Hey everyone,
I know this is a novice question but hey, i'm a novice archer.  I just went to my pro shop the other day and picked up some bear hair arrow rests w/ adhesive backing.  

Cut off a strip, stuck it on and after shooting two arrows, (carbons with synthetic fletching)the thing flew off never to be found again.  Trying to get smart, I cleaned the shelf with rubbing alcohol and q-tip and then put another strip on.  I let it sit for nearly 24 hrs. with an arrow nocked and sitting on it.  Came outside today and after about ten shots it flew off never to be found again.  

Why is this happening?  Can I make it stay on?  Thanks for any advice and shoot straight! -Lee

When you say synthetic fletching, do you mean plastic?  If so, it's much harder than feathers and may be catching the rest and ripping it off.  It's also possible that the adhesive on the back of the rest material isn't very good.  It looses its stickiness over time.  Can soften and reinvigorate it a little with denatured alcohol, but may need to reglue it with contact cement.  Barge cement (brand name) works well for arrow rests and side plates.  It's available at most hardware stores.  Other contact cements will work, too.  Good luck.

Plastic vanes will knock your bear hair rest off of the shelf. To shoot off of the shelf you will have to use arrows with feather fletching. If your local shop cannot provide you with those, there are some good traditional suppliers here on the site who can set you up.

QuoteOriginally posted by smokin joe:
Plastic vanes will knock your bear hair rest off of the shelf. To shoot off of the shelf you will have to use arrows with feather fletching. If your local shop cannot provide you with those, there are some good traditional suppliers here on the site who can set you up.

Or you can buy a $4 stick on elevated rest if you want to continue shooting vanes instead of feathers.

Lee,

While were on the subject of cleaning and sticking.  When you put on field points and broadheads, adapters too, they should be rough up with sand paper and cleaned with asetone before putting on the glue.

Bowmania

If you like velcro(I do!!), I bought the industrial stuff from AC Moore and it sticks like crazy. I have been playing around with rest dimensions and taking that piece off is a bear.  Also, you dont have to deal with any excess glue squeezing out onto your riser.

Good Luck,
Nathan

I had a similar problem and just used a little fletch tight to hold it on.  Not sure what the finish will look like if I ever need to take it off but I don't plan on doing that any time soon.

Did you check your nocking position with a bow square? Too low and off she go.

I had the same problem. I cleaned the shelf really good with rubbing alcohol and used fletching glue to stick a plain piece of leather on. That leather is tough as nails and I don't think it'll ever come off.

Yup, Velcro.

First,get rid of the vanes.

I don't think it is because of the vanes, but I think you should get rid of them anyway. In the meantime, contact cement that shelf mat on there. Velcro (loop side) is good mat and cheap.

Oh yeah, don't EVER use acetone to clean your bow.

Also, Rubbing alcohol seems to come in two flavors these days: 91% alcohol and 70% alcohol.  The stuff with 70% has some other 'stuff' in it which makes it a little more oily. Make sure you have the 91% stuff.

try using a leather rest, and put a tooth pick underneath it for elevation. im not really sure how this work, but my dad makes my rests, and when he does that, they never come off.