Got a knack for archery and want to get the best of your arrow? One obvious thing to do is ensure that the vanes in them are properly spaced so that they move in a predetermined path and hit accurately at the aim. If so, the best fletching jig is one thing you need.
What is a fletching jig?
The fletching jig will help in holding the shaft properly and place the vanes at the correct offset.Firmly holding the shaft in its place will ensure that one can glue the vanes on it in a predetermined way.
It will help in spacing out the vanes and hold them together in a helical pattern or at a given distance till the glue gets dried up.
A fletching jig can be made from aluminium as well as plastic.
An aluminium jig can last for a pretty long time whereas, a plastic one may not be so durable.
Additionally, it can be easy to clean the excess glue from your aluminium jig whereas, cleaning dried superglue from a plastic surface may invite a scratch or damage over it.
Tip: Make sure you have some acetate in hand if you are using one of the fletching jigs made of plastic so that those glues can be eliminated without any damage to the clamp.
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Top 5 Best Fletching Jigs
Let’s take a look here at the top fletching jigs that can often be the avowed choice of archers all around.
1. Bohning Pro Class Fletching Jig with Straight Clamp
The easy offset adjustments and precise indexing make sure you get a pitch-perfect fletch every time you gear up for fletching.
It comes with a fast set magnetic clamp which helps in quick assembling of the arrows.The larger grips of the clamp make it easy and convenient for you to hold and fletch your arrows.
Unlike the others, the straight clamp of this fletching tool helps in holding the vanes properly and placing them in the right position. This 7.9 x 2x 7.9 inches jig can fletch feathers up to a size of 5.5 inches.
The box comes with 3 and 4 vane attachments so you can fletch 3 vanes at 120 degrees apart or 4 vanes at 90 degrees apart, whichever suits you.
Key features:
- Simple and easy to use and operate, so you don’t waste hours in fletching your arrows.
- You can fletch arrows on a go because of its quick clamp setting and simplicity.
- Lightweight (only 0.8 ounces), so easy to carry and handle.
- Movement is accurate and therefore the efficiency is high.
- This product comes at a very affordable price.
- It comes with a preset dial which prevents consistent fletching.
- Compatible for a wide range of shaft sizes, so you don’t need a different jig if you use errors of different diameters.
- Free clockwise rotation is ensured, so you place the vanes perfectly.
- Additional clamps are easily available separately.
Why buy this product?
This pro class fletching tool can fit in a wide range of shaft sizes so it is compatible with a good range of arrow size.
The high stability and free movement of this product ensure perfect positioning of the fletches.
A huge advantage with Bohning Pro Class Fletching jig with Straight Clamp is that the glue does not stick to the jig and therefore the vanes don’t get stuck to the clamp.
It also comes with mounting holes on the base so you can just mount it with some wood onto a bench or any other place.
The only requirement of using a fletcher is because it adds stability to the movement of the arrow.
Bohning Pro Class Fletching jig with Straight Clamp serves this purpose to a good extent. Also, its construction makes it efficient for use.
The jig is a good deal at this price and if you are looking for class and simplicity at the same time, this is the product for you. Read more about the Best Compound Bow For Target Shooting.
2. Bohning Pro Class Fletching Tool Right Clamp
Precise snap indexing for every type of arrow can be done easily with step-by-step instructions provided with it.
With this fletching jig, three or four vanes can be attached easily. You can get 120 degrees fletching for 3 vanes and 90 degrees fletching for four vanes respectively.
However, the jig of this fletching tool supports feathers or vanes till 5.5 inches in length. It also comes with a right, left and straight jig so that you can use with different types of shafts.
For fletching multiple styles of arrows, you can also buy additional clamps, if the need be.However, one needs to be careful while working with this tool as the construction is of plastic and glue may get stuck in it.
You should have some glue dissolving acetone ready at your disposal so that they do not get deposited on the surface. At times, that can be quite tedious to remove the accumulated glue from the surface.
Key features:
- Magnetic clamp for a quick set operation
- Fits shafts of all sizes and is adjustable
- Very easy to handle
- It comes with the right wing clamp and jig
- It has a pre-set dial stop that makes it easy for a consistent fletching
- It has a larger grip for easy operability
- It comes with accurate “snap indexing” and easy offset adjustment
Why buy this product?
The Bohning pro class is one of the best fletching jigs in the business and it also offers an ample value for the money that may be needed to buy it.
For holding an arrow clamp in place firmly, it has magnets to aid the jig so that they remain tightly at their place.
This is very important so long as the glue does not dry up so that vanes can be fixed at their predetermined position.
It allows enough freedom to set one’s own degree of the needed fletching offset.It also caters to shafts of all sizes so that shaft size is not at all a problem while using this fletching tool.
This fletching jig comes pre-set so that a user need not have to calibrate the settings each time.
It can also be easy for new learners and can be helpful for fletching all types of shafts.
The nock receiver at the end is very stable and there is no issue of loose fitting that can offset a vane set.
Since the complete set is made of plastic, it is very light and portable so that one can easily set it up anywhere as per need.
3. Bohning Blazer Helix Fletching Jig
It comes with a pre-set three degrees helical that is inbuilt with the clamp for getting a firm grip.
It also helps in getting the best helical and not only an offset.
With this fletching jig, you can expect to get an actual helix that can be designed for 19 to 64 inches of diameter shafts.
It has been specifically made for standard carbon shaft diameters so that you can enjoy the perfect helical for any vane up to 2.25 inches in length.
The index knob helps in the placement of 3 vanes exactly at a distance of 120 degrees from each other.
You can always expect to get three degrees of helical so that there will be a perfect rotation for a Blazer vane.
An arrow can be fletched with this jig in as little as 15 minutes.
It comes fully prepared with all instructions so that you can set it up easily and start fletching from the word go.
While ordering the good fletching jig, try to be specific on whether you will like to use an STRB (straight) clamp or a Right Wing Helical clamp.
After getting it, a user has to only put the vane in the vane holder, apply the glue on the vane and place the vane holder on the jig. That’s it. You do not have to worry about the rest.
Key features:
- Place three vanes easily exactly at a distance of 120 degrees from each other
- There are three degrees helical provided in it
- It can fletch vanes up to 2.25 inches in length
- It is designed for standard carbon shafts
- The set-up is easy and the operation is quite simple
- The lockdown is firm and helps in attaching the clamp to the shaft
- It is durable and comes with all instructions
Why buy this product?
It is clearly one of the top fletching jigs that can be available at its price. Using the device, one can easily put a blazer vane on an arrow for getting the best performance.
While fletching, the vanes can be moved in this device up and down up to 1/4th to a half an inch.
This can aid in the movement of the arrow in a better way so that the weight will be toward the forward point and it can fly in a better way with wide heads.
It has an easy clip-on clamp so that operating it is simple and you can get a precise indexing every time you use it.
In this way, it is an accurately made clamp for getting the best arrow flight.
For everyone who wants to shoot Blazer vanes or wants to fletch one’s own arrow as per liking, it is the fletching tool to look out for as its operation is simple and maintenance is easy.
4. Bohning 12962 Helix Tower Fletching Jig
The best part of it is that it allows to fletch 3 vanes 120 degrees apart at the same time very accurately. If you are looking for a super quick and a precise jig for your arrows, this jig will meet your needs.
The tower accepts arrows ranging in diameter from 17 to around 23.5 inches which makes it suitable for a wide range of arrows but is compatible only with those shafts which have the push in nocks.
To ensure the right amount of pressure on various arrow shafts, the tower also comes with two pressure rings which hold the vanes tight to the shaft so the glue can dry evenly.
The tower comes with 5 centre post options:
- Standard Carbon (.240 id)
- A-nock (.201 id)
- F- nock (.164 id)
- Pin-nock
- Xbow bolts
The spare parts for the jig come with 3 different arms each for different size of vanes.
The grey arm is for up to a 4-inch vane that allows 1 degree helical, the red arm that allows up to 3 degrees helical for longer vanes, and black arm is for 2 inches vanes.These arms can be easily replaced using a screwdriver.
Key features:
- Lightning quick so that you can fletch your arrows anytime on the go.
- Available for a good range of the diameter of shafts.
- Fletches 3 vanes simultaneously.
- 3-degree helical arms can fletch vanes up to 3 inches, resulting in higher accuracy.
- Easy to operate and handle.
- Easy repairing.
Why buy this product?
Bohning 12962 Helix Tower Fletching Jig is the best and most precise jig available in the market on the date.
It is a little expensive than some of the other jigs but its benefits will make you realize it is the money worth spent.
Easy to assemble, fast, accurate and comes with a lot of accessories.
It just takes 30-40 seconds to fletch an arrow and is a perfect tool for increasing your fletching production.
5. Arizona Rim E-Z Fletch Mini
It provides a perfect 3 degrees helical for maximum accuracy and flatter trajectory.
It can accommodate carbon shafts of sizes 5/16 inches to 26/64 inches in diameter and aluminium shafts of sizes 2013 to 2613.
You just need to be careful with the excess glue after fletching your arrows. Although the cleanup is quite easy with acetone.
A huge advantage of using Arizona EZ Fletch mini is that it is compact, light and portable.
Its small size makes it very easy to carry it and fix your arrows anywhere on the go.
Plus it includes a rotating nock receiver which allows you to preset nock position to prevent inconsistent fletching.
Key features:
- Extremely easy to use.
- It is super quick and can fletch a dozen arrows in less than an hour.
- Has better accuracy than other jigs in the market.
- Light and easy to carry.
- No such maintenance is required.
Why buy this product?
Whether you are a novice or a pro, Arizona EZ Fletch mini is the handiest and quickest jig in the market.
It is designed for just any size of carbon arrow which makes it quite invaluable.
The jig is extremely easy to use and super quick in sticking the vanes to the arrows.
It also comes with a locking mechanism which easily grips the arrow and a clamp which holds the vanes tight to the shaft so that the glue can do its work properly.
If you like to shoot broadheads, it is the ultimate tool for you.
What are the benefits of a Fletching Jig?
We have seen here two of the most avowed models when it comes to fletching a vane on an arrow.
The fletching jig is very important for a perfect arrow flight so that it can hit the target every time with the same accuracy.
There are distinctly four major benefits of fletching an arrow that is listed as follows.
Stability
Vanes provide the needed stability to an arrow. The performance of an arrow is highly dependent on its vanes.
They can help an arrow hit a target with more accuracy and precision. Therefore, it is very important that they are set in the right place so that an arrow stays stable.
The fletching jig will help in providing an arrow with rightly-spaced vanes so that they stay stable during a flight.
Flat trajectory
The trajectory of motion is very important for any arrow so that it hits accurately. This, in turn, again depends upon its vanes.
Vanes help in getting a flat trajectory for the arrow and therefore fletching is so highly desired.
A well-fletched arrow will have a flat and lean trajectory that can be highly appreciated by an archer.
There will be a less abrupt drop with a finely carved vane.
Less turbulence
If an arrow is more turbulent through the air, that can lead to instability and the desired target may not get hit.
Vanes help in stabilizing the turbulence to a large extent and fletching a vane correctly must be done so that the desired result can be achieved with precision.
Quieter arrow
Last, but not least, an arrow during its flight must be quiet and float through the air without any sudden changes to its path.
The top quality fletching jig can ensure that vanes are spaced properly that can lend the needed impetus to an arrow.
An impeccable spacing can only be obtained when we have a reliable fletching tool that can help in getting a quieter arrow.
With all these benefits in place, fletching is very highly desired for any type of arrow so that the needed results can be obtained.
However, the correct fletching style will depend on the need for which fletching is been done.
Therefore, depending on a need, a fletching style can be chosen but the benefits for all of them will stay relevant in all cases.
What are the common types of fletching for which fletching jigs can be used?
Selecting the top rated fletching jig will depend on the kind of application that a user may be looking at.
An archery target shooting or hunting may need an offset fletching while a straight fletch may be more suitable for mechanical broadheads or shooting field points.
Therefore, depending on an application, a correct fletching jig can be chosen.
Let’s look at some of the most commonly used types of fletches with their specialities.
Straight fletch
If you need minimum overall wind drift with the maximum speed, a straight fletch will be highly desired.
In it, the vanes have a straight-down-the-shaft alignment and can be easily tuned with a drop-away-style rest.
Unless a rig is seriously out of tune, this type of fletch will not offer any rest-contact problems regardless of a bow’s speed rating.
You may be able to shoot a fixed-blade head with three straight-fletched vanes but the downrange accuracy may be quite less.
Therefore straight fletch is so highly needed for specific applications and the fletching jig may be needed for it.
Offset fletch
Every bowhunter needs a decent arrow speed with a greater broadhead stabilization. To meet this end, the offset fletch can be the most suitable option.
That is the reason why western hunters prefer it so that they can shoot at long distances and can thread fixed-blade heads in their shafts.
It is a proven method to decrease rest-contact issues and obtain an improved downrange accuracy.
Only a user has to be cautious regarding its tuning and the arrow speed can be slightly reduced due to it.
Helical fletch
It is another fletching technique that is usually employed for archery target shooting and hunting.
There is two way in which vanes can be fixed onto the shaft. They can either be glued in a slight spiral (three degrees)or at a small diagonal to the long axis of the shaft.
This type of fletching can be helpful to achieve increased in-flight stability along with a greater spin.
You need to have the high-quality fletching jig so that this type of fletching can be done flawlessly.
Flu-flu fletch
It is one of the rarest used fletching techniques that involves joining turkey wing feathers to an arrow for getting the needed flight.
Arrows with flu-flu fletching may not fly much far due to increased resistance from the oversized fletching.
There are two ways in which this type of fletching can be made.First, an uncut turkey wing feather can be wrapped around an arrow shaft and glued at various places.
It will fall apart and provide a bristle appearance. Second, three to six large feathers can be glued to an arrow shaft in a helical manner to get a flu-flu fletch.
What are fletching vanes made of?
While using the fletching jig, you will note that you will be working only on vanes. These are made from vinyl or soft plastic and can be available in many colours, flexibilities, and sizes.
By using the fletching jig, a person can easily attach a vane to a carbon-fibre, wood or aluminium shaft.
On the other hand, feather fletching is made from turkey wing pointer feathers.
The feathers have a typical curvature, resembling either the left or right wings of a turkey.
A feather fletched arrow must have either all left-wing feathers or right-wing feather, not a mixture of both.
Conclusion
After taking a look at all the different styles of fletching, various fletching materials available, ways of selecting a correct fletching jig and its benefits, we can comprehend that fletching is as important in an arrow as the shaft.
It provides the needed drift to an arrow so that correct result can be obtained.
Moreover, after seeing various top fletching jigs, we can safely conclude that the Bohning Pro Class Fletching Tool is one of the best fletching jigs for most purposes.
On the other hand, the Bohning Blazer Helix fletching jig is specifically meant for Blazer vanes.
On the basis of the information provided here, you can decide which of the fletching jigs are most suitable for you.
Depending on an application, one of them can be selected and a user can get optimum satisfaction by using any of these, due to their enhanced capabilities.
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