Water and the A&A fletch

[Ed Ashby]

#3355

Here’s a photo showing how the A&A fletch stands up to day-long rain, compared to a 3″ parabolic fletch. Its ability to resist matting when wet is just one of the A&A pattern’s many advantages.

Ed

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#19026

Ed –

While I’m not currently using “A&A” fletching, I’ve noticed the same thing since switching to 4 x 2-1/4″ straight fletch. The fletching is stiffer and seems to absorb less water to begin with, and dries more quickly.

Add that to the list of benefits of what I have been told by “experts” is “irresponsible and has no place in bowhunting.” 8)

[jpcarlson]

#19431

I have found this to be true in the field too. The A&A fletch holds up very well to wet conditions. I have observed though that the quality of the feathers one uses seems to play a large role in how well they stand up. The last batch of arrows I fletched with feathers from Gateway; they were all I could find locally under time constraints. Needless to say, I will not buy or use feathers from them again. Not only were they poor quality in full length feathers causing me to discard most of the feather, various thicknesses of the quill, etc., they also matted down something fierce when wet. I use a 2 3/4″ 3 fletch A&A. I think True Flights are the way to go for high quality feathers, if not making them myself form turkey or goose feathers.

Jans

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#19450

Jans –

I have found the same thing with Gateway, unfortunately. They start to fray quickly, and their colors fade faster than any other fletching I’ve used. However, I shoot l. wing, and I can’t seem to find much svailable from Trueflight in smaller sizes for l. wing.

Is there a good source for A&A cut feathers these days? Or is everyone just doing their own?

[Ed Ashby]

#19851

Good info to know. I’ve always used Trueflight feathers, with great success, so never noticed this difference.

As far as I know no one is marketing an A&A cut feather. Everyone just cuts their own.

Ed

[David Petersen]

#20021

3 Rivers sells a “Little Chopper” (I can’t recall the exact name and don’t want to climb into the attic to check, so soon after surgery) for about $25 for various size and style feathers. I use one to make 3″ fletch and it works great. Chopping your own also allows you to buy full feathers which are easy to find in L and R, and way cheaper. I’m thinking enough letters to 3Rivers and they would offer a Little Chopper for A&A, which I find infinitely superior to scissor cuts.

[mhay]

#20400

Lay a piece of scotch tape on the feather on one side . Mark the length and cut the feather with good sharp scissors and the quill with a knife. After the cut is made the tape pulls off easily. Actually used this method with the fletchin on the shaft. Was 5.5inch shield cut now 2.5 inch Quiet cut.

[Doc Nock]

#21020

First of all, Doc Ed, where the hell did YOU find water in TX? 😆

I buy all my feather’s for hunting now from Magnus (Matt Gundock) from wild turkey feathers. I’ve found my 3″x1/2″ tend to hold up well in damp conditions, as well!

Matt told me that with my chop, I’m getting down into the “meat” (forget what the term is on a feather) of the feather barbels and much of the softer, more porous stuff is cut away!

FWIW.

Matt also dyes feathers beautifully (natural wild turkey). I sent him a couple wings and he has my chopper I won on a St. Jude auction years ago some chap in NY state altered to a A&A design. I get funky chops. Matt gets incredible chops. All in technique!

They rock! Bet natural has something to do with water resistance. Matt also mentioned that force fed, pen reared don’t live long enough to get strong primaries…not like wild turkey.

[Anonymous]

#31458

Can someone provide a link to the discussions or info on the A&A fletch, please?

Thank you.

[Ed Ashby]

#31475

Forager wrote: Can someone provide a link to the discussions or info on the A&A fletch, please?

Thank you.

Here’s a link that will give you a start. The basics of the A&A fletch is maximum height if 1/2 inch (regardless of length), a straight 90 degree cut at the back and a straight taper to the front. It is used with a Turbulator placed 1/4 inch forward of the feather’s leading edge.

https://www.tradbow.com/members/cfmbb/messages.cfm?threadid=C8EA4FBD-1422-1DE9-ED1A1C909376B7B6

Ed

[Anonymous]

#32150

Amazing! Thank you, Dr. Ashby (for this, and for everything else you’ve done for archery and hunters)!

As much as I love traditional archery, I can see how this fletching system and EFOC/UFOC set-up would be very applicable to compound shooters. As will, unfortunately, be rejoining the wheeled/cam’d ranks soon due to a lack of practice opportunities, I will take advantage of being able to doubly appreciate this advice.

[Author]

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