Stickbow Target Archery Forums

Hi everyone. i am new to this list. a few years ago ,well really six years ago. i picked up some tapered shafts . i got as far as staining them. i was wondering if any one knows of a fletching jig i can make my self. i think of myself as a DIY guy. i have found some self arrow tips ,but no one seems to use a home made clamp system. am i looking for something that is just not out there?n
thanks in advance for the helpn dan

Dan,n
I think the old way of doing it was to use a straight pin on each end of the feather to hold it in place while it was laced on with very fine sinew.

You might consider using fletching tape and the straight pins. Maybe not and exact copy of the original way, but it should work
Art

Thanks Artn
is the pin method really gona work? i thought that i was going to need to fabricate some thing out of wood or aluminum. i have never made arrows before. is there a more accurate way?n
dan

Sure there is a more accurate method! Purchase a proper fletching jig.
If you purchase a good one, thats all you will ever need in your lifetime.

i know i can go out and buy one , what i want to do is make one . when i fish its not enough for me to tie my own flys ,i have to make a cane rod to use with them, the fish i land has to be brought to hand in a net i also crafted,its just the way i am. my friends poke fun at me and say that soon i will be forging my own hooks . they aren't that far off. i just thought that there may be a link or an old post that i could look at. there have to be more people out there that feel the need to make there own gear. i 'm not saying i want to go back in time,its not too hard to copy the past given todays tech . i just thought that given the fact that people make ther own quivers, arrow spinners, cresting jigs, etc. that there was some where a fletching tool some one made to look at.

thanks dan.

i am sorry if i have offended anyone who is a true and true tradionalist(sp)

Dan,n
Didn't mean to take the lore out of it all I have made several things for myself, most of the items you have mentioned. For me there are just items that are just better purchased, and for my purposes the fletching jig is one of them.
Good luck on your project!

I don't have any instructions on making a fletching jig, but it looks to be a simple project. Indexing the shaft and the clamp which holds the feather. I saw a picture of a fletching jig in Elmer's Target Archery page 301 that looks simple and easy to make with wood and a metal clip/clamp you might find in a stationary store.

Good luck and keep the faith.
Larry

Thanks for the help. For some reason arrow building has always been a stumbling block for me. May be i should just get to the work bench and do it , and stop thinking so much.

who knows i may have to break down a buy a jig.

dan