Arrow prep

[dmjojump]

I was just wondering what you guys use to prep your arrows before glueing vanes on. I have always used alcohol and goat tuff glue, I have had trouble with my vanes staying on my arrows lately. I use the easton fmj and the fusion vanes. I tried a couple different glues and have had the same luck. I am trying to figure out what I am doing wrong. Any suggestions?

 

[MattB]

If you use IPA, it has to be 90% or 99% or you will have issues. With aluminum, I would use MEC or acetone.

 

[SDHNTR]

Comet and hot water with a green Brillo pad.

 

[ontarget7]

I was just wondering what you guys use to prep your arrows before glueing vanes on. I have always used alcohol and goat tuff glue, I have had trouble with my vanes staying on my arrows lately. I use the easton fmj and the fusion vanes. I tried a couple different glues and have had the same luck. I am trying to figure out what I am doing wrong. Any suggestions?

Take a scouring pad to rough up the shaft a touch. The green ones work well, you might have some in the kitchen. Then take Acetone and clean the shaft, wiping it down immediately after. You can use the industrial strength PVC clear cleaner as well, it has a nice applicator to it. I still use the applicator tip and original can, just refill it with Acetone. I then take the same cotton ball applicator and run it at the base of my vanes with Acetone. This opens the pours up similar to PVC and bonds the vanes very well. I have used a lot of glues and find that I prefer the AAE Max Bond the best. This will do the job for you.

 

[jmez]

I shoot FMJ's but use Blazer's. I wipe the shaft with 90% ethyl alcohol and the base of the vane. Glue them on with Saunders Arrow Mate NPV. They don't come off. You would need pliers to pull them off. Been doing mine like this for years and never had a problem.

 

[OR Archer]

Any shaft with a shiny top coat I always rough up with some light grit sandpaper and clean thoroughly with either denatured alcohol or lacquer thinner if I'm not wrapping them.

 

[Manosteel]

Comet and hot water with a green Brillo pad.

X2 then I rinse with hot water let them air dry. I use alcohol on the base of the vanes and AAE Max Bond glue.

 

[Jared Bloomgren]

Use wraps and you won't have any problems. Plus when you have to replace vanes you just peel off the wrap and start over witha like new surface.

 

[Danielboone]

Use wraps and you won't have any problems. Plus when you have to replace vanes you just peel off the wrap and start over witha like new surface.

Yep, best way.

 

[Manosteel]

You don't have problems taking off the wrap? I have reflectched factory arrows that had wrap on them and it was a PITA to get the wrap off. Almost not worth the time. It would not come off in one peice and lots of small patches everywhere.

 

[jmez]

Put the wrap end in hot water for about 30 seconds and they peel right off.

 

[trophytaka]

I clean all my shafts first with acetone and ive always used gold tip glue, never any issues. As far as getting the wrap off i borrow the ol ladys hair dryer, bout a minute of even heat in the shaft and the wrap peels right off.

 

[HurricaneHuge]

409 works great. If you get the high potency stuff, dilute some with water and set the shafts in for about an hour. Run under hot water while using the aforementioned green scrub pad. Let air dry or dry with a towel. I second Tip Grip by Gold Tip as it is a thicker glue that sets quicker than goat tuff and creates less mess. Wraps add a lot of work on prep and cleaning after.

Which Fusions are they? If they're the Zeons then they are a pain period. Fusions in general are a flatter base so they don't like to form to the shaft as easily as blazers, and it will be amplified as FMJ's are a narrower shaft.

On a side note, Tip Grip doesn't have a great applicator tip, but can be fitted with the goat tuff applicator by cutting the top of the GT applicator off but leaving the threaded base on (where the cap would screw on). This allows you to get a fine application of the Tip Grip with better glue control and use the better glue.

 

[bowuntr]

91% isopropyl alcohol on shaft and vane... I've never had one come off... Ed F

 

[Danielboone]

Best way to remove wrap IMO is with a semi-dull razor blade. Pull off the vanes with a pliers and the blade will take them right off and clean with acetone. I have tried the hot water and blow dryer, but the blade works the best and is also the fastest. Hold it at the proper angle and you won't hurt the shaft at all.

 

[Jared Bloomgren]

You don't have problems taking off the wrap? I have reflectched factory arrows that had wrap on them and it was a PITA to get the wrap off. Almost not worth the time. It would not come off in one peice and lots of small patches everywhere.

I have never had problem taking wraps off at all. Factory skrink wraps can be a pain sometimes but not bad. One cut down the length and it peels off pretty good. I then use rubbing alcohol to remove the residue. Very easy most times. Vinyl wraps from Onestringer peel off very easy. I normally don't use anything to get them off as they peel great but adding a little heat from a hair dryer can help. I don't use hot water as this can cause them to be slippery unless you wipe them off after you dunk them.

Using a blade to scrape the wraps off is tedious I think and you run the risk of gouging or stratching the shaft unless you are a pro like jmez!!

WRAPS ARE THE WAY TO GO imo!

 

[Lukem]

I've always used a Rapala fillet knife on both wraps and vanes glued to the shaft. Held at a pretty steep angle and whipped back and forth pretty quick. Never had a problem damaging the shaft and everything has always stuck well. Unless I'm shooting a league with Jared, then they get peeled off... Mostly by the wake caused by his arrows.

 

[Jared Bloomgren]

I've always used a Rapala fillet knife on both wraps and vanes glued to the shaft. Held at a pretty steep angle and whipped back and forth pretty quick. Never had a problem damaging the shaft and everything has always stuck well. Unless I'm shooting a league with Jared, then they get peeled off... Mostly by the wake caused by his arrows.

lol....I do my best Luke!! Those were some good times!

 

[Coyote Commander]

I just wipe with 90% alcohol. Than DONT touch that end of the arrow with your bare hand.

I use gel super glue, and in 15 years or so, have never had problems with vanes coming off aluminum or carbon shafts. In fact, it may hold em to well, its a real pain the clean off if you ever need to remove vanes.

Tried goat tuff, I know a lot of guys love it, but IMO it sucks.

The last batch of wraps I removed I was able to get a fingernail under one corner and just peel em right off no problem. I have steamed em too which worked ok.

 

[HurricaneHuge]

I've just dealt with too much residue after wraps that was a pain to get clean. Scraping and fletching to the shaft is just quicker for me. Plus it keeps a few extra grains off of the back end of my arrow.