Thanks Jim. Aside from explaining the helical twist, you provided by default a useful explanation of the Bohning jig's operation which was very helpful for me. I always appreciate your sincere, friendly and informal style.
Hell yeah brother, I'm literally in the process of building some hunting arrows atm, with an extreme helical of course!! One trick I often use is (before you glue anything) to use feather fletching tape first to see if the vane/feather placement and alignment is as I want it. This can be useful when you're constantly building a wide variety of different arrow types, from 4.2mm up to 6.2mm or more, carbon/aluminum/wood, wraps/no wraps, different offsets, different clamps etc. Another trick is to not seat the feather dead flat in the clamp - I leave the front and rear "sitting up" so that when you put it on, its already pressing firmly against the shaft as you push the clamp into location (just don't overdo it). If you want feathers that stay on forever... run a thin bead of fletchtite platinum along the sides AFTER you've already attached your feathers (its like "tops/tails" on steroids). And you can protect the front end of the feather using heatshrink tubing or by binding it with serving (then using bohning fletchtite platinum to cure it). There are many tricks... I could go on if anyone's interested.
I have the same jig and I use fletch tape for 3 years and have been building my arrows with an extreme helical, I love how them shoot and I don't see that much loss in speed. I shoot a 55 lb reflex deflex old mountain mesa 2 longbow. This bow is fast with a smooth draw. Shoot straight my friend, love your video's take care.
I just ordered that jig and you explained what you were doing perfectly. My compound throws a left turn on my arrows so I am going to fletch some left helical arrows up for my double bevel heads.
The very first time I tried fletching arrows, I had no jig so I did it by hand. I thought I could do one better and added a spiral pattern to the fletchings. They looked cool when they were done, but when I finally shot those arrows, it started dropping by 15 metres. Couldn’t go 20 metres without pointing the bow at an absurd angle. Since then, I’ve matched the same fletching angles as Jim.
I presume the trade-offs of fletch rifling pitch, are stability for target shooting, against distance, speed, & silence, which are more important in hunting.
Thank you for this tip Jim! I've been tinkering like crazy trying to squeeze as much performance out of my equipment as possible, I'm running 580-625 grain, 28-32" 400 and 340 spined Gold Tip traditional arrows on my striker sport 45 pound. Now that I've learned this, I'm less invested in building the FOC up, and now I'm having to buy more knocks, as the groups have tightened up so much now that I'm hitting 2 inch groups out to 35 yards, working on expanding that out to 45 plus yards and now that I've gotten this straight, I totally think it's possible to hit a 3 inch group out to about 50 yards.
I'm running left wing feathers off a left handed bow, not that I'm abiding by the old adage, but, I've simply noticed they fly way more consistent that right wing.
To be persnickety, it is almost straight, not exactly helical, but when the initial contact is the middle third of the feather, and you finish the ends by hand (thumb), it becomes more helical, & the difference is negligible. With natural feathers, you need to be careful that the twist is not so severe that the web separates easily, since the barbules at the outer edge of the web are under greater tension than in life. If it does, reduce the pitch, or find more robust feathers.
If you are a hunter, the more twist in the feather, and the larger the feather, the more noise that feather makes traveling through the air. For hunting and a quieter shot, straight offset is best. Now for shooting target or 3D outdoors, go for as much of a helical as you can.
Speed bow is bad. Kinetic energy is what matters if your trying to kill an animal. You will almost never beat a deer if it jumps a string, so stop trying to imo.
Dude.. Please don't repeat the same things 100 times.. Say it once, we can replay if we miss something.. I couldn't get passed the tenth time you said stability VS speed bla bla bla
Thanks Jim. Aside from explaining the helical twist, you provided by default a useful explanation of the Bohning jig's operation which was very helpful for me. I always appreciate your sincere, friendly and informal style.
Hell yeah brother, I'm literally in the process of building some hunting arrows atm, with an extreme helical of course!!
One trick I often use is (before you glue anything) to use feather fletching tape first to see if the vane/feather placement and alignment is as I want it.
This can be useful when you're constantly building a wide variety of different arrow types, from 4.2mm up to 6.2mm or more, carbon/aluminum/wood, wraps/no wraps, different offsets, different clamps etc.
Another trick is to not seat the feather dead flat in the clamp - I leave the front and rear "sitting up" so that when you put it on, its already pressing firmly against the shaft as you push the clamp into location (just don't overdo it).
If you want feathers that stay on forever... run a thin bead of fletchtite platinum along the sides AFTER you've already attached your feathers (its like "tops/tails" on steroids).
And you can protect the front end of the feather using heatshrink tubing or by binding it with serving (then using bohning fletchtite platinum to cure it).
There are many tricks... I could go on if anyone's interested.
I have the same jig and I use fletch tape for 3 years and have been building my arrows with an extreme helical, I love how them shoot and I don't see that much loss in speed. I shoot a 55 lb reflex deflex old mountain mesa 2 longbow. This bow is fast with a smooth draw. Shoot straight my friend, love your video's take care.
I just ordered that jig and you explained what you were doing perfectly. My compound throws a left turn on my arrows so I am going to fletch some left helical arrows up for my double bevel heads.
Excellent video Jim
That looks wicked tbf. Now want to make arrows. Cheers for the vid Jim, very interesting
Master finally gave away The Secret:) Thanks Jim
After I finally figured it out, you deliver the video I've been waiting donkey's for! 🤣🤣 At least I know I'm doing right now. 👍 cheers Jim 👌
sorry buddy 😅
OMG Ive been wondering how to do this for a while now! Thanks Jim!
Any time!
I tape and tie, works wonders! stronger than glue, and waaaaay easier to take out. Alot of work though, gotta be up for it
Great video. Guess I know what my next purchase is going to be!
Go for it!
Master class. Good tips Thx
Thanks for sharing that secret! I tried getting "lots of helical on these, like Jim's" a few times, could never quite get it.
You can do it Douglas!
The very first time I tried fletching arrows, I had no jig so I did it by hand. I thought I could do one better and added a spiral pattern to the fletchings. They looked cool when they were done, but when I finally shot those arrows, it started dropping by 15 metres. Couldn’t go 20 metres without pointing the bow at an absurd angle. Since then, I’ve matched the same fletching angles as Jim.
I would very much like to know where you got that 4,5" shield template? Because I can agree that 5" is a bit much and I would like more than a 4".
I presume the trade-offs of fletch rifling pitch, are stability for target shooting, against distance, speed, & silence, which are more important in hunting.
Looking very flecthing today Grizzles ;)
Very!
Very cool thank you sir for sharing appreciate ya. 👍🏼🏹🇺🇸
Thank you for this tip Jim! I've been tinkering like crazy trying to squeeze as much performance out of my equipment as possible, I'm running 580-625 grain, 28-32" 400 and 340 spined Gold Tip traditional arrows on my striker sport 45 pound. Now that I've learned this, I'm less invested in building the FOC up, and now I'm having to buy more knocks, as the groups have tightened up so much now that I'm hitting 2 inch groups out to 35 yards, working on expanding that out to 45 plus yards and now that I've gotten this straight, I totally think it's possible to hit a 3 inch group out to about 50 yards.
I'm running left wing feathers off a left handed bow, not that I'm abiding by the old adage, but, I've simply noticed they fly way more consistent that right wing.
The Bohning website only lists straight and offset clamps, where did you get the helical clamp from, or has it been discontinue?
To be persnickety, it is almost straight, not exactly helical, but when the initial contact is the middle third of the feather, and you finish the ends by hand (thumb), it becomes more helical, & the difference is negligible. With natural feathers, you need to be careful that the twist is not so severe that the web separates easily, since the barbules at the outer edge of the web are under greater tension than in life. If it does, reduce the pitch, or find more robust feathers.
How much speed loss are we talking Jimbo? 5-10 fps?
Jim, how much GPP do you have on your arrow setup?
Let me check it out, and I'll get back to you 😇
/also prevents the smell of the glue when using tape. Fred
If I am terrible at archery, will this video solve all my problems?
Better be terrible at archery than good at work. 😁
I can't guarantee that...
and I thought I was twisted............. Oh, you mean the fletch. ;-)
it does not work hi tried the helical twist i have the cartel
This guy reminds me of a modern day Magnus Pike
If you are a hunter, the more twist in the feather, and the larger the feather, the more noise that feather makes traveling through the air. For hunting and a quieter shot, straight offset is best.
Now for shooting target or 3D outdoors, go for as much of a helical as you can.
Rather a slow 10 than a fast 9
Speed bow is bad. Kinetic energy is what matters if your trying to kill an animal.
You will almost never beat a deer if it jumps a string, so stop trying to imo.
Dude.. Please don't repeat the same things 100 times.. Say it once, we can replay if we miss something..
I couldn't get passed the tenth time you said stability VS speed bla bla bla
Terrible video ..cannot see anything you're trying to do