Becoming an excellent fletcher. David Anderson, the author and excellent fletcher, takes you on your fletching journey.
Have you ever thought about fletching your own arrows? You could save money in the long term and embark on a most satisfying journey into the depths of making wooden arrows. This handy book takes you through all the steps needed to learn in order to be able to make good, long lasting (provided you shoot OK) arrows that will serve you well.
Not only does the book take you step by step through the process, it also highlights some useful hints and tips to make the process easier. This book was written by David Anderson who has been fletching arrows for a number of years for both personal use as well as for customers.
The book is available here and also on Amazon. Furthermore, any updates to the book will be published here and customers are welcome to a new version upon sending their previous copy back to us.
Updates to the book:
The latest version v2506 published for June 2025 is now available. Updates include:-
- Slight amendments to the Tools and Equipment section including the addition of “jigs”
- Ch.1 – added paragraph to determine what your arrow is to be used for; how to measure draw length, inclusion of other shaft sizes, an inch ruler for reference, new paragraph on wood selection and straightening arrows with new images, update on how to select the best shafts, update on grain weighing shafts, inclusion of warning on working with wood and link to wood database.
- Ch.3 – Added “There’s a jig for that…” at the end – the shaft measuring and cutting jig.
- Ch.4 – various text updates and improvements to wording; new section on fletching jigs, information on straight and helical feather fitting, added paragraph on cock and hen feathers, information on covering the feather point and use of binding jig. Illustration of various feather profiles and how to cut them.
- Ch.5 – various text updates and improvements to wording.
- Ch.6 – amendment to self-nocks section, updates to text.
- Ch.7 – Fixing Feathers Mediaeval Style – updated and improved; greater section on Balance Point, complete re-write of Shaft Design including images of shaft designs; new paragraph on two/four footed arrows. New section on Arrow Speed and why it’s important. Under Some Useful tools, design for a shooting board and how to fletch from square blanks.
- Ch.9 – Updated to include Acknowledgements.