Fletching Jigs

[tcoop]

Hi everyone,

I have been thinking about getting a jig to fletch my own arrows. I've been looking at a Jo Jan (http://shopping.jojan.net/multi.php) Mult-Fletcher, or a Bitzenburger (http://www.bitzenburger.com/) jig. Does anyone have any experience with either of these?

Are the plastic ones designed like the Bitzenburger good enough? They are a lot cheaper.

tcoop

[Myk]

Here's the one I use.
arrow fletcher (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/standard-pod-wrapped.jhtml?id=0004546&navAction=push&navCount=3&indexId=cat20067&parentId=cat20067&parentType=index&rid=&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fcatalog%2Fpod-link.jhtml.2_A&_DAV=http%3A%2F%2Fa1460.g.akamai.net%2Ff%2F1460%2F 1339%2F6h%2Fwww.cabelas.com%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fconte nt%2FPod%2F00%2F45%2F46%2Fp004546ii01.jpg)

Out of the two you gave I would take the Jo-Jan. I don't want to take 45 minutes to wait for glue to dry just to make one arrow. Even if the glue takes 5 minutes to dry, doing them one at a time would be a pain.

[the long ranger]

Those are all real nice looking fletching jigs. The one I have is a cheap-o plastic one. The design is almost identical to that Bitzenburger jig. It works good enough, but it isnt a fancy pants jig. :(

Its This One (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/standard-pod-wrapped.jhtml?id=0004544&navAction=push&navCount=3&indexId=cat20067&parentId=cat20067&parentType=index&rid=&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fcatalog%2Fpod-link.jhtml.2_A&_DAV=http%3A%2F%2Fa1460.g.akamai.net%2Ff%2F1460%2F 1339%2F6h%2Fwww.cabelas.com%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fconte nt%2FPod%2F00%2F45%2F44%2Fp004544ii01.jpg)

[Myk]

I have a question about that type. It looks like the spring would keep you from being able to make flu-flu's, is that how they are? On mine the springs and hinges are on the extreme outer edge so I can fit a flu-flu feather in them with no problems.

(Flu-Flu's are those huge feathers for shooting in the air. They limit the arrow travel, great for bird hunting. Just in case you didn't know what a flu-flu was.)

[tcoop]

Hi MYK,

I'm not real sure which type that you are talking about. I assume that you mean the Bitzenburger type? I looked at them and the Cabella's like yours in Cabella's site. They look to me like they have as much clearance as the Cabella's brand. But since I don't have one yet, I can't answer that.

tcoop

[Myk]

I was asking about the type the long ranger posted which is the same principle as the other two you posted, so really any of the other 3 in this thread.

The Cabela's one I have has all the clearance in the world, the back where the feather gets clamped is completely unobstructed. I just measured one of my feathers and it's 1 1/2" wide.

I don't forsee me breaking my jig any time soon but I don't think I want to spend that type of money again if I ever do so one of those cheap plastics may be what I'd want.

[tcoop]

Can anyone answer that? Have you done Flu-Flu arrow with the Bitzenburger type jigs?

tcoop

[Handloader]

I have used many different types of fletching jigs but the Bitzenberger is by far the best on the market and is the one used by more commercial fletchers than any other. As for flu flu's yes they do a geat job on them as well as straight fletch and helical fletch.
;barney

[the long ranger]

The clamp on mine will take a 1 1/2" feather, not a touch more. :)

[don in socal]

:huh:

as i sit here at my work bench/station i have 5 different types of fletching jigs and by and large the best of them are the bitzenbergers, next the jo-jan and then the martin J-8 (the bitzenberger look-a-like)

the bitzenberger and martin J-8 clamps are are interchangable between jigs. they were designed that way.

the bitzenberger left helical will give more degrees of helical than will the right clamp by 4 degrees. i use nothing but LW feathers from any bow that i shoot from my single cam hoyts to my longbows.

:)