Have a seat young grasshopper, class is about to begin. And yes, a majority carries over to your setup so pay attention.
Who's shooting? Tuning? Tinkering?
- Thread starter bowhunter1023
- Start date
Have a seat young grasshopper, class is about to begin. And yes, a majority carries over to your setup so pay attention.
You can see it in your pics. The non traditional fletching all seem to be straight. I also noticed it on Chass’s pic.
Ha those do have some weight to em Jamie outta plow right through.bidness endView attachment 63755
guidance systemView attachment 63756
fuggin' lightweights.
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How many pounds you shooting?
BlueSpruceOutfitters
Junior Member
Well, apparently every slacker friend I know needs me to look at their bow, so they can start shooting a month before the season opens 
. Spend all weekend tuning bows. Lol. But managed to get 3 done and even shooting well when it was 20 mph crosswinds. Lol.
Three shot is at 20 yds
Two shot is at 60 yds.
I'm done being everyone's bow tune whore for a while. Lol. I have dove season soon!
. Spend all weekend tuning bows. Lol. But managed to get 3 done and even shooting well when it was 20 mph crosswinds. Lol. Three shot is at 20 yds
Two shot is at 60 yds.
I'm done being everyone's bow tune whore for a while. Lol. I have dove season soon!
bidness endView attachment 63755
guidance systemView attachment 63756
fuggin' lightweights.
View attachment 63757
Ahhh gotcha. A lot of it is preference and some of it is also depending on how much a person likes to tinker. Most arrows that are prefletched when you buy them are straight-fletched. Not sure why that is. I think most guys, at least the ones I know, who fletch their own usually go with a helical fletch. Depends on what equipment they have access to as well. I have never seen a disadvantage to a helical fletch but I could be missing something. I even like a hard right helical on my blazer vanes for my compound. I do however shoot a large fixed blade broadhead, so I'm a big fan of mucho stabilito. If shooting a mechanical head the added spin and stability would be less of a difference maker.
Ha! Totally know what you mean. I hear from a lot of long lost "buddies" just before bow season. Kinda glad m press finally broke now actually.
I'm shooting 58lbs, but it is a very hard shooting 58lbs by virtue of design. I don't own a chronograph, but I've shot my various setups though one from time to time. generally my straight and D/R BBO's in the 60lb range shoot 700 grain arrow about 160 fps, give or take a few. this static recurve is probably closer to 170fps. lots of momentum, which is the way I prefer to asses the penetration power of my setups.
I shoot left wing feathers only because everyone else shoots rights. makes no difference which helical as long as they are all the same on an arrow. these are 5 1/2" fletchings that I burn to a shape I created. sort of a parabolic/shield cut hybrid. "parashield". big feathers, strong helical, but quiet, and stabilizes a broadhead very fast. I like my arrows flying straight for those 5-10 yard shots.
Nice setup Jamie.
I just started getting into chopping my own feathers this year.
I really like real turkey feathers. Mine are 5 inch shield and you are right doesn't matter if they are left or right wing.
I had a guy at work argue with me that it does matter. Lol
Jamie, you ever burn out any goose feathers for arrows? I sent a batch to Hoot a few years ago. I've always thought it'd be cool to have some arrows fletched with goose feathers from a bird I killed. I'll try to remember to save some up this fall, just in case.
BlueSpruceOutfitters
Junior Member
Yeah. Amazing how many "friends" crawl our from under rocks when it's a month away from deer killing season!
yes, I've burned goose feathers. they work fine, just not quite as rigid as primary turkey feathers. barred feathers look cool and "traditional", but the main reason I use them is that they are extremely water repellent compared to domestic bird feathers, and more durable.
preparing the quill on goose feathers is rather a pain, even more so than turkey feathers. I save up my feathers and when I get a couple hundred I send them off to have the quills ground by a pro. last time I did it cost me 25 cents per. a real bargain compared to buying full length feathers.
preparing the quill on goose feathers is rather a pain, even more so than turkey feathers. I save up my feathers and when I get a couple hundred I send them off to have the quills ground by a pro. last time I did it cost me 25 cents per. a real bargain compared to buying full length feathers.
well, let me tell you how wrong he is. one time I fletched an arrow with right wing feathers using a left wing clamp just to see if it would work. I was careful not to skimp on the Duco and let them dry extra long, but when finished, arrow shot like all the rest. now, I wouldn't do that with my actual hunting arrows, but you get the idea.
For those of you who do your own maintenance and tuning on your bows, what would you all recommend for a press. I'm at the point where I hardly trust any shops near me to work on my bows. I've had issues with just about all of them, and I feel if anyone is going to fugg up my rigs it's going to be me. This is something I've told myself I would do years ago and drop the ball every time. I get lazy and take it to the shop and usually end up disappointed on the work completed. Along with the press, what basic tools would be beneficial to have on hand to perform basic tuning?
BlueSpruceOutfitters
Junior Member
I use an XPress Pro. It's great. Easy and fast to use. Great for quick fixes or tuning stuff. I'd also recommend a nice fletching jig, I use the Bohning Tower Helix job. Works really well for aggressive fletching. A bow clamp like the Apple kind works great for me. I was in the same boat about 5 years ago, just sick of letting other people mess my bow up. It was a hard investment but worth every penny and more. I've never had a better tuned bow. Shoots 6" groups at 90 yards which is better than I'm actually capable of. Lol.
You can build your own....
https://theohiooutdoors.com/threads/diy-pipe-clamp-bow-press.2595/
Or you can buy one. If buying one I'd probably go with a Last Chance EZ Press. They make several different models. Not cheap but it'll last forever.
http://lastchancearchery.com/shop-1/ez-press
The pipe clamp press that I built lasted me a long time and I pressed a bunch of bows with it. It finally gave up the ghost this past winter while pressing a buddy's Blowtech. One of my oak "fingers" started to crack. It hasn't failed completely but I simply don't trust it. It cracked near the base, around the part that the pipe slips through.... not up top where it grabs the bow.
Other handy tools....
Bubble levels
Apple Archery bow vise
Draw board (an absolute must)
https://theohiooutdoors.com/threads/diy-draw-board-with-pics.4458/
Set of T-handle allen wrenches
Dloop pliers
Silver sharpie (for marking cams and strings)
and PATIENCE
https://theohiooutdoors.com/threads/diy-pipe-clamp-bow-press.2595/
Or you can buy one. If buying one I'd probably go with a Last Chance EZ Press. They make several different models. Not cheap but it'll last forever.
http://lastchancearchery.com/shop-1/ez-press
The pipe clamp press that I built lasted me a long time and I pressed a bunch of bows with it. It finally gave up the ghost this past winter while pressing a buddy's Blowtech. One of my oak "fingers" started to crack. It hasn't failed completely but I simply don't trust it. It cracked near the base, around the part that the pipe slips through.... not up top where it grabs the bow.
Other handy tools....
Bubble levels
Apple Archery bow vise
Draw board (an absolute must)
https://theohiooutdoors.com/threads/diy-draw-board-with-pics.4458/
Set of T-handle allen wrenches
Dloop pliers
Silver sharpie (for marking cams and strings)
and PATIENCE
BlueSpruceOutfitters
Junior Member
Thanks gentlemen, I appreciate it.
Jim, not sure how I missed that thread, but it appears you were in my shoes several years ago. Great stuff in there, thank you sir.
Now lets see how the wife takes to the bow press that shows up on the door step.
Easier to ask for forgiveness, so they say...
Jim, not sure how I missed that thread, but it appears you were in my shoes several years ago. Great stuff in there, thank you sir.
Now lets see how the wife takes to the bow press that shows up on the door step.
Easier to ask for forgiveness, so they say...
Have it sent to someone else’s house!Thanks gentlemen, I appreciate it.
Jim, not sure how I missed that thread, but it appears you were in my shoes several years ago. Great stuff in there, thank you sir.
Now lets see how the wife takes to the bow press that shows up on the door step.
Like mine, then I’ll “give” it to you when you guys come visit. Win/win