I'm slowly adding to my home shop, and now with the season winding down, I'm going to add a few things to work on this winter. I'm going to begin doing my own fletching, but I have a few questions. I removed the fletching on three of my arrows using a razor blade. I was careful to keep the blade at a very low angle as to not gouge the arrow, but in doing so, I still have quite a bit of adhesive left, and small traces of the fletching base. I've heard mixed opinions on using acetone to remove the adhesive. Is this detrimental to the arrow, or is this what I should be using? Secondly, I've thought about purchasing a stripper tool like the zip strip. I'm assuming this tool would make the removal process quicker and more efficient. Do tools like this remove the entire fletch base AND adhesive, or do you still need to remove most of the adhesive after using the tool? Newb questions, I know, but I want to do this right the first time around.
I'm interested in hearing folks opinion on this too. I'm headed to Cabelas this weekend with a hand full of gift cards burnin' a hole in my pocket! I was originally going to buy another LW Stand and set or two of sticks, but I think I'm going to stock up on some Arrow Building and Bow Tuning supplies instead. I've seen a few good reviews on the zip strip, but I'm interested in hearing what you all have to say.
I understand the zip strip is very effective at removing the vane and most of the dried glue but I do not own one. I use a semi sharp knife to get most of it off and then use acetone to get the remnants off. I suppose soaking in acetone for a period of time can be detrimental to the shaft I don't really do that and have never noticed any ill effects and I have shot those arrows a lot. After removing all of the glue I clean the shaft with denatured alcohol. Now, with all of that said: I do not use glue or vanes currently and, probably, for the forseeable future. I use feathers and feather fletch tape. The feather fletch tape works as well as any glue but is easier, neater and better IMO. I can shoot the arrows as soon as I fletch them and, after the feathers get beat up (which takes quite a while for me) I can just peel them off, rub off the remnants of the tape with my thumb, clean the shaft and refletch. Feathers do cost a bit more but if you shop around they can be purchased for a reasonable price.
I use a somewhat dull swiss army knife. I get 90% of the glue/arrow base off this way, and it won't cut into the carbon. I've used razors before and it's simply too easy to damage the carbon.......I don't use them anymore. I usually will use a paper towel soaked in acetone to wipe up anything remaining, and then repeat with the dull knife/acetone if I find anything I missed the first time around. I've never had any negative issues from the acetone, and I've got arrows that have been fletched 3-4 times. I use acetone for a lot of things, including the bases of my vanes.......I get a better fletching job using it I feel.
I have the Zipstrip and actually figured out how to use it. But I have to admit, my first arrow was a victim of gouging. I called the company & they gave me a clue how to use it correctly. I also contacted Eastman and the use of acetone, and they recommended only to use it sparingly, not let it soak on the arrow. Now to get to the fact. You are doing it right by leaving a little bit of the base. Then I very lightly go back over the base and glue & take it off in a narrow strips. Probably takes about 7-10 swipes, but you will remove I'd say about 99% of the the remaining base/glue. I also used a little super fine sandpaper to remove any glue, but very lightly. Then wipe with a paper towel with a little acetone to remove any dust/impurities. The zip strip definitely helps removing fletching.
I have the Zip Strip as well, as I was destroying carbon arrows with a razor blade. It took me a few tries with the Zip Strip but I figured out the best way to use the Zip Strip is to flip the tool over and allow the curvature of the tool glide against the arrow shaft and just slowly chip away at the dried glue and vane base. Much like in da woods said, I use a combination of the zip strip, light sandpaper, and denatured alcohol or acetone to remove the carbon dust left over from stripping the vanes. BUT, on that note, I am also getting into using feathers/fletch tape (exactly what Bruce stated). I am curious to see how this process works compared to vanes/glue as well as I like the benefits of feathers when trying to get better FOC% out of my arrows.
One "specialized" tool I use is a pair of small, sharp scissors. I put the tape on the feather with a little bit (1/16") hanging off of the end, then run the tape down the feather and use the scissors to trim the roll end off first, then trim off the 1/16" free end. Rub the tape with my thumbnail a few times to get firm adhesion and then peel off the non-stick part and stick on the arrow just like any fletch. Once you do a few arrows you will get a routine. I had my 7yr old daughter helping me a few nights ago. She wouldn't have been able to help if I was using glue. She was thrilled to be helping me make arrows and I was thrilled to have her.
Bruce, Thanks for the tip. I went in search of some fletching tape at both Bass Pro and Gander Mountain. The Gander Mountain sucks around my house so I wasn't surprised they didn't have it. I actually found pin nocks I have been looking for so it wasn't a TOTAL waste of a trip but Bass Pro not carrying it really kinda irked me. I am debating whether I make a special internet purchase from Lancaster or just use glue until I can find some tape. Either way, I will use tape sometime in my archery career and therefore, will put your good tips to use! Thanks
Sorry, I should have given this link when I first mentioned the tape. The site caters to the trad crowd but they have a lot of great archery stuff that everyone can use. http://www.3riversarchery.com/product.asp?i=5384 Good luck with the tape. Beware though, once you start using it you may not go back to glue and vanes LOL
Bruce, thanks for the link. I will probably end up calling and ordering some stuff from there. I might have to pick up some more Rayzr feathers as well since the Blazers might be put on the back shelf now!
