Once you have decided on the arrow type and fletching it is time to make arrows.
I set up a fairly clear work area with the following things.
1. Correctly set up Fletching Jig.
2. Small pieces of rag, not paper towel (4-5 bits).
3. 454 Loctite Glue, this is basically the gel version of super glue which means it is not like water and beads nicely on fletches.
4. 7471 Loctite Primer, I use this to clean and prime the shaft and fletches prior to gluing for maximum adhesion.
5. Arrow rack to allow glue to cure, I use a closed cardboard box with foam in the bottom and holes punched in the top.
6. Desk lamp to help light up the whole process.
Once the gear is set up it is time to fletch.
Step 1. Using a piece of rag, spray some primer on the rag and clean the area on the shaft where the fletching are going to be glued. This removes any contamination and primes the surface for the glue. Keep one piece of rag for this job and keep it separate from the others. You will normally see black on the rag from the carbon shaft.
Step 2. Once the shaft is clean place it in the jig, ensure the rotating guide is clicked into one of the three positions. Be careful not to touch the area to be fletched once you have cleaned it, oils in the skin can transfer to the shaft and affect glue adhesion.
Step 3. Select flight and place in the clamp, I position my flights to the rear edge of the clamp.
Step 4. Using a piece of rag spray some primer on the rag and clean down the face of the fletching before running a bead of glue along the entire edge. This removes any contamination and primes the surface for the glue. Keep one piece of rag for this job and keep it separate from the others. A trick I use with the rag is to wrap a single layer around my pointing finger and apply the primer to the tip of the rag, I then can rub the groove of the fletching thoroughly. You will normally see some of the fletch colour transfer to the rag.
Step 5. Remove the lid from the glue and leave it off till you have finished fletching all your arrows, I normally have a piece of rag I sit the glue on between fletches, this catches the leakage from the tube. Do not refit the cap if there is any glue coming out of the nozzle, clean the nozzle thoroughly before fitting the cap. In the long run I can use the entire tube if I follow this method, if you do not the cap will not seal properly and the glue will harden in the cap making it harder and harder to fit the cap as the glue is used.
Step 6. Under the lamp run a fine bead of glue along the entire length of the flight, I normally squeeze a bit of a larger blob on each end of the flight with the fine bead running between them.
Step 7. Position the clamp in the jig, push down firmly to ensure the glue beads out along the entire length of the flight. I hold for approx 10 seconds and then remove the clamp. Be carful how firm you push down, in some jigs the arrow can move at the knock end, practice with a flight with no glue to see how much pressure you can apply and test in all three positions.
Step 8. Rotate the jig to next flight position and make sure it clicks in solid to the next position.
Step 9. Repeat steps 3 to 8 till arrow is fully fletched, note you may need to wipe or chip excess glue from the clamp once in a while.
Step 10. Remove arrow from jig and stand in box to allow it to fully cure for maximum adhesion.
Attachments:
1. Cleaning the arrow shaft.
2. Cleaning the flight before applying glue.
3. Applying glue to the flight and gluing flight to the arrow shaft (excessive glue was used to clearly show the beading along the edge of the flight, with practice you will be able to minimise the amount of glue needed).
4. Example of glue bead along entire length of shaft(excessive glue was used to clearly show the beading along the edge of the flight, with practice you will be able to minimise the amount of glue needed).
5. Arrow Box to allow glue to dry.
6. Cleaning glue nozzle before fitting cap.
7. Glue used, Loctite 454.
8. Primer used, Loctite 7471.
