What do you clean your shafts with when fletching?

VicHager · What do you clean your shafts with when fletching?

Hi
My Dad, a MB 35yrs ago, but now out of touch with archery, has advised me to clean my arrow shafts with carbon tetrachloride before sticking on the vanes. However, I can't get it anywhere.
I have also looked for isopropyl alcohol with no luck. Chemist are no longer allowed to sell either.
What do other archers use to clean their arrows and fletchings?
Vic

Ratfighter

I used to use acetone but now that comes in tiny uneconomic bottles I now use Isopropyl alchohol. I got my last litre bottle off ebay for a fiver.

VicHager

Thank you, however did the world manage before eBay?
Vic

Liam

Acetone can also be sourced on ebay

http://ngvi.ebay.co.uk/vi?ngvi&am...%2BORZD%2BCl6TixFa2oSQS9Zl%2Bk%3D

HTH

CaptainBeaky

MEK (methyl ethyl ketone, aka propanone for the IUPAC-ally inclined).

Mjollnir

I use Acetone, but then I have a free supply of it

VicHager

I have managed to get hold of isopropyl alcohol, but only a little bottle. What is the ideal cleaner for me to look out for? There seems to be a leaning towards acetone, but comments that it is expensive. Can anyone elaborate?
Vic

Mjollnir

I get mine for free so couldn't comment on price, but I just did a quick search and found this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Super-Nai...hen&qid=1203588087&sr=8-2

£2.09 for just under 500mls seams very cheep to me, as you can fletch an awful lot of arrows with that much.

VicHager

Yes, that is exactly why I am a bit confused! Is acetone the best thing to use?
Vic

Mjollnir

Right the aim of the cleaner is to remove any grease/oils that will make the adhesive less effective. There are a number of chemicals that will more than be effective at this. Just about any alchohol based cleaner for that matter.

So as to their being a "best" I think that is irrelevent. It certainly won't help your shooting, based on which one you used.

The only consideration is will the chemical damage your arrows. Ally Arrows are pretty robust to anything, Carbon exterior arrows need a little more care, but all the products listed above should do the job fine.

REMEMBER this is only to clean the grease/oil (mainly from fingers) off, not to remove old fletchings/fletching glue, and should be used sparingly, especially on carbons.

I hope that helps.

VicHager

Fantastic, thanks for the advice.
Vic

Celtic Dragon

Nail varnish remover (acetone) has served me well for years. Just depends if your male and prepared for the funny looks you'll get at teh till with it

VicHager

Hi
No, I'm a girl and girly enough to nail varnish remover already. However, mine is acetone free! Sod's law really!
Vic

Celtic Dragon

Hey, I've given you an excuse to go shopping

Steve B

I haven't responded till now, but all I do is make sure that all the glue and rubbish has been removed from my shafts with careful knife strokes, then I use a scouring powder cleaner (we have Ajax is Australia) on a cloth or sponge and rub it along the shaft were the fletchings are going to go, I then use a clean cloth and hot water to rub off the cleaner and then let them dry or use a hair drier to dry them. I find that does a much better job than all the other chemicals talked about here and is lots cheaper to boot.

VicHager

Sadly I have not been able to buy Ajax in the UK for a few years. My bath is so much harder to clean now! I do like the idea of just using normal cleaning stuff though, I find things generally much easier if you keep it all as simple as possible. What do you do if you need to refletch in the field?
Vic

Steve B

VicHager, if you wish you may use other powder cleaners as well, even the no name brand will do a reasonable job. I must admit I don't need to re-fletch in the filed, I generally have quite a few spares with me and I find they get me through so I can then if necessary re-fletch at home. I have found though cleaning as I have described and then using Fletchtite Platinium to glue my fletchings on I have no problems with them hanging on to the arrow...so I don't need to re-fletch to often. ( I am using Bohning X-vanes, so you know)

AFB

Ajax is called Vim now