|
Post by firefightnlife on Feb 22, 2008 17:05:51 GMT -4
many times the arrow fletchings hit the rest without a drop away rest or upon shooting clear through an object, well i read a way to straighten those wavy veins without replacing them. get a hair dryer put it on the hottest setting and heat them up, should straighten them right out, never tried it but it sounds good. any ever try it?
|
|
|
Post by stickman on Feb 22, 2008 19:05:13 GMT -4
Never did but that sounds like a heck of an idea, I'll give it a try when I get the arrows out and dust em off!!
|
|
|
Post by fastarrows on Feb 22, 2008 19:54:34 GMT -4
I have done this. It was needed when I use the Wisker Biscuit rest. It works once or twice after that the vanes start to deteriate due to the heat. I liked the WB, but with my new bow I switched to a drop away and Blazers.
|
|
|
Post by jeffpahunter on Feb 22, 2008 20:01:31 GMT -4
Do it all the time and it works great. Depending on what type of vanes you have tho I wouldn't recommend high to start with. I'd start at low and go easy and if it's not enough increase the time or hold closer or turn up the heat. I've noticed that different vanes act differently and once they melt it's to late to go back-wards. Another trick is to boil water and hold the vanes in the steam coming off the boiling water, this works as well. Also you mentioned that "many times the vanes will hit the rest".... ...if this is happening you have a problem. You can't get consistent flight and a proper tune with fletch contact. Something is wrong if this is happening, nocks need to be turned, rest may need adjusting....something. I'd have to see the set up or have more info to troubleshoot this but this is a problem that is killing your arrow flight and accuracy and should really be corrected as if you hunt this way it's also robbing kinetic energy from your arrow which you need for penetration.
|
|
|
Post by XMan on Feb 22, 2008 20:28:19 GMT -4
Yes the blow dryer does work on vanes. Jeffpahunter hit it on the head. Whatever is causing the contact must be eliminated if you want to obtain good arrow flight. Also I know alot of archers use the wisker biscuit. I've spoken about this before. Yes you don't have to worry about your arrow falling off, but it causes more problems than you can imagine. Tears your vanes, slows the arrow down, etc. A good way to determine where the contact is occurring. Spray the back end of the arrow, rest area with powdered foot spray. This will tell you where contact is being made. It may be a simple turn of the nock to stop your problem. This is very useful for any prong rest and also drop away rest.
|
|
|
Post by fastarrows on Feb 22, 2008 20:39:59 GMT -4
Xman,
The WB did not slow my old bow down at all. 279 fps with or without.
|
|
|
Post by mrlongbeard on Feb 22, 2008 20:46:11 GMT -4
have to agree if you get contact your not getting good arrow flight. try the things talked about above. and try switching to a good drop away. but even some of them you need to address the contact problem
|
|
|
Post by spike420 on Feb 22, 2008 21:25:11 GMT -4
saw this tip in a buckmasters newsletter today thought it was neat
|
|
|
Post by firefightnlife on Feb 23, 2008 0:43:14 GMT -4
thats where i got it, and i use a wisker biscuit and after countless hours of practice i have wavy veins and usually just buy new arrows, cause i'm not one for refletching(not enough time to learn, and don't wanna do it by trial and error, seems dangerous that way) this trick may save me quite a bit of money.
|
|
|
Post by jeffpahunter on Feb 23, 2008 9:17:26 GMT -4
To be honest with you while I understand all you said about fletching arrows it really is very simple and easy to do. For a do it your selfer who is going to fletch his own, one jig that works well is the Arizona jig where you apply all 3 vanes at once. Every one has their personal preference though. If your buying new arrows every time the vanes get ruined, with the price of a jig, vanes and glue you'd recover your expense in no time with what you save by fletching your own. Can you put 3 vanes each in a little slot, run a thin bead of glue on the base of the vane, stick the bare shaft in the jig ? It's that simple really. When I do mine I build one, leave it in the jig for about 10-15 minutes to dry while I play on the computer, take the finished one out and do another one which takes maybe 2 minutes and repeat the process. I can fletch a dozen arrows easy in a night while I'm watching TV or playing on the computer and have spare time in between while the glue is setting. Another option would be to take your shafts in need of re-fletching to a local shop and have him re-fletch them for you but still expensive as most will charge 3,4 or 5 bucks an arrow anymore. You commented about trial and error and being dangerous... About the worst that can happen is if you don't clean the shaft properly or mess up the glue the vane may fly off prematurely but that's about it. Actually the trial and error part is some of the fun. Some jigs are flexible so that you can experiment with different degree's of helical or off set to see what works best. Just some suggestions for you my friend. BTW: I swear by the Whisker Biscuit myself even though I know some people don't like them which is fine. If by chance you have one of the older original ones that has all black bristles that could be part of your problem as those bristles are VERY stiff and hard. If so get yourself one of the newer models that has the black on the bottom to support the arrow and brown bristles around the other 3/4 of the biscuit as these brown bristles are much softer. I have Whisker Biscuits on all 7 of my bows and I shoot feathers and Blazer vanes and have no problems what so ever.
|
|
|
Post by XMan on Feb 23, 2008 11:58:12 GMT -4
Fastarrow your one of the lucky one then. Being an archery tech for so long and I've repeatedly refletched arrows with customers who use the whisker biscuit. Meaning if an arrow is having that much contact when traveling through the bristles to tear your vanes off. There has to be speed loss somewhere along the line. I've chronographed numerous bows in front of the owner with and without the WB. It clearly showed a loss of speed even only 2-3 fps. Some have actually changed to a different rest and then the dedicated ones have stuck with the WB. Those were the ones who brought their arrows in to be refletched again a week or two later. Well enough said about this subject. It's been kind of reemed to death. I always say use what's comfortable for you. Peace!
|
|
|
Post by jeffpahunter on Feb 23, 2008 23:14:30 GMT -4
As a devoted Whisker Biscuit user and also one who does a VAST amount of testing and uses data to back up about everything my tests back up Xman's statement as well. I tested using my chrono and with 4" feathers the WB rest was 2/3 fps slower, Blazer's the same and 4" vanes were 3/4 fps. Not a significant amount IMHO but is there. As for the vane issue,... to me it's a none issue and if your having major problems it's likely your shooting a WB with too small of a hole. It's better to have the hole excessively large than just a bit too small. I shoot the Large on all of my bows using fat Carbons (CX 400's & Maxima 350's) and I have no tuning issues and vane/feather life is fine. I have arrows in my quiver with Blazers on that I fletched early last summer and they are as straight as the day I fletched them. I also shoot 4" feathers and while they do fuzz on the very tips if you shoot a lot but that's all and it's not enough to effect flight or performance and I shoot a lot. Again the WB isn't the rest for everyone and that's fine but I've typically found the "it's not accurate" or it eats fletching " comments either a case of something being wrong with the tune or statements being over exaggerated.. But again pick a rest your confident in and will be comfortable with, don't go just by others recommendations.
|
|
|
Post by firefightnlife on Feb 23, 2008 23:40:14 GMT -4
for me it is dangerous because i don't go out to my grandmothers 50 acres to practise i do it in my back yard, which is 20 yards across and about 40 deep. if one flys off target it could potentially damage property, my target safety background is about 2ft all around my block. i wouldn't want it to fly. i will look into a jig at my local archery shop and see about info on refletching myself, thank for the info.
|
|
|
Post by XMan on Feb 24, 2008 9:55:39 GMT -4
Firefighternlife, you will find it very easy fletching arrows. Have a little faith:-) Try the JoJann fletcher. You can do 6 arrows at a time. For fletching glue I'd recommend Tim's Goat Tuff. It's a little salty but I've never had a vane or feather fly off. Be careful it will glue your fingers together if not careful. It's the best glue on the market for fletching arrows.
|
|
|
Post by firefightnlife on Feb 24, 2008 18:33:30 GMT -4
thanks all
|
|