How to Re-Fletch an Arrow
By: James Chilton
Table of Contents
1.
2.
3.
Title Page
Table of Contents
Warning and Chemical
information
4. Supplies
5. History and Terminology
6. Vane Removal
7. Vane Removal
8. Vane Removal
9. Glue Removal
10. Glue Removal
11. Final Cleaning of Arrow Shaft
12. Fitting Arrow to the Jig
13. Dry Fitting Vanes
14. Dry Fitting Vanes and Jig
Adjustment
15. Arrow Wraps
16. Arrow Wrap Installation
17. Gluing Vanes
18. Vane Installation
19. Vane Installation
20. Vane Installation
21. Final Gluing
22. Check for Mistakes
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Read First Before Proceeding
Acetone
Extremely Flammable: Acetone is very flammable and should not be stored
near an open flame or heat source.
Vapor Harmful: This chemical should only be used in a well ventilated area or
safety breathing equipment should be used.
Injurious to Skin and Eyes: Avoid contact with skin and eyes.
First Aid: If swallowed, induce vomiting immediately and contact poison
control center or physician for instructions. In case of eye contact, flush
eyes with running water for at least 15 minutes and get medical attention.
In case of skin contact wash the affected area with soap and water.
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Supplies
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(1) Bohning Helix Jig
(1) Acetone
(1) Fletching Remover
(1) Fletching Glue
(1) Mouse pad
(1) Arrow Wrap
(1) Razor Blade
(1) Clean Rag
(3) New Fletchings
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History and Terminology
Arrows of the past were made of wood then aluminum and have now
progressed to carbon. The newest of the three is what we will be using today.
On the original wooden arrow feathers from turkeys were used on the back of
the arrow to stabilize it during flight. The turkey feathers work fine until they
get wet and then stabilization is lost. This created a need for a more durable
way to stabilize arrows in all weather conditions. These days fletchings or
vanes are used, which are made of plastic. They come in all different colors,
shapes and sizes. It is all up to you which you choose to use.
For this application we will be using Blazer Vanes. We will also be using a Jig
which is a tool that hold the arrow in place while the vanes are being glued in
place. The jig we are using is the Bohning Blazer Helix Jig which is made
specifically for assembling arrows with the Blazer Vanes. The term helix refers
to the way the vanes are glued in place. The vanes are actually wrapped
around the shaft of the arrow. This makes the arrow spin faster and smoother
so that it stabilizes quicker for greater accuracy.
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First you will need one carbon arrow
with damaged vanes.
Now you will need to remove your
broad head to prevent any accidents.
6
Get your fletching remover.
Put the blade of your fletching
remover at a 45 deg. Angle to the
arrow shaft and push forward so the
blade slides smoothly between the
shaft and the vane.
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Continue the previous step until all
the vanes are removed. The old
vanes will leave a little material on
the arrow shaft.
Keep using your fletching remover to
scrape the remaining plastic material
off of the shaft. It should look like
the picture below.
8
You will notice that there is still
residue on the shaft left from the old
fletching glue. This needs to be
removed. First remove the arrow
nock.
Now you will need to use the
acetone to remove the remaining
glue. Open the acetone and make
sure you are in a well ventilated area.
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You will need to completely
submerge the nock end of your
arrow into the acetone. Let it sit for
three to five minutes.
Now remove your arrow and wipe
the shaft with a clean cloth. Inspect
the shaft for residue. It should be
clean like the picture below.
10
Pay Close Attention
Now at this point it is very important to make sure all the old glue
residue is removed from the arrow shaft. If there is any glue left on the
shaft re-submerge the shaft into the acetone. After the shaft is completely
clean there may be a slight milky film left on the shaft from the acetone. If
the film is present run warm water over the arrow for a few seconds to
rinse clean. Dry the arrow with the clean cloth.
Now you should have a clean dry arrow shaft. Be sure not to touch
the nock end of the arrow with your hands. Oils form your skin may
reduce adhesion of the arrow wrap. An arrow wrap is a thin piece of highly
durable vinyl that is sticky on one side to adhere to an arrow. The other
side usually has very bright colors to help archers see the arrow better
during flight. The bright colors also help an archer find his arrow easier in
the field after a shot on an animal.
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Replace your arrow nock into the
shaft. Place your arrow into the jig
and slide the arrow all the way into
the notch in the bottom of the jig.
Now you need to dry fit the arrow
with the vanes to make sure they fit
securely. The vane should sit flat
against the shaft.
12
Place your new vane into the vane
holder part of the jig just like the
picture below.
Replace the vane holder back on the
jig. Make sure it is pressed firmly in
place, all the way down and back.
13
Make sure the vane is seated against
the shaft with no gaps as you can see
in the picture below. Gaps must be
fixed before gluing.
To fix gaps use the adjustment screw
on the front of the jig. Unscrew the
nut and move the black arrow holder
up or down as needed.
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After your final adjustments you are
ready to install an arrow wrap. Arrow
wraps add style and help in the
adhesion of fletchings. The wraps
come in all colors shapes and sizes.
Place your mouse pad on a flat firm
surface. Remove one arrow wrap
from its backing and put it on your
mouse pad with the sticky side up.
Make sure you have the graphics in
the direction you want them.
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Remove the nock from your arrow
again. Place your arrow on the
mouse pad next to the wrap. Make
sure the nock end of the arrow is
parallel to the end of the wrap and
the shaft is parallel to the long side.
Now with clean dry hands, roll the
arrow shaft across the wrap so that it
wraps around the arrow. Make sure
to press firmly and evenly while
rolling the shaft to ensure proper
adhesion of the wrap.
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After completing the wrap it should
look like the one below. The seam of
the two edges of the wrap should be
pressed firmly together again. You
can now replace your arrow nock
and place your wrapped arrow back
in the jig.
Use whichever vane you would like
first in the vane holder. Put a thin
even line of glue down the center of
the vane.
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Now put the vane holder back on the
jig just as you did earlier when dry
fitting. Make sure the vane holder is
pressed firmly into place. Also make
sure the arrow is pressed all the way
down into the jig.
Wait five to seven minutes for the
glue to set and then slowly remove
the vane holder. Rotate the black
handle on the end of the jig one click
in either direction. This is preset to
exactly 120 deg.
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Follow the previous steps to glue on
the two remaining vanes.
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When all the vanes are glued in place
you can remove the arrow from the
jig.
For your newly installed vanes to
endure hundreds of shots without
failure you need to add a spot of glue
to the front and rear of each vane.
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When looking straight down on the
arrow from behind you can now see
the twist or helix put into the vanes
by the jig.
The final product should look like the
arrow below. Now let the arrow sit
overnight for the glue to dry all the
way through and enjoy hours of
shooting fun.
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