arrow fletching issues

[jburkett]

has anyone on here ever had problems with refletched arrows losing their vanes on the first or second shot?  as far as i know ive done it the right way scraping the old glue off of the shafts, cleaning them with alchahol, and using the recomended glue.  i do it the same way the archery shop does,  with the same jig, and fast-set gel just like he uses, but his fletchings stay on and mine do not.   any suggestion? 

[Todd_ID]

Old glue can do just like you described.  If it's new, though, I'm guessing just not enough time to cure.  Even the quick set super glues like Loctite Gel or Goat Tuff need a little while to harden fully.  I try hard not to shoot mine inside of 3 hours in the summer heat and 12 hours in the winter.  They get good strength immediately, but a shot arrow is a violent experience.

Vane contact throws another problem into the mix, too.  Contact on the shot (like with a Whisker Biscuit or untimed drop-away) would require a longer cure time to keep from losing vanes.

[cwuwildcat]

I usually get a drop of goat tuff or something on the end of a toothpic and dab it on the leading tip of the vane, after the glue has set up.  It keeps it from peeling back.  This is especially a problem if you're using a whisker bisquit.  You're probably just not getting "enough" glue on the end to begin with.  It's a very fine line.

[Matt]

What vanes and arrows are you using.  The problem with fast get is if it is old it will get brittle when it sets up.  Goat tuff is the same way.  GT actually has a shelf life of 3 months before it starts losing it's potentcy.  If you are using blazers then try Saunders NPV.  You have to leave it in the clamp longer but they will stay put.  You should also take a green scotch brite pad and scuff the arrow up before you start fletching.  Good luck.

[pianoman9701]

has anyone on here ever had problems with refletched arrows losing their vanes on the first or second shot?  as far as i know ive done it the right way scraping the old glue off of the shafts, cleaning them with alchahol, and using the recomended glue.  i do it the same way the archery shop does,  with the same jig, and fast-set gel just like he uses, but his fletchings stay on and mine do not.   any suggestion?

I've had the same problem and was told to start using wraps. I haven't re-fletched yet, but will try it.

[Gamblin Guy]

I always use wraps, it makes refletching a lot easier and I dont have to worry about scraping glue from a carbon shaft.   

[Button Nubbs]

Wrap your shaft. I'm gonna guess your using blazers and cleaning the base of them? but that's a no no. They have an accelerant on the base that helps the glue bond.

[pianoman9701]

Wrap your shaft. I'm gonna guess your using blazers and cleaning the base of them? but that's a no no. They have an accelerant on the base that helps the glue bond.

No kidding about the accelerant! I wish I'd known that. I've always cleaned shaft and vanes with denatured alcohol. Thanks for the info.

[gallion_t]

Ive been having the same issue. Ive followed all of the directions and talked to a guy at and archery shop, bought new glue, cleaned the shafts done everything i can think of. They still wont stay on for more than a few shots. It gets really annoying spending more time fletching than actually shooting. Next set of arrows i get are coming prefletched that's for sure.

[Camp David]

Same problem with blazers...did'nt know about the accelerant  . I'm currently using Gorilla Glue on some Flu Flu arrows. You can only use a real little, but seems to work great. From now on I'll be wrapping my shaft (sounds a little perverted  ); I like the look a lot better and the fletches alway stick!

[pianoman9701]

Wrap those rascals! I should've been following the advice my dad gave me 38 years ago!

[gonehuntin68]

probebly been said but i also scuff mine up a little with some fine grit sand paper and after the arrows are fletched i put a tiny dab of glue on each end

[TheHunt]

I use acetone to clean the shaft of the arrow.  Then I lightly sand the vane that touchs the shaft of the arrow.  Then run the acetone cloth over the vane area that you just lightly sanded.  Run a line of glue down the vien with it already in the metal holder of the bitzenburger. Then carefully put the vane against the shaft.  Wait for an hour then do it again with the next vane. 

This works for me on all my practice arrows.  But I use those heat shrink wraps for all my hunting arrows since last year.

[str8meat]

give em to me for the weekend joe. i have arrows that have kept the fletches for 5 years and been thru 2 animals. they are fletched with flex fletch. they are the shizzle.

[jburkett]

thanks for all the insight,  i havent tried the scotch bright yet but it does make sense and i will be trying on the next round of arrows

i am shooting gold tip xt hunters with blazers