Never fear, Quick Fletch is here

In the old days compound bows were much slower, to control that slower flight of the arrow you needed a large feather or weather vane. Since then, compound bows have become much smaller and faster, and you don’t need as large a fletch to control the flight of the arrow. In the old days, to fletch an arrow, you also needed an expensive steel or aluminum jig/fixture and lots of glue. If you wanted to crown the arrow, you needed paint. Now, thanks to the shrink tube, all you need is a pot of boiling water.

I have always been able to shoot my feathers. I don’t shoot many nocks or break many arrows, but I’ve always been able to get close enough to pluck the feathers or poke a hole in them. I would practice with an arrow for fear of having to re-vane or re-feather my arrows. I fear no more. Now, with the use of shrink tube technology, I can crest and fletch as many arrows as my budget allows.

Shrink tubing technology has been around for a long time. It is widely used in electrical applications to protect exposed wires and terminals. In other words, it helps prevent wires from touching, shorting, or being exposed to moisture. Simply slide the shrink tube over the wire and apply heat. The quick feathering systems offered by many different manufacturers are based on the same concept.

Here are the seven easy steps to fluffing your own arrows using these quick fluffing systems:

One

Using a pot, at least seven inches deep, bring water to a boil. Remember, it takes about seven inches of water to properly fletch an arrow using rapid fletching systems that include combs.

Two

Remove the nocks from the arrows. This is easily done on modern carbon arrows as the nocks are not glued in place. I like to use a rubber circle that is used to remove lids from jars. It helps me get a good grip and remove the nock without using steel pliers on a plastic nock.

Three

Slide the quick pen, the shrink tube, over the arrow. I like the top of the tube to be about a quarter inch from the top of the arrow.

Oven

Let the water boil. As soon as the bubbles start to rise should be enough. It doesn’t have to be a rolling boil.

Five

Lower the arrow with the tube into the water and watch the tube contract around the shaft of the arrow. You can use a finger to hold the tube in place if it starts to slip on you, but watch out for the steam.

Six

Once the tube has fully shrunk around the shaft of the arrow, remove the arrow and allow it to air dry. I prefer to air dry than clean with paper or cloth towels.

Seven

Turn off the oven and place the pot to the side of the hot burner to cool. Be sure to clean your pot before using it for cooking again.

Now you have crested and feathered arrows without having to use an expensive stencil or messy adhesive. I have recently noticed that some archery companies also offer a quick feathering system without the crest. The advantage here would be cost, as less material means less cost to the archer and a shallower pot of boiling water could be used to fletch your arrows.

And now you can practice with more than one arrow, since replacing your feathers takes about as long as boiling a pot of water. There are several companies that offer rapid feathering systems; New Archery Products, Bohning, Nufletch, and Hoyt are just a few. Price points are $17 to $19 for a half dozen of the feathering system with crests and $7 to $9 for a half dozen of the feathering system without the crests.

Go and practice my friends. If you rip out a paddle or pierce one, fear not. Fast feathering systems are here.