My flu flu has a issue. ( We have success!)

[hormoan]

Sounds kind of bad but its not really. I'm trying to do up some flu flus. Using full lenght feathers doing a spiral wrap. I'm also using Bohning fletch tape as it seem like the logical choice. My issue is the ends won't stay put. I have tryed clipping the ends overnight. But there natural being straight wants to pull the ends loose. I have also tryed to fast set fletch glues to hold the down to no avail.

    Is it possiable to steam the quills, wrap them around the shaft. Or will just soaking them in water soften them?
Then clip them on to take a set? Or is there a way you know of to get them to take a set? So they don't pop free.

 

           Thanks for any and all help.

           Brent

[EASTERNARCHER]

How about wrapping the ends with sinew or silk thread????

[captaincaveman]

Duct tape    

Josh

[vermonster13]

Perhaps a touch of epoxy at both ends as most likely you won't be refletching these.

[Jeff Strubberg]

Everyone I know that has tried fletch tape for spirals has either quit using it or dots both ends of the fletch with fletch tite and clamps them overnight.

[Budog56]

I love fletching tape myself but it just doesnt seem to work when I make flu flus like that either. Epoxy on the ends works at first then the middle pops up..I just started making them different or use glue the whole length.

[IB]

Brent...When fletching any arrows I have a small Tupperware container. I keep a damp paper towel in the bottom. I put all my fletching in there and seal her up overnight before I start fletching. That has stopped the issue your having for me as well as letting me use up some of my older dried up circular fletch.

[Dustin Waters]

glue is too messy.. I say wrap the ends with some silk thread.  Might take a little longer to make each one but should look nice and hold up for quite sometime.

[Kip]

Seems like I read about this and you have to break the quill or make it more flexable to lay better on the shaft when fletching this way.Maybe not explaining it right but rub the feather on the corner of a cabinit to crack it .Kip

[Deadsmple]

Kip has the right idea if you are dead set on using fletch tape. You need to make the quill more flexible. I like to cut/grind mine down real thin to where the entire feather will simply curl on it's own if held by one end.

[hormoan]

Hey thanks for all the input, all  good ideas in there. (Well I think I will pass on the ducktape!) Although I have fixed a lot of stuff with it! I will try and thin down the ends especially. And Vance's suggestion for dampening them is great. And the tying them with a little wrap won't hurt either. And will add a little color\\crest look to them. I've seen them done with out the wrap, just was'nt sure how they got them to stick on the ends.


             Thanks Brent

[Rusty Izatt]

When I make spiral flu flu's, I strip the vain completely off the feather. Just glue the membrain to the shaft. Works great.

Rusty

[LUCKY MAN]

Put the full length feather in the clamp and sand quill with 220 grit as if you were preparing for a splice feather.  This thin membrane will wrap around shaft nicely.

[wtpops]

What Rusty said. I use tape then glue and clamp the ends.

[ChuckC]

Yes, what Rusty say's , take away as much of the quil as you can to make it much more flexible.
ChuckC

[hormoan]

I'm on that quill in the morning. Looks like that is the answer to the problem. Thanks, sometimes its so easy ya just can't see it! I will give a up date, on hopefully my success!

               Brent

Now I have a use for the duck tape, on my knuckles. When I power up my belt sander!  

[Dan Worden]

From the "how to" section.

http://tradgang.com/flu-flu/


"Trim off any excess quill that sticks out and put a spot of glue on it. Your bow hand will thank you later! When preparing feathers for the spiral types remove as much of the quill as possible, or strip your feathers prior to making the arrows. The feathers will bend much easier this way. If you plan to clamp a feather with a clothespin, or the paper clamp, trim some feather off the quill, about 1/8 inch, so there is a flat space for the clamp to grip. This can be trimmed off after the arrow is completed."

[hormoan]

Thanks Dan, that is very helpful.

                   Brent

[TexMex]

Originally posted by Rusty Izatt:
When I make spiral flu flu's, I strip the vain completely off the feather. Just glue the membrain to the shaft. Works great.

Rusty

I do the same and also tie the ends with dental floss and a drop of super glue.

[Dave Worden]

Rusty has it right.  Strip the feather so that you have no quill to deal with and it should work out just fine with fletch tape AND a dab of fletch-tite at each end.