If you have been practicing archery long enough, you will, at some point, damage the fletching on your arrows. In this post you will learn how to fletch arrows so that you can start using those damaged arrows again.
Many archers like to make their own arrows from scratch. Choosing an arrow shaft, cutting the arrow shaft down to the proper size, fletching the arrow and adding a nock and point.
What Is Fletching?
Fletching is the part of an arrow that makes the arrow spin, stabilizing the arrow for perfect flight and maximum accuracy..
Traditionally, arrow fletching was made from the feathers of a turkey and for many recurve and longbow shooters, feathers are still the fletching of choice.
Bow hunters that choose to shoot compound bows typically choose arrows with plastic vanes, or blazer vanes for fletching.
How To Fletch Your Own Arrows
Fletching your own arrows is a pretty simple process once you know how to do it.
Let’s take a look at the process step by step:
Step 1 – Clean The Shaft
The first step to fletch your arrow is to clean the shaft.
Use a rag and denatured alcohol to clean the nock end of the arrow shaft and then let it dry.
It doesn’t matter if you are using aluminum or carbon arrows, the process is the same.
Step 2 – Place Fletchings Into A Jig
The next step is to place your 3 fletchings, or vanes into the fletching jig. A fletching jig is one of the tools that every archer and bowhunter should have. Try to buy the best fletching jig that you can afford, as this will make fletching arrows much easier.
Step 3 – Apply Fletching Glue To Your Vanes
Next you apply a thin layer of fletching glue to the vanes. Be aware that not all fletching glue is the same and the glue that you choose will largely determine the durability of the fletching on your arrows.
Click here for our recommendations for quality fletching glue.
Step 4 – Load The Arrow Into Your Fletching Jig
Next, load your arrow shaft into the fletching jig. Once the arrow is secure in the jig, you will turn it ¼ turn. This will put the helical into your fletching which will make the arrow spin when released from the bowstring and stabilize the arrow’s flight.
Step 5 – Clean Off Excess Glue
Remove your arrow from the fletching jig and use the denatured alcohol and a rag to carefully remove any excess glue from the arrow shaft.
Step 6 – Reinforce The Fletching For Durability
The next step is to add a drop of glue to each end of the fletching. One drop on the nock side(tail) and one drop on the point side(tip).
Let the glue dry.
That’s it, you’re done!
You now know how to fletch your own arrows!
Conclusion
It doesn’t matter what type of bow you choose, eventually you are going to want to learn how to fletch arrows.
By using the 6 simple steps above, you will be fletching arrows like an expert in no time.
The same process works for feathers, plastic vanes, or blazer vanes and it will work on aluminum arrows, carbon arrows and even wooden arrows.
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