solutions to fletching.
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Here is another option with small feathers. I believe it is called a tangential fletch. Any feathers 4" of so long will work so there are a lot more turkey and goose feathers you can use.
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/primitive%20archer/tangential3fletch004.jpg) (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/PatBNC/media/primitive%20archer/tangential3fletch004.jpg.html)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/primitive%20archer/tangential3fletch006.jpg) (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/PatBNC/media/primitive%20archer/tangential3fletch006.jpg.html)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/primitive%20archer/tangential3fletch005.jpg) (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/PatBNC/media/primitive%20archer/tangential3fletch005.jpg.html)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/primitive%20archer/tangential3fletch007.jpg) (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/PatBNC/media/primitive%20archer/tangential3fletch007.jpg.html)
The arrow on the left is this type of fletching...
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/primitive%20archer/BWandsourwoodarrowsfor2011elkhunt002.jpg) (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/PatBNC/media/primitive%20archer/BWandsourwoodarrowsfor2011elkhunt002.jpg.html)
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Wow! Just found this series of pics Pat and have to say that is very inventive and oh so doable with smaller feathers. Thank you for sharing your knowledge of such neat things, with newb's like me on here Pat. Much appreciated. 8) bg
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So with a two fletch does is it preferable to line them up to hit the strike plate or shelf/hand as in vertically or horizontally?
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I believe Pat meant to say the arrow on the right.
Lumber man, you want the feathers mounted vertically, or parallel to your bow. This way keeps the arrow pass from damaging your fletching.
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Yes, the arrow on the right is the tangential 3 fletch. I also learned a few years ago that if you lay the feathers back(convex side) down the feathers lay along the shaft better. This is with 2 fletch(Eastern Woodland style) and 3 fletch(as posted above).
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Nicely done Pat!
I love two fletch, with one area of exception. The positives.....lower cost, quicker completion time, shoot without regard to nock orientation, perform just as well in flight, and they'll nest together. Now....that last quality, nesting together can be a negative if you shoot with a glove and a back quiver.....I prefer 3 fletch for this as it puts some distance between the nocks, making nocks easier to grab with gloved fingers.
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I think for simplicity, knocking an arrow, using an abundance of Primary and being able to use Secondary and tail feathers I'd go with Two Fletch. Like Pat said,; they are only used to slow your arrow down so they can catch up on the Paradox. If you Bare shaft your arrows you can use any feather, two, three or four fletch.
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...are shaft. ;D
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Doesn't two fletch tend to "wind plane"? How about 2-fletch with tons of helical for shorter range, vs. 3 fletch? Or that Eastern Woodland style (which is almost like 4 fletch), maybe with turkey tail feathers, long and not tall fletchings?
I don't remember if those fletchings tended to have 45 degrees offset/helical.
The arrows here look very nice http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=13931.0
I love the triangular self nocks. I made some like that, they are very easy to nock without looking!
Since I'm using pre-cut shield feathers, I'd go with 3 fletch, though I could experiment with super helical 2 fletch. also have several turkey primaries cut in half.. Same thing, since they're cut in half.. But if I got some full feathers, I'd probably just do Cherokee style.
3 fletch can also be made to be nocked either way, if they look like a Y with the nock vertical such that the fletchings are symmetrical w/ respect to the nock. Fletching that was was common in Asia. Wouldn't arrows fly better nocked one way than the other either way (even if 2 fletch), especially bamboo? Darned stiff side.
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another OLD thread (might not wanna bump it?) about a similar thing http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,12451.msg175165.html#msg175165
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If your shooting a wide wind catching broad head. Or if your shooting 20 yards or father. 3 Feather will stableize your arrows quicked. Do dout about it.
For me I grew up learning all I could about the old selfbow hunters. Howard hill was at the top.
The all shot 3 feathers. Plus I just love watching the arrow spin going to the target.
But if your keeping your shots close 2 feathers are good . I've made and then shot a lot of 2 feathers through the years.
But I'm a 3 feather fan. I like to see that tight spiral of a 3 feather all white disapear in the brown.
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I've fletched two fletch with a slight helical. I've found with a lot of helical the make a lot of noise and slow down quick.
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I've fletched two fletch with a slight helical. I've found with a lot of helical the make a lot of noise and slow down quick.
I was just about to say that Eddie....I've used two fletch and they seem to be a little louder than three. but parabolic three fletch is the best and the quietest. IMHO
But, I think I'm going to work on some two fletch viburum shoot shafts at Marshall this year.
DBar
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I was hunting with 'into anything", Wade, last year and he had the best looking set of Tonkins, two fletched with a slight helical twist that flew like a set of carbons and were real quiet. The feathers were cut short.
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I think trimming 2 fletch will show the "sweet spot" with the fletching where you will get minimal noise. Stiffer feathers should make less noise too however I think turkey tail feathers were used quite a bit with the Eastern Woodland community.
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Two fletch works great on lighter shafts such as POC, Sitka, and Doug Fir that are on the lighter side....this is because of arrow speed. Do a two fletch on Ash, Maple, Mahogany, etc. and you can easily see the instability in flight from 15+ yards.
I love two fletch/ as it's simply a matter of setting up your fletching jig to do the first fletch at 1:00, then when the glue is dry, just pull the arrow out, rotate it and fletch #2 at 7:00. Ezy Peezy.
There is only one other draw back to two fletch, while fletching this way allows arrows to nest together in quivers, it can actually put them too close together in a back quiver to easily grab by the nock if you shoot with a glove. Not a problem for tab shooters, though.
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In the historical society I shoot in our main ranked shoots include a timed round, as many arrows as you can shoot (and hopefully score well) in 30 seconds. I know several folks who have a special pair of two-fletched arrows specifically for nesting together on the string at the same time in order to get two arrows off on the first shot since you can nock and draw before the timer starts.