Waterproofing Fletching

[paleoman]

#6893

I new around here, so sorry if this is an old one…is it necessary to spray on any kind of waterproofing on todays synthetic fletching? Thanks!

[quiverfull]

#56984

You mean by “synthetic fletching” plastic vanes? Those of course are already waterproof. For feathers, I use Fletch Dry powder; works pretty well. I’m not aware of any other type of fletching……JB

[MontanaFord]

#57984

My uncle has had good luck with a couple different items on the market, but neither are actually for fletching. The first is Reel Magic…I believe it’s a lubricant or waterproofer for fishing reels. The second is a spray-on somethin-or-other for tires called Tire New or something like that. Not sure the actual name. Anyway, there’s a couple ideas. I think the tire stuff he said smells like bubble gum at first.

Michael.

[looselystrung]

#60766

For feathers….I’ve also used Thompson’s Water Seal (for wood decking and such)work pretty well once it dries…:idea:

[donw]

#62434

go to CVS pharmacy and get some hair spray…let it stand for a while to get rid of the smell though.

[donw]

#62438

oh, i forgot…go to a fishing tackle store and get some “dry fly” it’s made to water proof fishing flies…

[Chris Shelton]

#11344

I use the powdered fletch dry stuff, have had it forever, barely put a dent in it! It works okay, donw’s idea of the dry fly stuff would work okay too, never thought of it, it might be kindof espensive? Dont know why an avid fly fisherman like myself never thought of something like that?

[David Petersen]

#12865

I’m with quiverfull and greatree — first, what do you mean by “synthetic?” Assuming turkey feathers (factory dyed, but otherwise “natural”) I have tried virtually everything, including “duck oil” squeezed from ducks in a press! 🙄 I’ve found that all liquids and spray-ons have the disadvantages, one or more, of adding weight to the back end of the arrow, thus defeating EFoc, making the feathers stiff, collecting grit. I’ve found nothing that works better than the powder, and one application generally last through an entire monthlong season, even a rainy one like this year. Worst case scenario — shoot ’em wet. You’ll get a “pop!” sound and a spray of water on your face, but they seem to fly just fine.

On a closely related topic, I can’t imagine how bowhunters in the Pacific NW manage to get the job done and have a good time doing it, with so much rain and the jungly vegetation that goes with it. Once it’s raining hard enough I have to put up the hood on my rainsuit — can’t hear or see much that way — the hunt is over for me. Yet the get it done. Which is to say, while feather waterproofing is a valid concern, in my experience it dwindles in comparison to trying to find a rainsuit that will keep you dry and warm yet not be noisy and restrictive … and not be too bulky and heavy to pack with you most all the time (in the Rockies, you have to most of the time, as storms are so unpredictable and come up so fast).

OK, enough. Time to take the lovely wife to town for the promised post-monthlong hunt dinner at eatery of her choice where elk is not on the menu! She earned it, though for the rest of the year it’s “Let her eat elk!” Yum. dave

[Clay Hayes]

#13462

I always cary an old bread bag with me to cover my fletchings in a heavy rain. Mine are tied on with sinew so I’ve got an aditional worry.

Rain gear is a good topic, I’ll start another thread for that one.

[Carl]

#15031

my wet feathers sure dont fly well – the feather end corkscrewed in a circle roughly 12 to 18″ around – learned that one the hard way, missed a shot i would normally have made – i use the powder and it works well – if you use too much though, you get a cloud of white powder at the shot, kind of reminded me of a muzzleloader

[rayborbon]

#35292

I’m using Rain-X

Can’t say it is better than any of the others. It’s just what I use…

[Ed Ashby]

#36052

Rainy conditions are one more, barely recognized, situation where EFOC can help you hunting arrow setup. Check out the ‘fletching and EFOC’ thread on the Arrow Lethality forum. We haven’t tried water soaking any other small fletching patterns, but the A&A fletch, without any water repellant treatment at all, can be soaked in a bucket full of water for a full 30 minutes, then shot without even shaking the water off and still show perfect arrow flight. Build your own EFOC arrow and try it for yourself!

Ed

[rayborbon]

#36140

What’s A&A fletch? I’m going to find that topic.

[Jason Wesbrock]

#37456

Camp Dry spray works extremely well for waterproofing feathers.

[Arko]

#39826

Hello all, lurker here. Don’t post much because I am still new to this and am still learning, with a long way to go but I made a quiver that solves the problem of keeping fletchings dry. My arrows go in from the bottom, point down, and drop out of a “window” at the bottom of the quiver. I made it from a waxed heavy cardboard sonotube and covered with a layer of heavy cotton duck canvas. The “window” has a cover flap that you can flip up and out of the way for easy access. It is completely waterproof. But that’s just me, I like to make my own gear if I can.

[Shakes.602]

#42553

Camp Dry? Is that a Sillycone Spray:roll: or a Powder?? I havent ever heard of it before! Would it be a sin to use 3M like Furniture anti-wet stuff?:?: It Stinks to High Heaven when applied, but it seems to do the Job. i use it to Proof My Felt Fedora too.8)

[Jason Wesbrock]

#42610

Camp Dry is a silicone spray. It has a slight odor at first, but that quickly goes away.

[Jerry Gowins]

#7654

“On a closely related topic, I can’t imagine how bowhunters in the Pacific NW manage to get the job done and have a good time doing it, with so much rain and the jungly vegetation that goes with it.”

Here in Oregon, I use a “Dawg Ware” side quiver that protects the fletching from rain, like this quiver HERE as well as the powdered stuff on the feathers.

Jerry Gowins

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