Vane offset

[Rhys]

Just a quick question before i refletch my arrows.
I'm shooting 31" 480 navigators, 42lbs on my fingers. I'm going to fletch my vanes with a fair offset, towards the max i can get on such a thin shaft (although its still not much). Do you think this will give too much drag?

Or should i fletch some at different offsets and see how they do at 70m, stability vs drag?

[dino1300]

Why do you want them offset? There are many very good archers who put vanes on straight.

If you are trying to make them spin, then put spin wings on.

[Rhys]

After reading this i now think i may as well fletch them straight:

"Any two arrows will fly differently. Spinning the arrows reduces this difference. These days there is much more consistency between arrows than in the past From the point of view of similar flight behaviour it's possible that only archers at elite level these days will see enhanced performance from arrow spinning. However the light weight and low axial drag of the spin wing type vane means that even lesser mortals will benefit from their use."

By Joe T


(Actually the offset on them atm is only 1.5 degrees so i might see how they fly before re-doing them)

[Tommy B]

I've been told that fletching with a helical fletching jig makes for more efficient spinning with less drag than normal off-set. Can anyone confirm this?

[Rik]

Originally Posted by Rhys

After reading this i now think i may as well fletch them straight:

"Any two arrows will fly differently. Spinning the arrows reduces this difference. These days there is much more consistency between arrows than in the past From the point of view of similar flight behaviour it's possible that only archers at elite level these days will see enhanced performance from arrow spinning. However the light weight and low axial drag of the spin wing type vane means that even lesser mortals will benefit from their use."

By Joe T


(Actually the offset on them atm is only 1.5 degrees so i might see how they fly before re-doing them)

I believe the usual recommendation is to fletch normal vanes with an offset of between 1 an 2 degrees. More doesn't make for better groups. Less isn't as effective.

Spinwings on the other hand have a built in offset, so you fletch them straight.

Tommy B:
Helical only really works (so I'm told) on *big* vanes. You'd need to find a helical clamp to fit the size of vanes you use - they're sort of "S" shaped. Only tend to be recommended for hunting shafts where you need the extra spin to cope with broadheads.

[Ceri Jones]

Im messing with this idea at the moment, i have an Arten Upright Fletching Jig. During last nights session i put my fletchings on as offset as possible, the result was a "slightly" slower arrow that "seem" to stabalized a lot faster.

[tel]

I know that when I first got a jig I adjusted it because it wasn't straight! Would you expect a built-in offset on a new jig?

[gerald_edmundson]

forgive my stupidity but which way do arrow rotate I use a rh riser with ep vanes which are on straight. i have never thought about this before but am going to start putting my own vanes on my jig arrives

[audcopaul]

My experience of fletching up arrows is this: A one degree offset will get your arrows spinning very slightly, but more importantly all spinning IN THE SAME ROTATIONAL DIRECTION = more consistency of flight.
Plastic vanes can be fletched RH-style (offset down towards tip) or LH-style (offset up towards tip) for either RH or LH archers- the arrow won't start spinning until it has left the bow.
Feathers are a different matter - they MUST be fletched according to the wing of the bird and NEVER STRAIGHT. Left wing feathers must be set for counter clockwise rotation, ie offset up towards the tip. Right wing feathers are the reverse. For more detailed info on fletching feathers, go to:
http://www.trueflightfeathers.com/guide.htm

[tel]

up/down? Can you explain what is 'up' or 'down' when looking at an arrow?