short flu flu build along

[bjansen]

Hello all,

Thought I would post a flu-flu buildalong. I had 8 matched shafts...so here we go.

Well, I guess I lost a few of my initial pics...sorry about that.. To start I stained the shaft with Minwax red oak stain.  Then hit them with one coat of Magnalac.

Next, I attached the blunts..used 357 cal shells...i dont have a grain scale but I am guessing around 100g..a little light but if they dont work we can always fix it later.  

I cut them a little long to make up for that low tip weight.  Then they go on the crester:

[bjansen]

Only the 3rd time I crested arrows...and i defitely need new brushes..but they truned out decent:

[bjansen]

Then 2 more coatsx of Magnalac and the fletching begins.  I cut 4 inch feathers, using 6 total alternating red/white. I have been using the fletching tape and really like it.  I was skeptical at first but I have yet to lose a fletching due to a poor bond.  After I completed the round, I put a small dab of Duco on the tip of the base so smooth out that initial ridge.  I think this also makes it a little safer as if you hand gets to close to the shelf the quill wont jab into your finger...that hurts..

 

 

[bjansen]

Complete...They turned out pretty good and I took a few shots in the back yard and they shot great...but I guess it is hard for them not to with all those fletchings.

[ber643]

Nice Flu-flus, nice teutorial. Should wind up in the How To's forum, IMO.

Thanks for the time and effort, bjansen

[KaiS]

Nice! they almost look like mine - I splice 1" of white to the back of the red though. A plain .357 case is short of 100gr - I'll have to weigh one when I get home. I put the case on the scale and add lead shot to get the weight I desire (I'm shooting 150gr heads right now). Then I melt the shot inside the case with a torch, wait one minute and drop a pellet of hot melt glue in - even a tapered shaft will slide right in and lock down perfectly. I have never shot a better blunt than these, and you cant beat the price!

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Kool Flu-Flu's, Thanx

[DEATHMASTER]

KaiS, I like the idea of putting shot into the shell to get the weight needed.
I was thinking of melting lead and pouring it in but no way to get the same weight.
GREAT idea.
DEATHMASTER

[twosheds]

Great lookin arra's. thanks.

[ber643]

Another way that works well is to cut and weigh measured lengths of solid core Solder (i.e. in the size that I bought a roll of, 3/4" = 20gr)until you get a size/weight you can work best with. then use them the eame way as the lead shot - FWIW

[matt g meyers]

Hey guys,
   I'm dealing with a single fletching arrow set up,like shown in these pics, is the sticky back fletch tape the way to go? I also wonder is it an instant set.....like I might produce more than one arrow per hour?!  

[bjansen]

Matt,  In my experiences, I have always used the fletch tape and I think it is the way to go.  Yes it is instant...and that is why I like it.  I fletched those 8 arrows above in an hour....and then shot them 5 minutes after that.  I have used this on aluminum and wood...and have not yet lost a fletching due to a poor bond...which is something I cannot say about Duco or Fletchtite.  Good luck

[The Gopher]

Great tutorial, one question though, i made a few flu flu's for the first time and only used 4  untrimmed 4" feathers. i haven't used flu flu's before. is 4 enough? thanks, Dan.

[bjansen]

Dan,

I think 4 is enough...and I made my first ones using 4 4" feathers like you noted.  However, I like the 6 feather design better now that I have made them.  I suppose it is a matter of preference.  The more feathers, the longer the feathers...or the more offset the feathers have...the faster they will slow after they are shot.

[The Gopher]

Another question, in general, say with your run of the mill 50lb glass longbow, how far could you expect a flu flu to travel when shot at 45 degrees? i'm just curious how fast they actually slow down. i know individual bows, shooting style, etc will make a difference, i was just wondering if were looking at 40 yards or 75 yards? thanks, Dan

[bjansen]

well, that is a good question...and I would like to go outside and do a little test to figure that out...but I wont be able to get out to the field in a couple weeks...

But, maybe I can add some commentary to answer this question without hard facts.  I shot those 8 flu flus I made all weekend from distances of 10-30 yds (straight line of shot targets, not in the air).  At 30 yards the arrow arc required was significant compared to a shot with an equal wieght arrow fletched with 3 5" parabolic fletchings. On Sunday I was showing my dad what these arrows did and I shot a 45 degree shot in his back yard and I would say it went about 75-80 yards away.  So it surely will not slow so significantly that it would only go 40 yards, they will still fly a considerable distance, but that same 45 degree shot with a regular arrow would have likely gone twice as far I would assume.  

I hope that helps.  Best of luck!

[Pat B]

Straight fletched flu flus fly a lot farther than a spiral wrapped flu flu. I was shooting some aerial targets and asked if I could use my spiral wraps. The owner said they would go too far so we compared both just to see. The spirals went no more than about 40 yards when shot at an aerial target at about a 45de angle. The straight fletched flu flus went at least twice that distance.
  At about 15 yards my spiral wrapped flu flus fly simular to my regular hunting arrows. Out beyond that they drop fast.     Pat

[talkingcabbage]

Gopher, I tested just what you're asking about when I first started shooting.  I shot a 45lb glass recurve bow with flu-flu's at 45degrees and got about 50 -60 yards.  It was an aluminum arrow with 4 4" feathers.  I'm guessing your 50lb would be close to that.

Joe

[The Gopher]

Thanks for the input guys, curiosity killed the cat.