What can fletchings for arrows be made from? Bow arrow fletching

Beginner archers are often faced with the issue of choosing fletching for their arrows. Which fletching is better, how to choose and install it correctly on arrows? To answer these and other similar questions, the topic of existing types of plumage, their advantages and disadvantages should be covered.

Let's start with the most important thing: why do arrows need fletching at all? Indeed, according to the laws of physics and the displacement of the center of gravity forward relative to the center of pressure, when an arrow is equipped with a heavy tip, the flight of the arrow will be stable. But theory and practice diverge somewhat in this case. Firstly, the presence of fletching further stabilizes the arrow. And secondly, not every arrow has a heavy tip. For example, sports arrows are equipped with a lightweight tip-cap, which only protects the arrow from destruction when colliding with a target. In this case, the forward shift of the center of gravity is insignificant and additional stabilization of the boom in flight is necessary, which is done by the tail.

Of course, hunting tips have more weight than sporting ones. The arrow is stabilized both by shifting the center of gravity forward and by the feathering. Therefore, in some cases, when shooting at short distances, the tail is abandoned. For example, in bowfishing and bird hunting at a distance of up to 15 meters. For shooting at significant distances, the tail is installed. But provided that the plumage will help stabilize the arrows and not interfere with it.

Natural feather plumage is considered a good choice... in dry weather. In rain and in conditions of high humidity, the feathers get wet, and the excess weight spoils the balancing of the arrows. In addition, wet tail feathers negatively affect the aerodynamics of the boom as a whole. In addition, if the fletching (or even one of the fans) is attached to the arrow incorrectly or begins to tear away from the shaft after hitting the shelf, the stability of the arrow in flight and, as a result, the accuracy and accuracy of shots drops sharply. When using hard plastic fletching, vibration is transmitted to the arrow when it hits the shelf, and the flight path of the arrow may be lost. Natural plumage, when in contact with the shelf, gently folds and returns to its original shape in flight, which is why feather fans for arrows still successfully compete with plumage made from artificial materials. But natural fletching wears out faster than its artificial competitors, and the cost of feather flags for arrows is higher, and they can be more difficult to acquire. In contrast to this, it is worth pointing out that the use of arrows with natural feathers allows you to install the simplest shelves on bows.

Rigid plastic flags are much cheaper than feather flags, they are stronger and more durable. But... provided that after the shot their condition remains ideal. And this is difficult to maintain when using simple shelves. In order to avoid the “obligatory” impact of a hard flag on the shelf when firing, complex and expensive shelves are used, for example, falling models. Such shelves are sometimes no cheaper than simple bows, and installing and adjusting them is not an easy task.

There is another way out of the situation: artificial folding flags were developed. One of the types is plumage curled around the shaft of an arrow. When passing through a regular stationary shelf, flags of this type are folded, twisted around the pole, and in flight they again acquire their original shape.

Also, to reduce shock and vibration, flags are made of soft rubber. This is a kind of economical option, since the efficiency of such fans is somewhat lower than that of curling fans and much lower than that of natural feather ones.

Another way to make it easier for fletching made of artificial materials to pass through the flange is to make an arrow with a spindle-shaped shaft. For such arrows, the greatest thickness is at a distance of 2/3 from the tip. In the presence of such a shaft, folding flags function in a softer mode, without hard blows to the base of their fastening. This method of bypassing impacts during a shot and damage to the plumage was most developed in crossbow bolts. But in the design of crossbows it is much easier to avoid damage to the feathers than in the design of bows. A special cut is made in the crossbow stock, and the rigid feather flags pass through it unhindered. In addition, the spindle-shaped shape of the bolt shaft reduces the contact area of ​​the bolt with the guides, which increases the starting speed of the ammunition.

Today, many novice archery fans, in an effort to reduce the cost of ammunition, are making their own arrows. Some take the manufacture of ammunition seriously and thoroughly: they purchase bird feathers, devices for gluing feathers (gluing), good shafts, etc. And some people make arrows “to make it look similar.” And various improvised means are used: a window glazing bead for the shaft, tape for the plumage, cheap glue. Alas, the result of such creativity: bows do not shoot, arrows do not fly. External resemblance has nothing to do with real shooting. And the use of plastic or rubber flags on bows with simple shelves leads to significant scatter when shooting. Therefore, if you want to shoot accurately, forget about such pseudo-savings. Learn how to properly feather an arrow or purchase expensive ready-made ammunition.

If you decide to make high-quality arrows with natural feathers, then be patient. You should not sew plumage flags to the pole. In an effort to speed up the process of making arrows, some “hurryers” pierce feather fans with a needle (all three at once) and wind them in a spiral to the shaft. The arrow with the feathers looks good. But its aerodynamics and the functioning of the tail leaves much to be desired. Even the thinnest threads do not allow the flags to fold naturally when in contact with the shelf. The fibers of the flags quickly delaminate due to punctures. All this does not add accuracy and precision to shooting.

You need to attach the fan to the arrow shaft with high-quality waterproof glue. In this case, the bases of the flags must be glued into special grooves. In ancient times, they also made a special winding at the ends of the flags, but again, not on a flat shaft, but in a provided recess, a groove for winding. This kind of winding can be done now, although it is not necessary.

To make grooves on the shaft, a special jig is made, along which the grooves are cut and scratched. With the help of a jig, the grooves are strictly identical. They can be straight (parallel to the arrow axis) or spiral. The flags are glued into the grooves using strong, waterproof adhesives.

The flags themselves, made from natural feathers, can either be made independently or purchased in a form already prepared for installation. To properly install the fletching on the arrow, all flags must be made from the feathers of one wing of the bird (right or left). The most commonly used feathers are goose feathers. Depending on which wing the feathers are taken from, the arrow will rotate to the right or left during flight. Which pen is better? By and large, there is not much difference. But especially advanced archers believe that a right or left spin can help more targeted shooting in crosswinds and you need to choose an arrow that, when fired, turns in the direction from which the wind is blowing. There is also a theory that feathers from the right wing should be installed on arrows for right-handers, and from the left - for left-handed people, but it does not have a large number of adherents, that is, in the absence of arrows with “right” feathers, right-handed people shoot arrows with “left” flags and vice versa.

Making your own feather flags will require stencils and a clamp for processing. Such a clamp is purchased or made from two pieces of wood and a pair of bolts and nuts. The flag is clamped between the boards and the base is carefully treated with fine sandpaper. From a fresh feather you can easily tear off a strip of the base with a fan, and if the feather is dry, then it is better to separate the base with a fan using a blade or a sharp knife.

It is best to glue the flags using a special device - glue, so the plumage is glued very accurately and neatly.

If you put enough time and patience into making arrows, you will have a stock of quality bow loads to be proud of. When you have a stock of quality arrows, be sure to store them properly. When arrows are stored for a long time in an overfilled quiver, the shaft may become bent. A shot with a crooked arrow a priori cannot be accurate.

Remember: a good arrow is harder to make than a good bow. This Indian proverb accurately reflects reality.

The tail is the aerodynamic surfaces of the thrown element, ensuring the stability of its flight. The name is due to the fact that at the dawn of the development of throwing weapons, bird feathers were used as such surfaces to increase the stability of arrow flight. The material for the plumage was the feathers of the wings of various birds. They had to be smooth, straight, elastic, but not too hard. In the Middle Ages, both in Rus' and in the East, the feathers of an eagle, vulture, and falcon were considered the best for plumage.

Currently, the plumage of throwing weapons is also made from synthetic materials. Feathers are made in various colors, shapes and sizes, and the plumage material can also be painted with luminous paints.

There are three types of fletching stickers on arrows: straight, angular and helical (spiral). The stability of the throwing element is increased by carefully selecting the direction of the feather bend. The natural bend should be directed in one direction and give the arrow rotation.

Today we will look at making arrow feathers from natural material, namely bird feathers.

Bird feather arrow fletching

Feathers should only be used from a bird's wing, and for one arrow you need to take feathers from one wing, either the right or the left.

The feather (5 to 9 centimeters long) is cut into two halves along the trunk with scissors. For the feathering we use most of the feather, giving it the desired shape with scissors. The cut edges of the pen should be sanded with fine sandpaper. Then we paint the feathers in different colors (you don’t have to paint them, if you wish) and glue them to the arrow shaft at a distance of 18 mm from the end of the cutout for the bowstring. Glue the feather onto the wooden arrow using nail polish or thick acetone varnish.

For reliability, we soak a strong nylon thread in glue and wrap it around the ends of the feathers, pressing them tightly to the shaft.

The area of ​​the arrow fletching should not be less than 26 cm2 and more than 35 cm2. The area of ​​the pen is calculated on both sides. The plumage depends not so much on the shape of the feather, although this is an important element, but on the establishment of relative length and height. The nib must be no lower than 12 mm and no longer than 75 mm, and its shape must allow the nibs to be placed as close to the end as possible.

Right and left tail

Gluing feathers: a—glued evenly; b—glued in a spiral

a—an arrow with well-glued flags in accordance with their natural bend; b—arrow with poorly selected feathers; the top, leading, feather should be the same as the other two

That's all. We talked to you about how to make arrow fletching from synthetic materials. Good luck.

If you want to develop your eye, then there is nothing better than archery. Our distant ancestors also used these weapons in war and hunting. It is convenient and practical. Does not misfire and is silent. But such weapons require cartridges - arrows. And now we’ll figure out how to make arrows. This is an interesting and exciting activity.

We should start by determining what the length of the arrow will be. To do this, use a rope or a long ruler. How to measure can be understood from the figure.

To the resulting length we add another 5 cm (1 cm will be spent on fastening the shank, 2 cm on fastening the tip and another 2 cm technological. They will be cut off later).

Now let's start making arrows. This process is not as simple as it might seem at first glance. Of course it's easier. But sometimes you want some romance. Or maybe even primitive savagery. We will look at how to make arrows in more detail and point by point.

How to make an arrow shaft.

Arrow processing methods.

There are several ways to process arrows. Historical and modern. The historical method is waxing, i.e. wax treatment. The result is simply phenomenal. To do this you need a felt rag and natural wax. The arrow is waxed using felt. Then, so that the wax is well absorbed into the wood, it should be warmed up a little. The easiest way to do this is in a preheated oven. First one end of the arrow beam, then the other. After this procedure, the arrows are again rubbed with felt until they shine. Both the moisture protection and the appearance are simply amazing.

Modern methods include methods using materials that did not exist in ancient times. We are talking about all kinds of varnishes, impregnations and primers. But current materials have disadvantages. They quickly begin to swell and be removed in layers from the arrow shaft. We can recommend Pinotex tinting antiseptic. Of all materials it is the most durable. You can, without struggling with the brush for long, simply blow it out with paint from a spray can. The effect will be good. An alternative material for protecting arrows from moisture can be tape. Wrap it carefully and you're done. But, in this case, a choice must be made between practicality and historical similarity.

How to make fletching for an arrow.

Any feather is suitable for making arrow fletching. Only crow feathers are not very practical. They are very fragile. Initially, in Europe, flight feathers from the wings of birds were used for arrows. Asian craftsmen also used tail feathers. This is not important. The main thing is that on one arrow there are feathers from only one wing. Either from the right or from the left. Combination is not allowed.

We will make a triple fletching on the arrow. The angle between them should be 120 degrees. One feather will be the leading one. It should be attached parallel to the annual rings of the arrow shaft.

Now let's take a closer look at the pen. In its center there is a rod with a groove in the center. Using a sharp knife, carefully cut the feather lengthwise along this indentation. You will get two parts. Most of it is used to make fletching for the arrow.

And you need three of these parts. We cut the shaft so that about 1 cm remains before the beginning of the pile. On the other side of the feather, where it ends, we also cut it. An incision is made in the place where the thickness of the rod becomes less than 1...0.7 mm. But you should make sure that all arrow feathers are the same length. Then we cut the pile to a distance of about 5 mm. The rod remains intact. This is where the fletching will be attached to the arrow shaft.

Now attach the plumage to the shaft. We apply the feathers so that the thin ends do not reach the edge by 1 cm and the angle between them is 120 degrees. To fasten the feathers, we hold them with one hand, with the other we take the thread and place it under one of the feathers so that the free end is 10 cm long. Then, one by one, we apply turns of thread onto the feather shafts. When winding, pay attention to maintaining the angle between the feathers. We will sew the middle part using a needle and thread. The length of the latter should be about 40 cm and without a knot. This is called single thread sewing.

We carefully tie the end of the thread to one of the feathers in the place where the rewind ended. The feathers are stitched at the base of the pile in increments of about 1 cm. Work should be done very carefully so as not to damage the pile. It turns out to be a kind of winding of feathers to the arrow shaft. We wrap the free end of the thread at the base of the feathers in a pile (not placing one turn to the other, but as it turns out). The other end of the feathers is secured to the shaft in the same way, i.e. tie in a circle. Then very carefully fill the threads with glue so as not to touch the feathers.

And the final stage is giving the plumage an optimal shape. It should be noted that a long and wide tail better stabilizes the arrow in flight, but greatly reduces the speed. The flight feather pile tends to curl slightly at the edges. The location of this bend is the maximum height of the tail. What will the final form be? There are many types depending on the purpose. We will not touch on this in this article. To begin, give the fletching of your arrows a conical shape with an extension from the tip to the base.

Arrows made in this way can be used not only for target shooting. Try to organize an extreme hunt with your friends. None of them had ever experienced such pleasure. There is something primal, wild, and, at the same time, alluring in this.

Now you understand how to make arrows. There is nothing particularly complicated about this process. But without some dexterity and skill, it may not work out the first time.

Archery training. The archery section of our website contains information about almost all famous archery clubs and sections in Moscow and Russia. If you have information about the existence of a section (club) that is not on the list, you can add it. Choose a suitable place for you to practice archery. In most sections, archery classes for children are free. Recruitment of children and adults into the section usually takes place at the beginning of the school year (September), but most coaches continue to accept newcomers throughout the year. In sports schools, as a rule, beginners are given a bow for beginners, arrows and the necessary equipment. As a last resort, you can buy a shooting bow in numerous online stores that sell bows, crossbows and related products. The cost of a bow for a beginner is about 3 thousand rubles. Join us. Just one warning: Archery is a very addictive sport, it can drag on for a long time;-)

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At one time I was looking for articles on the Internet on how to make fletchings for arrows. It is quite easy to find articles about natural feather plumage, but they are not so easy to find in urban areas.

I am currently making a budget option with the hint that in the future I will improve the manufacturing technique or the products themselves.

In short, on the Internet I found only 2 descriptions of how to make plumage from adhesive tape. It’s not enough to understand everything for a person who has never even seen an arrow in real life. I decided to add my description to the Internet of how I made the plumage based on the articles I found.

We need: A4 paper, Scotch tape (colored, metallic), and stationery supplies: pencil, ruler, scissors.

1). In theory, the aluminum tape should already be on the adhesive tape (I don’t quite understand why it’s aluminum, but the descriptions say so and I did it too). I pasted the tape along the long side of the A4 sheet.

I didn’t bother, I took the album sheet on which my daughter tried to draw. It's still not visible through the tape.

2). I cut the pasted tape into strips 10 mm wide.

3). The following are not all photos, but I do the following: I cut strips 40 mm wide and 297 mm long from an A4 sheet (i.e. the entire length of A4). One sheet yields 5 strips. I spread colored tape on the table with the adhesive side up and put strips on it so that there is 5 mm of free space on each edge.

It is necessary to glue carefully so that there are no folds.

4). I fold the strips with aluminum tape in half. I iron it several times. This will make it easier to glue later.

5). On the colored tape, where we left 5 mm, we glue bent strips of aluminum tape. Fold inward if necessary.

6). Next, you need to stick another strip of colored tape onto what you got. This procedure is not very simple. The adhesive tape either sticks where it shouldn’t, or is glued askew. Aluminum strips make it difficult to aim.

I went around the edge of the table with the workpiece so that the aluminum tape would fit more tightly and, pressing it with my knee, I carefully glued it. But even this did not always work out perfectly. I wasn't afraid of ruining a few stripes because... the costs for this are minimal and it is better to make more blanks than necessary. Let one blank produce 1 feather instead of 4 - this is also a plus.

7). In short, this is what we get.

8). And the last stage is what was in the first photo.
We outline the invented feather on the blank and cut it out, leaving 10 mm on each side so that the feather can be better secured to the shaft.

I could get no more than 4 feathers from one blank. Unfortunately, now at work I don’t remember what size they are.

I’ll probably post here some images of the feathers that I used as an example when I drew mine.