New to Flu Flu Fletching

[robbin68]

#5574

I have been fletching my own cedars for a few years now, but just 5″ shield cuts. I want to try some flu flu feathers and I see that most arrows with them have four feathers. I have never done four feathers on my jig and was wondering if it was necessary?

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#42379

It really just depends on how much you want to slow the arrow down. You can do 3, 4, or more.

[robbin68]

#42406

All I know about flu flu’s is that they slow down the arrow and flight is a relatively short distance. Thought about just trying a 3 fletch so I don’t booger up my jig. Obviously 3 won’t slow the arrow down as much as four, but will it be adequate? My goal is a 50 yard max on flight.

[Arne Moe]

#42431

3 untrimmed feathers will work but the arrows will fly farther. IF you want more braking action, fletch three then flip the arrow nock in the nock receiver and put on three more for a total of 6. OR do a spiral wrap.

No need to reset a flecher to do 4 unless you want too. For just 50 yards I’d suggest either 6 untrimmed feathers or a spiral wrap.

Arne

[robbin68]

#42440

Thanks Arne. I have seen the spiral wrap in the 3 rivers catalog. They look neat but I haven’t heard anyone talk about them. Are they as effective as the flu flu’s?

[maddawg]

#42784

The spiral wrap works for me. No jig no fuss.

[Arne Moe]

#42810

Yes, the spirals are very effective and have the advantage of actually using less feather than any of the other styles.

Like anything, it takes some experimentation to learn a technique to apply any flu flu configuration and then experiment still more to get the performance you want. Fifty yards was mentioned in the OP so careful trimming of feather height for 3,4, or 6 fletch OR how much feather to use for a spiral and you can adjust the arrows to your needs for overall distance traveled.

I’d also mention that flu flu arrows are NOT at all spine sensitive. You can use a REALLY stiff shaft for flu flus and they will fly JUST FINE!! A good place to use those over spined arrows we all have laying around that won’t tune to the equipment we currently shoot.

Arne

[robbin68]

#42849

Awesome. Thanks for the input fellas.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#42898

Here’s a little tutorial on making sprials. It’s quite easy:

http://www.trueflightfeathers.com/flu-flu.htm

[Fallguy]

#43377

When I tried doing them 20 years ago I never thought of using contact cement. That defiantly makes the job easier. I forsee a couple spiral flu flu’s in my hunting quiver this fall. Thanks for the link Smithhammer.:D

[Ralph]

#44572

I use 3 fletch for my flu flu’s mostly. By the time this old brain gets to working I need the extra distance they give me. 😀

I get to watch the miss longer too. 😥

[robbin68]

#44592

I watched the tutorial on spiral wraps, that looks pretty slick. But what kind of distance do the 3 fletch get? I don’t have a specific critter in mind for hunting with flu flu’s but I want to have a versatile arrow that I am not going to lose shooting at squirrels or grouse in the thick hardwoods.

[Ralph]

#44600

I cannot help you on the distance question. I honestly never think yardage on any shot I take. My brain just does it’s thing when I shoot. If I think it’s too far I don’t shoot but when I do shoot there is no conscious thought of distance.

Best thing to do, IMHO, is to make some of each kind and go experiment with what you can do with yourself and your equipment. Distance is relevant to what you’re putting behind the arrow, a 50# bow with same arrow, same draw length, same basic design as a rule will shoot farther than a 40# bow. So you just gotta see what you and yours can do. Have fun.

And, good luck on your search for a lose proof arrow. 😀

[ChumpMcgee]

#46882

I spent a good time last year playing with the spiral flu flus. I made several different arrows using 1,2,3 feathers sprial fletch just to see what the outcome would be, and a couple regular 3 and 4 Fletcher flu flus. I took them out pheasant hunting and I will say this I went back to the regular 4 Fletcher arrows due to the fact that the spirals would not travel as far but even with in 10 yards they lost all of the power behind them and I did not think it would be enough to take down any game at a distance greater than that. The sprials also wrecked my felt that I keep on my shelf of my bow. Yes the regular fletches flu flu would fly farther but kept its power longer and still would only fly a max of 50-60 yards. The sprials would go a max of 40-50 yards down to 30-35 yards depending on how many feathers I used. They look cool easy to make they fly great but far less power. Thats my two cents on the spirals….all and all I was let down by them but then again I never made contact with a bird to know what its full damage could do.

[ChumpMcgee]

#46887

Also I took several shots at a hay bail at 20 yards and watched the spiral flu flus bounce off the target 😉

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#47530

I agree, T-Roy – full length spirals can create a lot of drag and slow an arrow down quite fast. Fun for target practice, or maybe grouse, but I certainly wouldn’t use them on something like pheasants.

One thing to keep in mind with spirals – they are a matter of adjustment and experimentation, no different than straight-fletch flu-flus are. You’ll have to play around with them to see if, and how, they’ll work for your needs.

If you find that spiral fletching with full length feathers gives too much stopping power, you can play around with using shorter feathers for less spiral.

[robbin68]

#48134

Thanks for the feedback guys. I liked how simple the spiral wraps look to make but I don’t like the sounds of those arrows bouncing off hay bales. That’s definitely helpful to know before having problems in the woods. (Nothing worse than a real life wild goose chase:lol:)

[ChumpMcgee]

#48594

robbin68 wrote: Thanks for the feedback guys. I liked how simple the spiral wraps look to make but I don’t like the sounds of those arrows bouncing off hay bales. That’s definitely helpful to know before having problems in the woods. (Nothing worse than a real life wild goose chase:lol:)

You should still make an arrow or two, if you have a couple of shafts laying around. They are not hard to make and they are fun to play around with and you will also be able to see what kind of performance they have. Its a fun toy to have in the quiver.

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