Roger that. It seems to me that more and more serious shooters are switching over to 4-fletch these days. It’ll be interesting to see how you like it.
Who's shooting? Tuning? Tinkering?
- Thread starter bowhunter1023
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I have fletching adhesion issues that I haven't experienced before, so I'll need to troubleshoot that. But... it's hard to argue with either group from 15 steps. Bow feels great and they sound like a truck hitting the foam blocks.
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Looks great Jesse! I’ve been using Bohning Fletch Fuse. The stuff sets up in 20 seconds and I have to find a fletch that won’t adhere. It’s the best I’ve used and I think I’ve tried em all. Walmart even carries it!
I'll try that out. I've always used Loctite Gel, but I think these AAE vanes and the reflective wraps have a little smoother surfaces and the gel simply didn't penetrate. The seal was brittle and they basically "flaked" off.
Interestingly, no issues with Fusion vanes, Loctite, and same wraps from Onestringer. The base of the AAEs are a touch skinnier than the Fusions and I'm not sure my jig was really seating them properly. I'll make a few adjustments to the process and try again. If it happens again, I'd agree there's an issue with the wraps or at least this particular marriage.
@bowhunter1023 Are you having issues with both the straight fletched and the helical, or just the helical? My assumption is the helical would be more difficult to get “right” in your jig, since the bases are skinnier (less room for error).
Big_Holla
Senior Member
I've used Fletch Tite Platinum for many years now using the same wraps but with Blazer vanes. Always stick in that combination anyway.
Jesse, are you cleaning the base of the vanes with anything? Just wondering if they’ve got a film on them messing with the adhesion process.
Not with these. Never had issues with Blazers or Fusions, so I was just proceeding per usual processes. The thought crossed my mind and I should have done it to be safe, but didn't. I will going forward.
cspot
Member
I always had good luck with the locktite gel. I never used wraps though with them. I am interested in seeing your results.
Stripping down the mess from the first round. Going to do these without wraps at first. Kudos to Easton for stamping these shafts. I've always preferred to clean off the factory paint job, but not all carbon shafts had info stamped on them. Batch, GPI and spine are right there for future reference even after the 5MM FMJ "advertising" has been stripped off.
Headed to basketball. I'll fletch them later and hopefully test them tonight.
Headed to basketball. I'll fletch them later and hopefully test them tonight.
Here’s another good one. I’ve always been interested in the idea of a crazy heavy arrow for a crossbow. Today has been the day I’ve kinda fallen into the rabbit hole.
I wasn’t impressed with that doe I almost split in half this year. The arrow and broadhead did some massive damage, but it did so while moving around entirely to much. I feel like it could’ve been a different outcome if it wasn’t a 10’ shot. (I also wouldn’t have taken the shot had it not been so close)
I wasn’t impressed with that doe I almost split in half this year. The arrow and broadhead did some massive damage, but it did so while moving around entirely to much. I feel like it could’ve been a different outcome if it wasn’t a 10’ shot. (I also wouldn’t have taken the shot had it not been so close)
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Indoor 3d today. Mason beat me by two points again. He shot 19 really good arrows, and one really bad one. He wound up tied with two others for first but won on the X count - he shot 12 of them on 20 targets. If he had not had the bobble, he’d have had a 212 or 213. Not bad at all!
We are shooting the IBO indoor world next weekend. If he’s on with yardage estimation, I expect him to do well.
We are shooting the IBO indoor world next weekend. If he’s on with yardage estimation, I expect him to do well.
Good luck this weekend, Brock and Mason! It's awesome seeing him mature into such a fine archer. I believe we all expect big things from him moving forward!
For @giles and his current thought train. This group is from 400 grain arrows. Better than the groups from my 500+ grain arrows at the same yardage. However... the bow is more violent. Louder and not nearly as smooth on the follow through. I stripped these down and 4-fletched them with Fusion vanes. We'll see how they shoot then. I'll likely go to the local shop soon for a chronograph comparison between the 2 versions of arrow I've got going. Next step will be yardage gaps at longer distances, paper, and walkback work. Tinker, tinker.
Also, I ruined 2 of the heavy arrows thanks to them burying to the fletching and mushrooming off the block wall. That's an additional 6" of penetration through these foam blocks and it would have been more if the wall didn't stop them.