After becoming determined to “mass produce” arrows for my own use, I created a rotating tabletop fletching station from a 14″ lazy Susan,* which I picked up at a local thrift store for less than five bucks. It allows me to work on three arrows at a time, and the center is a safe area to set fletching, glue, toothpicks, alcohol and cotton swabs while moving from one arrow to the next.
The radius formed by the ends of the shafts while in fletching jigs can be made smaller by mounting the jigs on upward slanting blocks. To make the blocks, cut three pieces of scrap pine 2 3/8” x 6” with a 22.5 degree angle. Pre-drill two holes, and then mount the blocks with one 3″ and one 2″ drywall screws. The radius could be made even smaller by increasing the degree of cut on the block. The higher the angle, the more the arrow tip will be perpendicular to the table. When attaching the fletching jig to the block, hand tighten one 1 1/4″ drywall screw in the top hole or only one end of the jig. Hand tightening and using only one screw allows for turning the jig to easily insert and remove shafts, as well as focusing light.
The whole unit weighs around eleven pounds, and is compact enough to take on long trips. It is one of my most prized pieces of gear.
Very cool! You are definitely on the right track. I came out of a retail sporting goods background. Over the years I saw several larger variations of this same design, usually with 12 jigs for commercial arrow production.
The compact, more “vertical” design would be great in a smaller home/shop setting .
From an arrow production viewpoint I will throw out one otherwise unrelated suggestion. It probably isn’t for everyone, but I have become a huge fan of fletching tape over the past several years.
It holds up well under hunting conditions and is very fast. You still use your jig for proper alignment but you can remove it instantly. I admit to initially being frustrated with the application process but once I got the hang of it I would never go back to glue.
(I still finish with a drop on each end of the feather like we always have). It does cost a little more but if production time can be an issue, I would urge you to give it a try.
Again, great idea with the compact fletching station.
There is so much the average person can do with so little resourses but all you need is some imagination. Great way to be independent and start making your own unique arrows, thus saving the planet at the same time. Thanks for sharing.
Brilliant! Gotta try this. I’m always reaching for supplies, hitting an arrow in one of the three “jigs in a row” and knocking stuff over. Thank you!