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Any new developments in feather fletching waterproofing?

raisins

raisins

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2019
Messages
6,277
I'd love to go back to feathers, but I can't stand that in a steady rain they lay down. I keep an arrow on the bow and ready to go, so I can't do the baggie trick on that one. I used to use the bohning (I think?) shake on powder to waterproof....but that only bought me a few hours before laying down.

Has anyone found a feather treatment that can withstand a light-medium rain for hours and not fail? I'm not hunting in torrential downpours or anything.
 
Use to use the baby formula bag trick shoot it and bag falls off then I tried sprays that work for awhile. Now I just shake the water off the feathers periodically and that works best for me never had to shoot past 20 yards in a rain. Killed a few that way flys near perfect. Now I have 2 trad vanes arrows just for rain in my quiver and I will cover feathers up for my remaining arrows
 
Razorbak66 said:
Use to use the baby formula bag trick shoot it and bag falls off then I tried sprays that work for awhile. Now I just shake the water off the feathers periodically and that works best for me never had to shoot past 20 yards in a rain. Killed a few that way flys near perfect. Now I have 2 trad vanes arrows just for rain in my quiver and I will cover feathers up for my remaining arrows
Click to expand...

What are trad vanes ? The main reason I'd like the use feathers again is the drag vs weight. I shoot a compound now with a drop away, so forgiveness with fletch contact is not an issue. To really steer a big fixed blade, I don't want to go to 4" X 4 fletch vanes that weigh a ton. So anything that is light with high drag.
 
Trad vanes are by AAE and very light they are thin and come in several sizes with 4” being the longest they hold up pretty decent I have to reflect after going thru my targets but no big deal specially if they go thru a animal.
 
BTW I only use 2 fletch on my trad arrows and just use regular AAE vanes like the nock on version on my compounds
 
When I used to shoot feathers, I used a brush on waterproof treatment I found at a fly fishing shop for dry flies. I don't remember the name of the brand, but Google will point you in the right direction.

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk
 
movehuntir said:
I've been waterproofing feathers for some time with "ICE" liquid car wax. Saturate feathers after fletching and let dry. I lost an arrow late one summer and found it the following spring. Arrow was trashed (wood) but the fletching looked as good as when I put them on.
Click to expand...

This stuff?

www.turtlewax.com

ICE Liquid Wax 14 OZ

Ice Liquid Wax adds a layer of protection and magnifies paint reflectivity better than any other car wax polish thanks to its easy on, easy off formula
www.turtlewax.com www.turtlewax.com

Your story reminds me of the iPhone I lost in the woods and found 3 years later....and it still worked after charging.
 
movehuntir said:
I've been waterproofing feathers for some time with "ICE" liquid car wax. Saturate feathers after fletching and let dry. I lost an arrow late one summer and found it the following spring. Arrow was trashed (wood) but the fletching looked as good as when I put them on.
Click to expand...
Does that stuff have an odor after it is dry?
 
movehuntir said:
A little, smell is gone pretty much over night.
Click to expand...

Funny how they often add scents to these things, makes you subconsciously want to use it if you get to smell cherries and vanilla while waxing your tough monster truck :)
 
I don’t know anything about ICE but look a Detrapel. The stuff is amazing. Pricey but it works
 
Camelcluch said:
I don’t know anything about ICE but look a Detrapel. The stuff is amazing. Pricey but it works
Click to expand...

Can you point out which type you use?

www.detrapel.com

DetraPel, Inc

DetraPel, Inc. is a chemical manufacturer located in Massachusetts that uses green chemistry. They are the parent to Impermea Materials, ProofPlus, and DetraPel Solution.
www.detrapel.com

There's types in many categories.
 
Feathers are noisy, damage easy, get wet. If I was shooting compound no way I'd put up with that. I shoot (4) 3" trad vanes out of my recurve. If ya need more steerage than that, you probably have a tuning issue.

I've tested soaked 4" feathers and no issue at 20yds. However I didn't test them with broadheads. That can be a whole different outcome.
 
kenn1320 said:
Feathers are noisy, damage easy, get wet. If I was shooting compound no way I'd put up with that. I shoot (4) 3" trad vanes out of my recurve. If ya need more steerage than that, you probably have a tuning issue.

I've tested soaked 4" feathers and no issue at 20yds. However I didn't test them with broadheads. That can be a whole different outcome.
Click to expand...

Very well tuned (hits with field points out to 50 yards), but with a glove on and an 8 point in front of me dangling 20 feet up in a tree....I have gripped my bow wrong and torqued the grip. Also, I'm shooting close to 300 fps, which makes a difference.

I might stick with vanes (maybe go to 4 fletch with longer, low profile vanes).
 
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When I bought Detrapel there was only one. I’m sure it’s all the same but I will fault to the outdoor bottle because the arrows will be outside.
 
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