Grayling Fletching Jig & Clamp Review

Good Points
Low Priced

Bad Points
Pretty much everything that ISN'T in the Good points.

General Comments
I purchased the Grayling Fletching Jig at Cabelas.com for $29.99 (+shipping). I didn't care for this model at all period. For one thing the ONLY thing that holds the clamp in place is a magnet. As we both know the best way to take a magnet off of something is to do what with it? Slide it off. You slide a magnet off of an object it will be easier to take off than trying to lift it straight off. Well the Grayling Fletching Jig using a magnet with obviously a metal plate to secure, (if you want to call it that), the clamp in place that holds the vane against the arrow. I had several problems with this.



One is that the part that holds the arrow on the upper part of the jig doesn't hold the arrow tight, so in turn gravity does its' part. The arrow just lays in a groove. It is suppose to be able to be adjusted but I tried 10 different times to adjust it in all different ways. I would get it adjusted dry so my vane was in contact all way from one end to the other and then I would add my glue/cement and of course that allows it to slide. That is the point of the jig so I don't have to hold it. The arrow slides down which pushes the fletching clamp on the magnet. Your vane is now NOT tight against the arrow. That is the point of the fletching jig is to hold it tight against it.



Second is that well it is PLASTIC weather it be ABS or PVC it isn't good. This is a Molded clamp. As any mold there are defects in the mold. In some places the vane may not be held as tight as in other places.



Third like anything for the money you want to make it work so you don't have buy a more expensive one. I had several times I tried to get it to seat right and the only thing it would do is slip off and then I had glue/cement all over the Plastic jig. Well think about what kind of glue you are using. Something to bond a type of plastic of some sort (vane) Maybe feather, to a carbon or aluminum shaft. Well most glues/cements like this are made to actually work like PVC glue, people who know the basics of plumbing know what I mean and for those who don't the glue/cement is made to basically or just about melt the 2 intended surfaces together. Yes it cause the 2 surfaces to actually melt, (chemical reaction), not allot thought just a small bit. When you slip with the vane and clamp that glue gets on the jig and the vane clamp and some glues/cements turn plastic/carbon/aluminum surfaces "White" in color, so now your jig has white streaks on it. However you can get glue/cements that don't do that. But still waste of glue/cement and possibly a vane, and it marks up your jig rather quickly.



My feeling on this jig is I wouldn't buy it again, nor would I recommend it to anyone. You might try it and get one that is made good and not have any problems with it but then again you may not. I had actually purchased another clamp for it by mistake. I also tried it but similar problems came about as with the first clamp. Like I said you can give it a try but don't have to much faith. Some people have had good luck with it. It is just the luck of the draw I guess. I can't give any good marks on this except that it is the cheapest one that Cabelas.com has and you get what you pay for. I have to give it a rating of 1 because it will do what you want but it takes allot of time and patience. Gets you started anyway.



NOTE: I will be posting my findings on other fletching jigs from Cabelas.com. Next is Cabela's brand of the jig that bonds all 3 vanes at the same time, in success you ask, I don't know as of yet. I will keep posting until I find one that works well.