Fletching tape or glue?

[Jason Sanders]

I have a Bitz Fletching jig on the way from 3 Rivers and was wondering if the fletch tape is worth trying, or what glue do y'all use? I will be Fletching carbon arrows for now. Thanks Jason

[huntinpool]

I just switched to the tape. I really like it, Can do alot of arrows fast and very easy to remove for re-fletching. I use it on all alum arrow and carbon. I also like the Quick-tite Super glue for carbon but it is alot harder to clean off .

[RickBarbee]

I use the tape, and I love it.

One thing I can tell you about it - if the rolls are old, get new.

I can fletch an arrow with fresh tape, and it will last forever, but if the rolls are old, it just don't seem to bond as it should. That said - most of the glues are the same way.

Another good thing about the tape is - if you want it off, you can get it off easily without ruining a crown dip/cresting job, or wrap, but if you glue the fletching on, it isn't likely you'll refletch without damaging the paint job.

Rick

[Jason Sanders]

Thanks for the information! Sounds like the tape is the way to go! The video on 3 Rivers web site seemed to be too simple, but looks like this is the way I'm going! Thanks

[Brute Killer]

I started with tape and now I don't use it. If you arrows are exposed to normal high temperatures (100 degF days) the adhesive on the tape will start to turn loose and you fletching will roll over.
Just use glue and watch a little tv in between feathers.

[RickBarbee]

Jason,

the tape may seem a little fumbly to you at first, but once you the hang of using it you will fly through fletching real fast, and it is clean.

Another thing I do, and is probably not necessary on both ends, but I put a small spot of fletchtite glue at the front, and back of each fletch.

In my opinion, the spot of glue at the front of the fletch for me is a necessity whether I am gluing the fletching on, or taping it, because it keeps the fletch from peeling up on pass through shots.

Rick

[Brute Killer]

the spot of glue at the front of the fletch for me is a necessity whether I am gluing the fletching on, or taping it, because it keeps the fletch from peeling up on pass through shots.

True dat.

[RickBarbee]

BK,

I've never had any roll over, or turn loose except when I used old tape, and I've shot in some pretty hot, and humid conditions.

Old tape will get ya in trouble for sure.

As a matter of fact, these last arrows I built, I used old tape on, and I fear I may have to redo them in the near future.

Rick

[Jason Sanders]

Thanks Rick! I will give it a try!

[Brute Killer]

Old tape will get ya in trouble for sure

That may be it.

[Wayne Meuir]

I have used tape for several years and like it much better than glue BUT I fletched a dozen arrows using crest wraps and then left them in my garage in the 100* heat, and when I went back out to get them every arrow had at least one fletch that had come off. The tape was only a couple of months old and I cleaned the wraps with alcohol before it put the tape on them.
That one instance is the only time I have ever had the tape fail and I will still use it but not with wraps.

Wayne

[rubydog]

Glue only for me... I have never , ever had it fail in tens of thousands of arrows.

[fletcherfor2]

Glue only here too. The time doesn't bother me at all.

I've made a living for 36 years watching paint dry. Watching glue dry one-feather-at-a-time is kind of therapeutic for me. (insert snoring face)

[HELLRAZOR]

glue............

[equin]

I got the tape recently and am trying to figure out how to do it, despite the how-to vid from 3rivers. The strip I pull off from the roll is super thin and looks almost transparent. Is that the tape or am I inadvertently pulling off the backing?