two-fletch test

[Traxx]

Yup,
Same Gordy Mickens from Montana

[Hillbilly]

Pat, that last one looks like those couple I made a few years ago. Remember the ones I was shooting at Cedar Rock? They worked really well and I've been meaning to make some more-I wound up sacrificing both of them to the treetop squirrel gods.  . I used the "off side" of primary wing feathers and laid the helical to them since they were so low profile.

[Pat B]

Steve I remember those arrows. I am impressed how well these fly. I need to tweak them a bit  but they fly well. Yea, them skirl gods have got plenty of mine too.
Marius, I did the test today shooting only #1 and #2 but only about 4 or 5 shots of each. At 15 yards they both shot where I looked.
   #1, slightly offset 2 fletch with 5 1/2"x3/4" feathers, 630gr sourwood shaft(total arrow weight), 29" long with 125gr field point.
   #2, helical 2 fletch(about 90deg) with 5 1/2"x7/8" feathers, 599gr, sourwood shaft(total arrow weight), 29" long with 128gr "Little John" point.
   Bow, 60" osage static recurve, 56#@26"
 Number 1 seemed to shoot faster(visual only) and both made about the same amount of noise.  I wonder if parabolic or banana cut fletch would be quieter but still preform as well as a 2 fletch.   Pat

[Dustybaer]

thanks pat.

i guess the banana cut would be quiet, but so would be yours if you cut them flatter.  i noticed you didn't wrap yours thru the feather (just front and back) right?  i wonder if that contributes to the noise.  or did you glue them down?

i sanded my shafts down last night (i had lacquered them after the wrapping for protection thereof), so i had to remove the wrinkles.  i guess artificial sinew doesn't need extra protection, so i'm going to lacquer them before the fletching this time.  i'm still debating if i should shorten the feathers, cut them flatter yet (under 3/8") and/or reduce the helical.

all arrows in the test were 31" long, had 100gr. field points and weighed 490 to 500gr.:
4 each POC, 3-fletch straight 4.5" x 5/8"
12 each Northern Pine, 2 fletch helical 5.5" x 5/8"
bow was the signature bow, 52#@25"

[Pat B]

Marius, I just bound the forward and rear of the feathers, no glue. Wrapping the full length might reduce noise.
  I'll play around some more today and see what I come up with. I have some store bought 5" shield cut feathers I may try for 2 fletch.  I may take my extra feather burner ribbon and try a new style cut also...maybe a banana cut.      Pat

[Dustybaer]

here's my next generation (or maybe generations).

one set is 5.5" x 3/8" while the other is 4.5" x 5/8".  both sets have about 90 degrees helical.

flightwise, i can't tell a difference between the two on the short distance in my back yard, but compared to the previous version, the point of impact is 2"-3" higher (so i guess they're a little faster).

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[hawkbow]

fine lookin sticks brother, should meke some meat with them ... Hawk a/ho

[Pat B]

Well, look at you...stealing my idea about banana cut 2 fletch.    Both sets look very nice. Do the 2nd set sing with those sharp tails?     Pat

[Dustybaer]

thanks hawkbow.  that's what this experiment is all about.  find the right 2-fletch style for broadheads is the next step (don't have my tradepoints yet  )

pat, they are not banana cuts (as you can see in the last picture) it's the helical that gives you that impression.  not that i would hesitate to steal your ideas    i was trying to show you what yours would look like if you ever made them    and no, they are still absolutely silent.

[Hillbilly]

Those look good Marius, I espcially like the second ones. I like noisy arrows for target shooting myself, I love to hear an arrow "sing", as Pat said. Of course, not what you want for hunting, but those foamy deer usually aren't too bad to jump the string. 

[Pat B]

Marius, I guess I should have looked before I lept. I will try to get some more arrows made this weekend. I have sourwood shoots and a few canes ready to go.    Pat

[Pat B]

Marius, Here are a few more...  #1 and #2 are the same as before. #3 is cane arrow with helical(about 45deg) 2 fletch and banana cut feathers tied front and rear, 125gr field point, 551gr total weight and flies like a dart with no noticeable noise.
#4 is spiral fletch flu flu tied front and back with nutter point on a German red twig dogwood, total weight is 604gr. This arrows flies well for a flu flu.
   Notice the total air resistance around the whole shaft on the spiral wrap. This is why these are more effective as flu flus (restricts distance) then if fletched with 6 full width feathers.    Pat

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[Dustybaer]

cool stuff!  in your second picture, i like the two in the center best.  how did the bloodtwig work for you?  was it easy enough to straighten?

[Pat B]

Marius, Here is another cane arrow I made last night with feathers I got from Hawk. I haven't shot it yet but did put a bit more helical in this one. I'll test it here in a bit and let you know.
Also is a better shot of Kenneth's cane target point.      Pat

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[Pat B]

After shooting all of the arrows together(no, not at once) from the same bow(60"t/t, osage with slightly recurved static tips, 56#@26") the canes seem to recover quicker and fly better with the 2 fletch. The banana cut is definitely quieter and the one with the most helical(less than 180deg) shoots the best. This may change with a different bow and arrow material.
  Cane is naturally quicker to recover anyway so I guess that has a dramatic effect on the way they fly.
Here are the arrow weights. All points, whether they be store bought field points or home made(Kenneth's) are 125gr to 130gr.
arrow #1, sourwood, 630 gr, slight helical 2 fletch with shield cut, with field point
arrow #2, sourwood, 599gr, 180deg helical 2 fletch with shield cut, with Kenneth's trade target point
arrow #3, hill cane, 551gr, about 45deg helical 2 fletch, with banana cut, .with field point
arrow #4(Mikes fletching), switch cane,604gr, not quite 180deg helical 2 fletch banana cut,  with field point
arrow #5, hill cane, 547gr, flat Cherokee two fletch(tail feathers),  with Kenneth's cane target point
   This is not in order of best flight but as I had them labeled before. So far the switch cane arrow I made last night with Mikes feathers and banana cut flies the best.
   The 2 fletch flies very well when the proper set up is achieved for my shooting style. I plan to make my hunting arrows this year with a 2 fletch...probably banana cut and a good helical added. I will do another test later with hunting points(stone, trade and commercial) and see what flies the best. That is what I will hunt with.      Pat