fletching flu-flu arrows in the traditional spiral way

[scp]

I'm attempting to make some flu-flu arrows fletched in the traditional spiral way. I have found a couple of good webpages; still things are not as clear as I hope them to be.

"One direction the feather will flare up almost straight from the shaft (see the illustration) Wrapped in the other direction, the feather will have a decided lean and kind of lay towards the shaft. You want the direction that causes the feather to stand straight up."
tradgang.com/flu-flu/

"If you are using left wing feathers, the spiral will helix anti-clockwise down the arrow shaft and vice versa."
africanarcher.com/fluflu.htm

If I'm wrapping a right wing feather going from the nock side to the point side and looking at the arrow same way, am I supposed to wrap the feather clockwise? (I think so, but I want to be sure.)

[Justin Snyder]

They are looking at it from the nock end. If you look at it from the tip, just reverse. right viewed from front = counter clockwise

[scp]

I'm looking at it from the nock end. So, clockwise is correct?

[Hillbilly]

Wrap the feather so that the dull side is toward the front of the arrow.

[Justin Snyder]

Yes, sorry you mentioned point and I got confused. What Steve said makes it easier to remember though. 

[scp]

Another question. In the first webpage, two feathers are fletched in series. But in the second webpage, it appears that three feathers are all fletched in the same section of the arrow, just like the regular three fletch but in tight spiral. I think I will do it the latter way but use just two full-length feathers. Which way do you do it and why?

[Justin Snyder]

You can see from the pictures that there are many different ways of doing it. It usually comes down to personal preference.

[scp]

Wrap the feather so that the dull side is toward the front of the arrow.

Thank you. That appears to be the better way to say it and learn it.

[Pat B]

The full spiral feathers will stop the arrow quicker. I use them to shoot(at) squirrels and they do fine. They go about 20 yards before they put on the brakes. A three fletch straight or helical flu flu will go a lot farther(50 to 60 yards).

[Justin Snyder]

Pat, the ones he is talking about aren't the full length uncut with a slight helicoil, they are three full length wrapped 3 times around the shaft.

scp, If you cut the barbs off about 1/4" of the shaft on the front and the back you can tie them on the back by wrapping a piece of thread around the shaft. then wrap the feather around the shaft and tie the front. This will allow you to see what the finished shaft will look like with 2 or 3 feathers. When you decide what you like you can redo with glue.

[Pat B]

Three full length feathers in a spiral flu flu is overkill IMO. One full feather spiral flu flu will stop the arrow close enough.   Probably the thing to do is try each style and see which one works best for your situation.   If I were duck hunting or pheasant hunting I would opt for one or the other types that allow the arrow to go farther before putting on the brakes. I like a spiral flu flu for the short range shoot I use them for.

[El Destructo]

I do my Flu Flu's in many different patterns...some are Straight...some are Spiral...and others are small sections that wrap straight around the Shafts...they are slow down the Arrows well...but the small sectioned that wrap around the Shaft slow them down the best for Aerial Shots...JMO

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[scp]

El Destructo, they are beautiful. How about some side views?

[Justin Snyder]

Forget the side view, we want a buildalong. 

[scp]

Justin Snyder and Pat B, thanks. I will just glue on a full-length feather and see how it flies tomorrow.