I've used Fletch Tite since the mid 70's without fail. That said, the shelf life is my only gripe. How long does the subject adhesive last?
I agree with you, especially after it's been opened. I just started using NPV,and like it way better as far as it's adhesive qualities over fletch tite. I'll be watching also on the shelf life.
Good to know you liked it's performance. At least I know I would be better off given it last a bit longer. I've got half a tube of fletchtite that will probably get canned before I need it.
The reason I switched was I started using a lot of aluminums,and the fletch tite didn't work well at all. I have done a dozen with NPV,and they're holding good.
I'm not sure about the shelf life but I had always used Fletch Tight and about a month ago I fletched a dozen arrows with the Saunders NPV and now I much prefer it to Fletch Tight. What I like about it is the consistency of the glue. It goes on more even as it is not quite as thick but adheres really well to the arrow wrap. Makes it easier to run the glue down the quill and the finished arrow looks a little cleaner. The glue is holding up really well.
Been using Saunders NPV for over 35 years, never had a problem with it at all.
Good stuff.
What is the drying speed of NPV compared with Fletchtite: about the same, longer, or shorter?
Dave, saw on the other thread 8 minutes for NPV. Clamp time that is.
I been using the NPV glue since that issue with Fletch-Tite some years back. I have some tubes, unopened, in a drawer for 3 years now. Just opened one last week to use. Still good
Everything I've read for Fletchtite indicates a clamp time of 15 minutes, so evidently NPV is a little faster drying.
I have used FTP for all of my arrows without issue. I only shoot aluminium and have fletched dozens. I use them in Canada year round in rain, snow, cold and hot weather.
I decided to try out Saunders NPV on some of the arrows I was taking elk hunting in Colorado, mainly due to the good reviews.
I prepped and fletched the arrows the same and did most of them with Saunders and did four with Fletchtite Platinum, just in case, and I was glad I did.
I ran into wet and snowy weather and the fletch fell of the shafts that I used the Saunders on. I was really disappointed. The glue line, that had set for three weeks, turned cloudy and the fletch came off.
The other four fletched with FTP were fine and I supplemented them with some shafts I had brought for stumping and grouse.
Suffice to say, that was it for me and Saunders...in the trash.
Funny, I had the same experience with my son's arrows and FTP. After years of using FT on aluminums (bare shafts) with no issues his arrows lost all the fletch in a day. I Tried super glue but that stuff isn't for me. Went to NPV and no issues
My experience is the same as yours, M60. After a change in formula, feathers glued with Fletchtite started falling off aluminum arrows, so I switched to NPV and they seem to stick fine. I still use Fletchtite on carbon arrows, and Duco on wood arrows. Hate to have three tubes of glue working at the same time, but hate even more switching away from something that is working fine, in case I might have an unfortunate experience like Gerald had.
Because I fletch carbon and aluminum these days and don't like having multiple glues either I use wraps. Makes life simple. I can buy which glue, NPV or FTP, I feel like. Oh, by the way, both glues work over waterbased clear finish. I see Bohning has waterbased paints and finishes these days. I have used FTP over waterbased Polycrillic with no issues. No more bare shaft fletching for me anymore.
The NPV remains softer and I suspect that this contributes to better adhesion over time. The Fletch-Tite Platinum gets hard over time and the feathers fall off.
And the NPV does seem to last longer once the tube is opened.
Kept NPV around for more than 2 years until I thought it was time to loosen my pocketbook and buy some more. Now I just include it when buying new shafts each year or so. Works well for me over Onestringer wraps.
I've never had a problem with fletch t turn after 20 min.. I keep the glue in the refrigerator for a longer life.