Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: aaron on October 17, 2013, 10:37:26 pm

Title: help me fletch with Duco
Post by: aaron on October 17, 2013, 10:37:26 pm

I have fletched dozens of arrows with "regular" contact cement. It worked great. But I recently bought a tube of Duco, and I can't get it to work. With contact cement,I put the feather in my jig, then I lay a good bead of cement on the feather, then press the feather to the shaft. I immediately remove the feather and let both parts dry for about 1-3 min. then I reapply the feather and it stays put for years. If I do this with duco the feather doesn't stick well to the shaft , almost falls off. What am I doing wrong?

Title: Re: help me fletch with Duco
Post by: Adam on October 17, 2013, 10:40:08 pm

What type of finish is on your shafts?  I don't think Duco is compatible with all finishes.

Title: Re: help me fletch with Duco
Post by: aaron on October 17, 2013, 10:41:06 pm

it's a polyurethane

Title: Re: help me fletch with Duco
Post by: burchett.donald on October 17, 2013, 11:32:44 pm

AAron,
           I've used duco in the past during my trad years and never had a problem but I would always run a good bead and once I slid my clamp down I wouldn't remove it for 15min. or more. Sometimes I would take a couple of days for a dozen because I would put a feather on when I passed by during the day. No harm meant but I never heard of removing the clamp during the drying process. I think that may be your problem with this kind of glue.

Title: Re: help me fletch with Duco
Post by: Pat B on October 17, 2013, 11:45:44 pm

Duco takes while to cure out. Give it 15 to 30 minutes before removing the clamp.

Title: Re: help me fletch with Duco
Post by: Salvador 06 on October 18, 2013, 01:45:40 am

Don't take the clamp right away, it doesn't work like other contact cements.  Leave it until it dries enough to stay.  I leave the clamp for about 10-15  minutes before moving to the next feather, and let all fletchings dry overnight before they're used. 

Title: Re: help me fletch with Duco
Post by: RBLusthaus on October 18, 2013, 09:17:43 am

Duco does take much longer to dry and I dont remove the clamp.  After doing this for years, I changed to fletch tape and use the duco on front and rear to hold them down as insurance and to protect my hand. 
Russ

Title: Re: help me fletch with Duco
Post by: aaron on October 18, 2013, 11:23:01 am

thanks, guys

Title: Re: help me fletch with Duco
Post by: Tom Leemans on October 18, 2013, 01:59:47 pm

Yeah, it's not a contact cement at all. Just have to be patient and let it cure.

Title: Re: help me fletch with Duco
Post by: FAW on October 20, 2013, 08:57:16 am

Duco is my favourite glue but we can't get it any more here. As said already, Duco needs the fifteen minutes in a clamp to set up.

Title: Re: help me fletch with Duco
Post by: Tom Leemans on October 22, 2013, 01:40:48 pm

It's getting scarcer to find, but Jim and Brenda at The Nocking Point have always had it. http://thenockingpoint.com/products2.htm#arrowbuilding (http://thenockingpoint.com/products2.htm#arrowbuilding) Great folks and good service.

Title: Re: help me fletch with Duco
Post by: Jim Davis on October 27, 2013, 09:27:43 pm

Family Dollar has Duco at a good price.

Jim