Fletching prep

[fishin58]

What do you guys use? I have tried different things with not much success with keeping the vanes on...What do you guys use and how important is the glue?? I have tried a couple different kinds..but both poor results, so it has to be my prep! I am also using the fletching tool.

[Rotwieler]

i just started fletching my own arrows too. i ask the guy at the local proshop. any tricks to make my vane stay on better and he said to make sure the shaft is cleaned well before glueing. he uses acetone and a green scrubby on the shaft and vane glueing surface.

i did loose one vane when i shot. i would say when your glueing put on a little excess glue and wipe it away with a Q-tip when you put it on the shaft. oh and i was useing fletch-tite platnum. i havent tried the super-glue type yet.

but im just starting this so some of these guys probably know more than me.

Good luck

[Wapiti]

I personally like to use rubbing alcohol to clean the shaft after I remove the vanes...has worked good now for a few years. I follow that up with using "Goat Tuff" glue...it works the best for me and I've tried plenty of adhesives! Some people say to stay away from Acetone as it can damage carbon over time. I've also heard of people using "Comet" to clean shafts with good results. One other thing to keep in mind is the type of vane you are using...some just "stick" better than others! That's just what works for me. Good Luck!

[Wapiti]

One thing I forgot that someone told me a long time ago...after gluing your vanes on the arrow, put a very, very small drop of glue at the front and back of your vane. Just enough so that the glue touches the vane and half touches the shaft...seems to be a little added support on the spots that want to come "unglued" the fastest!

[fishin58]

rotweiler, that is the stuff I have been using, fletch tite platinum...I also thought about using the rubbing alcohol, but didnt know if it would counteract the glue?

[Wapiti]

After cleaning the shaft with the alcohol, I let it sit for a while before gluing the vane on. I personally have never had good luck with the fletch-tite products...I know they have probably glued more vanes on than any other product out there, but in my opinion, there are better ones!

[lunker651]

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What do you guys use? I have tried different things with not much success with keeping the vanes on...What do you guys use and how important is the glue?? I have tried a couple different kinds..but both poor results, so it has to be my prep! I am also using the fletching tool.

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I've been fletching for a couple years now, for families and friends. I have notice that if you use wraps, it's alot easier for the vanes to stick on, no matter what fletching glue you use. When I'm going to fletch a batch of arrows, I clean the arrows and the bottom part of the vanes where it's going to stick to the arrow with alcohal and wait til dry then put on the wrap of my choice then fletch with vanes or feathers and I haven't had any problems since using wraps. After the vanes is on I will put a drop of glue on both end of the vanes and that really help hold the vanes better. If you use wraps, it'll stick.

[mnfishman]

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I've been fletching for a couple years now, for families and friends. I have notice that if you use wraps, it's alot easier for the vanes to stick on, no matter what fletching glue you use. When I'm going to fletch a batch of arrows, I clean the arrows and the bottom part of the vanes where it's going to stick to the arrow with alcohal and wait til dry then put on the wrap of my choice then fletch with vanes or feathers and I haven't had any problems since using wraps. After the vanes is on I will put a drop of glue on both end of the vanes and that really help hold the vanes better. If you use wraps, it'll stick.

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I do the same with wraps. The nice thing about wraps is when you go to remove the vanes you just soak the wrap in warm water and it will peel right off. No scraping required.

As for glue last year when I switched to 2" Blazers a lot of people were having issues with them falling off after a few shots. So I decided not to use Fletch Tite glue instead I use the cheap WalMart super glue. It comes in a 4 pack for $1. Let me just say this. I have not had a single vane fall off and actually I wrecked one by shooting through it with a field tip. It actually pierced the vane and it never did pull away from the wrap.

The best advice I can give is take your time with preparation. If you are not going to use wraps then make sure you clean the shaft good, scrape any old glue off and use a good glue to adhere the vane to the shaft.

[fishin58]

mnfishman are you talking about regular ol super glue?

[HUNTINGBAILEY]

I use the good ole super glue gel, it doesn't run, as for prep I cut the old vanes off and use a 400 grit sandpaper to rough up the carbon surface, then wipe down with alcohol, and let dry, then apply new vane, very rarely have I had a vane come off.

[snoozebutton]

I've been fletching my own for about 5 years now and use the AAE Fast Set Gel. I make sure the old vane is completed scraped off and then clean the shaft with 90% rubbing alcohol. Haven't had a problem with vanes coming off and I use both feathers and plastic. (Plastic for wet days.)