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Feather and Fletching Talk (w/ Poll)

Helical or Strait?

  • Total voters
    25
gcr0003

gcr0003

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2018
Messages
8,054
So when I got into traditional archery I was shooting right handed and therefore the standard right wing feathers I fletched my arrows with made sense (even though I didn’t care either way). Now that I’m fully committed to left hand for about two years now I thought it was about time that I switch to left wing feathers. I got some left wing feathers and fletched them up with a left helical jig I got in a recent bow purchase. I’m not sure that I love the helical better than straight nor can I tell much difference in the arrow flight. I’m considering going back to strait fletch and selling the bitzenburger jig unless the trad stars can convince of a reason not to.

That said I’m back into doing a little fletching and I’m curious what everyone prefers? I currently used gorilla glue gel, parabolic 4” feathers, white, bitz left helical, Gateway feathers. I want to get pink feathers and I’m not sure about the helical vs. straight.

So,

Q1: What’s your go to feather cut/shape?
A1:
Q2: “ “ “ “ feather length?
A2:
Q3: “ “ “ “ feather brand?
A3:
Q4: “ “ “ “ feather fletching glue?
A4:
Q5: “ “ “ “ feather fletching jig?
A5:
Q6: “ “ “ “ feather orientation? (Helical, straight, straight diagonal, major helical, other)
A6:
Q7: “ “ “ “ feather colors?
A7:
 
Q1: What’s your go to feather cut/shape?
A1: Shield cut, Simply cause I just like the looks better.
Q2: “ “ “ “ feather length?
A2: 5" if two fletch, whatever is on sale with 3 fletch
Q3: “ “ “ “ feather brand?
A3: Cheapest
Q4: “ “ “ “ feather fletching glue?
A4: Fletch tite
Q5: “ “ “ “ feather fletching jig?
A5: AZ easy fletch
Q6: “ “ “ “ feather orientation? (Helical, straight, straight diagonal, major helical, other)
A6: helical
Q7: “ “ “ “ feather colors?
A7: White

With all of that answered, I've never felt like my fletching style/shape/length, etc. ever made enough of a difference to notice it with my shooting abilities.
 
Last edited:
Q1: What’s your go to feather cut/shape?
A1: shield cut
Q2: “ “ “ “ feather length?
A2: 4”
Q3: “ “ “ “ feather brand?
A3: cheapest but I found a deal bear paw and stalked up enough for my lifetime but I also have truefletch
Q4: “ “ “ “ feather fletching glue?
A4: using arrow mate but going to try something else because it takes so long to dry, however it works great
Q5: “ “ “ “ feather fletching jig?
A5:Blitz
Q6: “ “ “ “ feather orientation? (Helical, straight, straight diagonal, major helical, other)
A6:helical left
Q7: “ “ “ “ feather colors?
A7: white and pink is my go to but also have green

Note that I am a right handed shooter and have both right and left helical arrows and I don’t see a difference. Something to consider though is the natural spin of the arrow off of your bow. If you bare shaft an arrow, mark the arrow and shoot at short distance, take a step back and shot again, take a step back and shoot again it will give you the natural rotation of your arrow. “IF” I was to pick a rotation I might try to do this first and in my mind it would only help to add to a specific natural rotation off my bow rather than fight it with an opposing fletching. But… I do not think it really matters in the whole scheme of things enough to specifically try to set up for one way or the other - I don’t see any difference on n my setup either way but I am also not shooting broadheads that need it
 
RH shooter.

Shape - custom I came up with for the burner
Length - 4.25"
Brand - Wild turkey
Glue - Fletch tape
Jig - Bitz and dont remember what the other one is
Orientation - Left helical
Color - Wild turkey
 
BTaylor said:
RH shooter.

Shape - custom I came up with for the burner
Length - 4.25"
Brand - Wild turkey
Glue - Fletch tape
Jig - Bitz and dont remember what the other one is
Orientation - Left helical
Color - Wild turkey
Click to expand...
You got a picture of them there Turkey feathers on an arra?
 
b21bfee922c113b0de4cd4aa1281e240.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
right hand shooter


Q1: What’s your go to feather cut/shape?
A1: burner, shield
Q2: “ “ “ “ feather length?
A2: 4''
Q3: “ “ “ “ feather brand?
A3: trueflight, turkey
Q4: “ “ “ “ feather fletching glue?
A4: gorrila glue gel
Q5: “ “ “ “ feather fletching jig?
A5: right wing ( Cheepo)
Q6: “ “ “ “ feather orientation? (Helical, straight, straight diagonal, major helical, other)
A6: helical
Q7: “ “ “ “ feather colors?
A7: white, yellow, natural, art. barred

sometimes i try some fancy splicing.
 
Q1: What’s your go to feather cut/shape?
A1: low profile shield I cut with rotary wheel and template
Q2: “ “ “ “ feather length?
A2: 3.5”
Q3: “ “ “ “ feather brand?
A3: Wild Turkey/cheap from eBay full length
Q4: “ “ “ “ feather fletching glue?
A4: Gorilla Impact Gel
Q5: “ “ “ “ feather fletching jig?
A5: Bitzenburger w/straight clamp
Q6: “ “ “ “ feather orientation? (Helical, straight, straight diagonal, major helical, other)
A6: Right Wing, straight with slight offset
Q7: “ “ “ “ feather colors?
A7: If not wild turkey feathers then hot pink, white, or flo green.
 
Shape - parabolic or AAE
Length - 3”
Fletch number - 4
Brand - Gateway or TruFlight
Glue - Fletch tape
Jig - Bitz
Orientation - Straight with slight left offset
Color - standard, flo yellow and purple or custom, spliced feathers of various colors


45e20ae111076e953310d698e51d81e0.jpg
 
The Old Timers Always Claimed a R.H Shooter Should Use L.W. Feathers To Allow The Rotation Away From The Rest. The Problem W/That is The Arrow Does Not Rotate Before Passing The Rest. I Shoot R. Handed W/L.W. Shield Cuts, But Only Because That's The Way I Was Taught. I've Also Gone From 5.5" Banana Maxi Cuts, Down To 2.5 " Shields W/O a Lot of Difference.
 
gcr0003 said:
Man those look sweet. How many feathers do you get from one Turkey feather? I have a few that id love to do this with one day.
Click to expand...
Depends on the feather and length you are cutting them. I have been mostly using 4.24-4.5" and generally only get 2 from a feather. Next year I am going to play with a new profile and shorter length maybe around 3.25". May be able to get 3 of those from a good primary.
 
I’ve only made 2 sets of arrows so far, was previously shooting left helical 5” on carbon shafts (3Rivers Traditional Only).

Q1: What’s your go to feather cut/shape?
A1: Shield Cut
Q2: “ “ “ “ feather length?
A2: 5”
Q3: “ “ “ “ feather brand?
A3: I’ve bought from Gateway
Q4: “ “ “ “ feather fletching glue?
A4: Tape with duco cement on front and back
Q5: “ “ “ “ feather fletching jig?
A5: bitzenburger
Q6: “ “ “ “ feather orientation? (Helical, straight, straight diagonal, major helical, other)
A6: Left Helica
Q7: “ “ “ “ feather colors?
A7: Orange Cockfeather and white camo on my current setup.

1665094611016.jpeg
 
Last edited:
I'll use any fletching shape and any color. Doesn't really matter. Most of the time it's 4 or 5", but I'll be chopping some 3's. I use a Jo Jan jig. The Bitz always seemed "busy" to me.
Typically rt helical or offset if using small diameter shafts. Fletch tape and Fletch Tite platinum for carbon, tape and Duco on wood.
 
Lots of Helical shooters it appears. I seem to prefer my arrow to have as little rotation as possible. Why do y’all like the spin so much?
 
Left hand

Q1: What’s your go to feather cut/shape?
A1: parabolic
Q2: “ “ “ “ feather length?
A2: 4 inches
Q3: “ “ “ “ feather brand?
A3: Truflight
Q4: “ “ “ “ feather fletching glue?
A4: Gorilla on white wrap
Q5: “ “ “ “ feather fletching jig?
A5: Bohning Pro with left clamp
Q6: “ “ “ “ feather orientation? (Helical, straight, straight diagonal, major helical, other)
A6:Left Helical
Q7: “ “ “ “ feather colors?
A7: Orange and Yellow over white wrap with Sharpies cresting

1665147355442.png
 
gcr0003 said:
Lots of Helical shooters it appears. I seem to prefer my arrow to have as little rotation as possible. Why do y’all like the spin so much?
Click to expand...
I’m curious as well. My understanding is helical imparts more noise.

I also see a lot of parabolic. I’ve seen fletching tests where 5” parabolic are the loudest by a long shot. Innovative Outdoors has a good video on this.
 
JSEXTON23 said:
I’m curious as well. My understanding is helical imparts more noise.

I also see a lot of parabolic. I’ve seen fletching tests where 5” parabolic are the loudest by a long shot. Innovative Outdoors has a good video on this.
Click to expand...

I just checked out that video. I don’t think shooting any feathers from a 250-350 FPS compound bow would compares well to a 160 fps traditional bow, but I can easily see helical being a little louder, I’m not sure by how much.

I know DIY sportsman did a video on the arrow flight with helical which supported that the stability of the arrow flight is increased with the spin. That said, I’m not shooting distances where I think it’s going to add that much advantage. If I had to choose it would be based on what I’m the most confident with and the least amount of noise.
 
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