This weekend, I felt sorry for my neighbor, MTQuiver, and let him use my Martin J8 fletching jig, as he was too lazy to get his two Bitzenburgers out of storage. I asked him what he thought of the jig. He told me my jig is strong and positive locking into each position when you turn the knob. He said the Bitz has a little play. He said there are other things about the J8 he likes more than the Bitz. He didn't elaborate. He thinks the J8 is a better jig! So much for you Bitzenburger snobs who claim the Bitz is the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega of fletching jigs! I knew you were all full of baloney.

Joe

Isn't that a plastic imitation of a Bitz?

J8 not an Hierloom.It will get er done though.My Bitz has no play.I will take the Bitz all day.

Yep, it seems to be a better jig!

Guess I'm a bit behind never using anything other than a JoJan. Suits me well.

Our cat is not as frisky as she used to be. Used to jump and bat the dog's tail as he trotted by. She just sits there now.

So, there is hope....

Nothing beats a Bitz! Period!.............OOPS, I felt the hook set, reel me in!

I have Bitz, Jojan, and a couple of odd clamps. I have a plastic one with no name that travels with me. Does as well as my Bitz. I keep it clean and take care in placing the fletchin in the jig, glue line and placing the clamp on the shaft. Careful methodical procedures allow any to work well. Jmo

I've read in this forum, years ago, that the Martin J8 is a better fletcher than a Bitz, so MT's assessment is likely accurate.

Joe

I've owned both. The Bitz I have has a cnc machined nock carrier that has internal adjustments to allow one to position an arrow in any relationship to the nock. So it is possibly more precise than some others. Overall there is no comparison, the Martin was crap. I couldn't really understand why, it seemed to be basically the same thing in a material that in some ways has advantages over metal (glue sticks less). But it just doesn't hold the vanes as well, and in as many positions. The Blitz is one archery thing I have never regretted the money I spent on it, which I can't wholly say for most purchases.

Snob appeal, maybe if you live in a pigfarm with the pigs. If you look at any modern gear in terms of finish or advancements, the blitz is pretty rough, and not all that expensive. Compare fly reels from the 70s to what we have today, and tell me about how "fancy" a blitz it. It is so ugly the only thing you can possibly conclude is that it works so damn well nobody has ever gained any traction on it.

If you want to buy a high quality fletching jig thats built like a tank and will last you a lifetime and your kids and grandkids lifetime get a Bitz.A fletching jig is one of the most important pieces of equipment a trad archer owns.So its something to consider putting a few extra $ in.I have had my Bitz for 25 years and its as good as new.I had a plastic one and was not particularly fond of it.Something landed on it and it broke.

If you want something that will eventually need to be recycled or end up at the bottom of a trash dump get a PLASTIC one.

Bunch of snobs!

LOL Mr. Davis

A 1/8 turn of the bearing set screw will take any slop there is in a Bitz,just needs a slight adjustment.Guess I am a Bitz slob.I have 18 and fletch 3 to 4 dozen a week.

Been fletching arrows for 55 yrs. and have at one time or another used all brands. Gave all of them to people I didn't like and kept my Martin J8. If I had to use something else it would be the JoJan.

Its what you like best. They all do the job.

Your neighbor is one very nice guy or a condescending sob!!! LOL. In addition, there's a snob in Cheezehead land.

Bowmania

I remember using Thin-O-Fletch in the early 70's and putting int on by hand. You guys just need all of that 1940's technology. The Bitz is a great (obviously) fletcher. The Blitz is what the German's did in WWII. Henry was on his game with bows and jigs. But alas I've had good luck with many of the other jigs as well. If you know how to operate a fletcher, any one will usually work very well.

The Bitz is a great foundation for a great jig only. By itself, it's too sloppy and QC on the dimples in the nock receiver make it a poor jig by itself.

Go to 60x strings/bradco IND and get the zenith nock receiver upgrade and you turn that Bitz into the best fletching tool available, even better than the ones costing 3x as much.

What did they just agree? I think I broke something. Nice to see you posting Mr Stout.

It's just a tool that holds a fletch in place, while the glue dries. If it performs it's intended purpose, I'd call it good no matter what the brand name. MP

I used to have a set up with 3 J8s on a board. I hate that I sold it cause I liked them better than any Bitz I have had.

Bitz is best - you must have been drinking - ha!

It must be snowing in Minnesota. Frisky's stirring the pot again. Dang he's good.

Been racking my brain but I calculate that I have fletched between seven and eight hundred doz. shafts with my Martin J8. No problems no complaints.

.

I own both and prefer the Bitz only because the magnets are better on it. Other than that both work well.

I'd love to be in Frisky's computer and see his face as he reads these comments. Keep your posts coming Joe, they're great!!

I have to say George is onto something. I fletch my arrows by hand. Never used a jig. That's why I let MT try it out and tell me about it, lol!

Joe

I have owned several the Martin was OK, I have stayed with the Bitz for applying feathers and a Jojan for doing vanes. The J8 no where near the quality of the Bitz. Shawn

I have had both. I gave away the Martin J8, it is definitely usable. I kept my Bitz however.

I have a Jo Jan my Wife bought me & I like it probably as well as my bitz?

Just realized I must have had a senior moment in my last post. That " hundred" was not supposed to have been there. Should have read between seven and eight doz. I guess the "hundred" was stuck in my head because that's about how many dollars I spent for that blooming Bitz. Traded that one to a compound guy for a 5 gallon bucket of black walnuts. I made a good trade don't you think?

First I can't belive anyone would want to live next to this guy second I use a bitz and I shoot a black widow 3rd my daddy is tuffer than yours.

You wouldn't want to hurt her feelings would you? Babe Bitzenberger

Real archers,Dont need no stinking Jigs.

I'd take walnuts over a Bitz any day! The Grayling is a J8. They make the J8 for Martin. As for living next to me, MTQuiver, I believe, is hot on the trail of a Kalahari Bushman woman. Hopefully, he'll move over there (without my jig) and be gone for good!

Joe

I'm with Traxx on this one. I don't even use a jig.

I believe Frisky is a jerk...

your chain kind of guy. Lol

When I was a kid I got a beating for calling a neighbor a son of a bitz.

Jigs and bows are only as good as the operater using them. Of course a bitz gives you a big advantage.

Thiers 2 fletching jigs on a display table.Ones a bitz and ones a plastic one.Which one are you gonna pick up to look at 1st.

BearPaw's is better, IMO. And for up to 4" feathers and vanes at for right wing factory settings, the simplest and best is the little GT Fletcher by Goat Tuff.

Someone revives this topic under a different title about every six months. You would think you'd get tired of arguing about the same thing over and over again. If we all liked the same thing it would be a very boring world!!!

Bob

One man's opinion is one man's opinion. I'm very happy with my Blitz, and I've tried several others. Sorry you're feeling so insecure.

TMBB

Martin J8's are fine for those suffering from "small hands" syndrome....I hear they're perfectly suited to those using smaller shafts!

No matter how ya cut it the Biz is still tops so Frisky and NBC is just that fake trad news.

I have 3 blizs and one Martin still prefer Bitz. What can I say it's a Bitz.LOL

But for multiple arrows rock and roll no playing around then Jojans is how I roll.LOL

Joes always good to have around when you want fire.LOL

Joes Indian name is smoke cloud or startum fire.

Frisky...tell your neighbor I'll buy his jigs in storage for $5 each to get those no good things off his hands...lol.

I use a Bohning and it works for me.

Get over it people! We found a better jig than a Bitz!

Joe

Couldn't tell ya , but my Bitz is over 30 years old with hundreds of shafts through it , Nuff said !!!

Couldn't tell ya , but my Bitz is over 30 years old with hundreds of shafts through it , Nuff said !!!

"I used to have a set up with 3 J8s on a board. I hate that I sold it cause I liked them better than any Bitz I have had."

Part of the issue is liking them for what. Back when Asbell was king we were all supposed to want to helical our fletches onto the arrow more than any commercial arrow, and more than any of these jigs were set up to do, by specially regrinding the clamps and other trick. This kind of thing is where the Bitz shines. But just making up dozens of hack arrows for punters down at the pro shop, you can use just about anything. That was where the JoJan came in. It was "better" because you can more easily cycle it, and for hack arrows it will make you more money. People never say why they think something is better.

However, today, as Trad morphs with compound, and guys are shooting tiny fletches off elevated rest set-ups that cost more in themselves than 2-3 Bitzs, and we have evidence from field studies that small fletches are better, the need for something like the Bitz has receded. But for the arrows I fletch for myself and my kids, I don't see much reason to change anything. I will stick with the Bitz.

Frisky's a wuss...a real trad bowhunter would just run the quill through a gob of pine sap and stick that sucker on!

Bitz for me without a doubt. Nothing else comes close !!!

How long have you had that J8? I have been using my Bitz (The same one) since 1965.

Joes prob. getting these ideers from Cat lady and dirty stinking Cats he has the need to rescue from target practice in his town.LOL

A Bitz is all I've ever owned but it's hard to imagine there's a better one.

Rock solid and easy peasy.

If the Bitz is the best,why I am willing to sell mine? I don't mean to incite, but it's a mediocre design. Yes it works.

TTT . Not quite what I thought I remembered. A little different story here Frisky. JF

Yes, this is where I let him use the J8. Of course, he didn't return it. Over a month passes, and I let him know I'll be needing the jig in a week or so. He gives it back with glue on the clamps. This completes the story.

Joe

Sorry but I am not in the same Bitz Club as O.P. and his followers!!!! Bought a Whiffen [straight]in the 80's then bought a helical clamp and 4 fletch receiver soon afterwards. Added a few more jigs over the years AND does it all for me at a fraction of the cost-----see me out too I am sure !!! Best archery investment I ever made ---nice heavy brass clamp and NO magnets for my fumbly digits !! Shaftcaster----

I do use a Bitz, and am very well pleased with it. I do not, however, eat bologna. What now?

I'm lazy. Use a JoJan multi-fletcher.

"If the Bitz is the best,why I am willing to sell mine? I don't mean to incite, but it's a mediocre design. Yes it works."

It works better than any other, but could a better version be engineered. Yeah, in a heartbeat. It is a fairly nasty piece of kit. You compare it to the best reels in fly fishing or fly tying vises; the best wheel truing jigs in cycling; yeah, it is nasty. But I will only need to unload mine if they do something to how feathers are mounted, like those ones that shrink wrap to shafts.

In fact, compare the Blitz to the best spine tester in archery.

I hope nobody improves it, cause for now I have the best.

Who cares my home made one serves me well.All you need is good base contact and correct orientation of indexing .They are all good and even though I don't own a bitz they are more than likely the best. OSR

Bear Paw's is slightly better. For simple fletching (non adjustable) and travel use the Goat Tuff fletcher is very cool. Primarily used by guys who use vanes, but works great with up to medium size feathers. Designed by someone with a brain.

There are some other impressive ones I've seen on YouTube, I can't recall the names, but are high end.

I'll take the Bearpaw all day over anything I've used including my Bitz.

Put your bitz clamps in the freezer over night-run a blade down the next morning and the glue flakes off. Works on jo Jan's but not so well on plastic.

hookman, yep.

I find Vator to be the best.

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