To achieve the most accurate, reliable and consistent arrow flight and accuracy, nothing beats making them yourself.
The most troublesome part of the arrow construction process is applying the fletchings.
That’s why you need a quality fletching jig to help you get the job done consistently well.
In this article, we identify the five best fletching jigs on the current market to help you to choose the best tool to help you to make your own arrows.
We’ve also got a comprehensive FAQ to answer your most pressing fletching related questions.
Our Reviews Of The Best Fletching Jigs
#1 Bitzenburger/Zenith Fletching Jig
Benefits
The Bitzenburger Zenith fletching jig is the most durable jig that we have come across. It is made with all metal alloy parts, so that it is very hard wearing.
Drawbacks
The Bitzenburger Zenith fletching jig is more expensive than most competing models on the market. It is also a little trickier to use than other models.
Extra Features
The Bitzenburger Zenith fletching jig consists of a jig base and a clamp. The clamps can be either left or right helical. This will affect the direction in which the arrow will spin.
This jig is compatible with virtually any type of nock, meaning that you should never have to remove the nock before fletching.
The Bitzenburger Zenith fletching jig will take all arrow shaft sizes. It will also allow for a large variety of fletching types. You get a self-centering shaft cradle and adjustment dials to allow for precision placement of your vanes.
With the Bitzenburger Zenith fletching jig, you can achieve straight, helical and offset fletchings. You also have the ability with this jig to select different fletching configurations.
These include 2 fletchings at 120 degrees, 4 fletchings at 75 x 105 degrees, and 4 fletchings at 90 degrees.
Buying Advice
The Victory Buck Buster is a very accurate, lightweight arrow that is also strong and durable. Best of all it comes in at a terrific price point. That combination makes it a natural choice as our best hunting arrow on the market right now.
Technical specifications
- Size: 6 inches high
- Weight: 3 pounds
- Materials: Die cast alloy
#2 Fsskgx Fletching Jig
Benefits
The Fsskgx fletching jig is an elegant looking aluminum unit that is anti-rust, durable and easy to use. It is extremely lightweight and portable. This makes it ideal to carry with you to the archery range.
Drawbacks
The Fsskgx fletching jig may give a little too much play in the arrow rest which can make it tricky to properly line up the arrow fletchings. The instructions that come with this unit are also not very clear.
Extra Features
The Fsskgx fletching jig is an extremely versatile little unit. It is ideal for applying both real feathers and plastic vanes. It is also compatible with a range of constructions of arrow, including wood, fiberglass, carbon and aluminum.
The jig is set up to allow you to apply 2, 3 or 4 fletchings, with 3 fletch at 120 degrees and 4 fletch at 90 degrees.
The Fsskgx fletching jig comes in at a very competitive price point, being about a quarter the price of some of the leading brand models on the current market. While not as robust as some of the more expensive jigs, it will do a solid job for a great price.
Buying Advice
The Fsskgx fletching jig is a budget jig that performs the job admirably. It looks great, is lightweight and compact and provides an impressive level of user versatility and functionality.
Technical specifications
- Size: 23 x 19.5 x 12cm
- Weight: 647 grams
- Materials: Aluminum
#3 Zhan Yi Fletching Kit Jig
Benefits
The Zhan Yi Fletching Kit Jig is an affordable yet durable fletching jig that will make the job of attaching fletching to your arrow shaft much easier. It is constructed from a mixture of plastic and stainless steel.
Drawbacks
The Zhan Yi Fletching Kit Jig is quite difficult to assemble. Also, the magnets do not line up properly, making it tricky to properly align the fletchings.
Extra Features
The Zhan Yi Fletching Kit Jig comes in a cool black color. This is a portable, compact unit that comes with a pair of clamps that are fitted with length scales. The base provides you with two holes so that it can be secured to a table.
The all new Zhan Yi Fletching Kit Jig is a revamped and improved version of the unit that now features magnets for attachment and an adjustable gap to allow it to fit all sizes of shaft.
You can work with both straight and helix shafts. Rotating the knob on the base of the jig allows you to set the angle; 3 fletch at 120 degrees and 4 fletch at 90 degrees.
The Zhan Yi Fletching Kit Jig is compatible with arrows that are made of carbon, wood, fiberglass and aluminum.
Buying Advice
The Zhan Yi Fletching Kit Jig is another budget unit that performs pretty solidly. The revamped version of this unit is more responsive, though there are couple of quirks, as mentioned above. This one would be good as a backup jig to carry with you in the field.
Technical specifications
- Size: 5.4 inch height
- Weight: 1.2 pounds
- Materials: High quality Plastic and Stainless Steel
#4 Bohning Pro Class Fletching Jig
Benefits
The Bohning arrow fletching jig is a very lightweight, portable plastic clamp that is easy to set up and comes with a magnetic clamp. This is a very popular clamp that is both affordable and functional.
Drawbacks
The Bohning arrow fletching jig comes with a straight clamp. This will not allow you to set offset fletchings. For this, you will have to purchase an off-set jig.
Extra Features
The Bohning arrow fletching jig is extremely adjustable, allowing you to work with a full variety of arrow shaft types. This unit provides you with pre-set dial stops to provide you with consisting fletching from arrow to arrow.
You can also use this jig on all types of fletching including feathers. However, there is an extra bit of set-up required to work with feathers.
This jig can be used for 3 or 4 fletch arrows; 3 fletch at 120 degrees and 4 fletch at 90 degrees.
Even though the Bohning arrow fletching jig is constructed of plastic, it is pretty sturdy. Another cool thing about this jig is that it is easy to clean excess glue from the base or clamp with a little bit of acetone.
This jig is very competitively priced, offering great value for money.
Buying Advice
The Bohning arrow fletching jig is an easy to set up, compact and well-priced jig that allows you to work with a variety of arrows and fletch types, including feathers.
Technical specifications
- Size: 5 inches high
- Weight: 525 grams
- Materials: High quality plastic
#5 Bohning 12962 Helix Tower Fletching Jig
Benefits
The Bohning 12962 helix tower arrow fletching jig is the feature product out of the very popular Bohning stable. It allows you to fletch as many as three vanes all at the same time.Â
This can allow you to save a whole lot of time compared to those jigs that only allow you to work on one fletching at a time.
Drawbacks
The Bohning 12962 helix tower arrow fletching jig is only compatible with arrows that have push-in nocks.
Extra Features
The Bohning 12962 helix tower arrow fletching jig provides you with 3-degree helical arms and 5 center post options: the standard carbon (240 id), F-Nock (.164id), Pin Nock, A-Nock (.201id) and the Xbow Bolts.
You get a 120-degree separation between vanes on this jig to ensure the utmost accuracy. There are also 5 center post options for the ultimate in precision usability.
This jig works well with feathers as well as plastic fletchings. Your purchase of this jig comes with a number of adapters to allow you to work with a range of shaft diameters.
Buying Advice
The Bohning 12962 helix tower arrow fletching jig is a high spec, high-quality jig that allows you to flex up to three vanes at the same time. It is extremely easy to use, compact and lightweight.
The only downside of this jig is that it only works with arrows that have push-in nocks.
Technical specifications
- Size: 5 inch height
- Weight: 1.2 kg
- Materials: Plastic
Fletching Jigs FAQ
What is a fletching jig?
A fletching jig is a vice-like device which holds an arrow in place while the fletchings are being applied to the shaft.
A jig will hold the arrow securely, making the job of fletching a lot easier.
What type of fletching should I use?
The fletching on the arrow steers the flight path. The fletching options on the market include plastic vanes, spin wings or actual feathers.
They are available in a huge range of shapes, sizes, and colors. Newbie archers should go for cheap, plastic fletchings in the colors that you like best.
At this stage, your shooting skills are far more important than the slight improvement you will get in accuracy from choosing an expensive fletching.
There are a number of different fletching configurations. The main ones are straight, helical and off-set.
The vanes of a straight fletching are aligned with the arrow. This will cause the arrow to spin while in flight.
Helical fletching is in the shape of a plane fan. To achieve a helical vane effect, you will need to set the vane to an offset and slightly twisting it.
An offset fletching will see the fletching set at angle to the line of the arrow.
Many jigs allow you to make adjustments in order to position them in an offset manner.
How do you set up a fletching jig?
Some fletching jigs have to be attached to a bench the same way you would attach a vice.
Others don’t have to be attached to a bench and can be work on a table-top.
When you have prepared your arrow for the fletching process, place it in the jig.
On some jigs, you will place the vane to be attached to the arrow shaft in the jig first.
A good jig will provide you with indicator lines to allow you to get the ideal distancing from the nock.
What should I look for when buying a fletching jig?
The key buying considerations when shopping for a fletching jig are:
Construction Materials
There are two main construction materials used in making fletching jigs; aluminum and plastic.
Of course, aluminum will be far more sturdy and durable than plastic.
But they are also easier to clean. You’ll have to use acetate cleaner to get excess glue off a plastic jig.
You will have to use more care when handling a plastic jig than an aluminum one.
Versatility
Some fletching jigs will only allow you to fletch one fletching at a time.
Investing in a multi-vane jig will make the arrow making process much faster and easier.
Precision
The quality of your fletching jig will play a large part in the precision of your arrow flight.
Check reviews to see how others have found the accuracy of arrows produced on the jig.
Stability
You need to buy a fletching jig that provides the maximum level of stability.
How to fletch your own arrows?
When making your arrows, you should insert the nock before you put on the fletchings.
Position the arrow in the fletching jig using the knock. Position the arrow so that the cock vane area will be sticking up.
Positon the vane to be attached into the holder and run a thin layer of fletching glue along the strip of the vane.
Place the vane on the shaft, making sure that there is sufficient distance from the nock that your fingers will not touch the fletching while shooting.
A distance of a quarter of an inch should be ideal.
Now press the vane tightly into the shaft and hold this position for 30-60 seconds. Then move onto the next fletching.
Do you have any tips on fletching your own arrows?
One useful tip is to make use of a vinyl arrow wrap. You peel the wrap off and lay it upside down on a mousepad.
You then lay your arrow shaft on top of the arrow wrap on the mousepad and slide it towards you until you make contact with the edge of the wrap.
You then roll the wrap around the shaft where the fletching will be positioned.
Then place the arrow into your fletching jig. Then put your fletching in the jig on your desired mark.
Make sure that the vane is even in the clamp so that it is totally flush from top to bottom.
Now, run a small bead of archery glue along the vane going even from the top to the bottom.
Then take the edge of your finger and slide it along the edge of the vane.
Then place the clamp onto the jig. Repeat the process with the other two vanes.
To finish things up, use a Fletchtite glue to dab the tip and tail of each of the fletchings.
This will help to prevent the front edge of the vane from peeling off.
What sort of nock should I use for my arrows?
The nock is the attachment on the end of the arrow that attaches the arrow to the string.
They come in a limited number of sizes but every color imaginable.
Choosing a fluorescent color will make it easier to find the arrow in the long grass.
You want a nock that fits onto the string just right – not too loose and not too tight.
You can test out the fit of your nock by pointing the bow to the ground and nocking the arrow onto the string so that it hangs freely.
Now give the string a gentle tap. If the arrow falls from the string, then the nock is too loose.
How do I choose the right arrow shaft for me?
The are three main criteria when it comes to arrow shafts:
- Spine
- Weight
- Draw Length
When we talk about the spine, we are referring to the stiffness of the arrow shaft.
Arrows actually have two spines – static and dynamic. The static spine refers to the level of flex in the arrow shaft.
Dynamic spine refers to the way the arrow reacts to the stored energy in the bow.
The dynamic spine is affected by the weight and length of the arrow as well as the finger action of the archer.
Because the dynamic spine is so variable, the static spine is used more as a reference point.
All arrows have a four number numeric marking on the shaft of the arrow.
These numbers relate to the diameter and thickness of the arrow.
The outside diameter is measured in 64ths of an inch while the wall thickness of the shaft arrow is measured in thousandths of an inch.
So if the shaft had a marking of 1816, this would indicate that it is 18 64ths of an inch in diameter and has a wall thickness of 16 one-thousandths of an inch.
Because weaker arrows bend more, they will have higher numbers.
When it comes to draw length, arrows are measured from the groove of the nock point to the end of the arrow shaft, not from the tip of the point.
In order to determine what arrow length you need, measure your draw length.
Place an elastic band on a long arrow then draw the bow back to your anchor point.
Now have a friend move the elastic band to the point where the arrow meets the front of the bow. This is your draw length.
When it comes to the construction material for your arrow shafts, a beginner should go with aluminum.
These shafts are available in a range of sizes, they are reliable on release, durable and well priced.
More experienced archers will want to advance to a carbon/aluminum mix, which provides a greater level of accuracy.
Because they are lighter and thinner than straight aluminum arrows, there is less wind resistance during flight.
This allows them to maintain velocity at longer distances.
Conclusion
The best fletching jig on the current market is the Bitzenburger/Zenith Fletching Jig.
Our runner up is the Fsskgx Fletching Jig.
Rounding out our top 3 best fletching jigs is the Zhan Yi Fletching Kit Jig.
Did you like the article? Please rate it:
