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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: The Butcher on May 02, 2010, 08:03:00 AM

Title: Making Fletching
Post by: The Butcher on May 02, 2010, 08:03:00 AM

Ok made a feather grinder, trying to decide which is best, one of the feather choppers, or feather burner.  I have used burner before, but have no experience with one of the choppers.  Any help or input would be appreciated.  Thanks Don

Title: Re: Making Fletching
Post by: Jim Dahlberg on May 02, 2010, 11:10:00 AM

I prefer a burner.  Placement of feathers on the shaft will be exactly the same after burning and trimming.  You can change shape and length of feathers by changing the burner wire which is definitely not an option with a chopper.  And it is much easier to glue on spliced feathers then shape them with the burner than to try and put them together then place them in a chopper.
Just my opinion.

Title: Re: Making Fletching
Post by: Roy from Pa on May 02, 2010, 04:46:00 PM

I like a chopper, much cleaner cut and shape. But it's all good, just have fun.

Title: Re: Making Fletching
Post by: Mike Most on May 02, 2010, 07:11:00 PM

I have to give a vote of confidence for a chopper, I have a left wing 4" shield cut, and a right wing 5 1/2 inch shield cut. the latter is the noisier of the two when the arrows are flying down range, but they look awsome. Cleaner and less smelly... any rate good luck

Mike

Title: Re: Making Fletching
Post by: Grey Taylor on May 03, 2010, 01:12:00 AM

Choppers for me. I sell arrows and using choppers let me reproduce fletching shapes. That may be more difficult to do with a burner where I have to bend the wire and have a chance to screw it up.
However, occasionally I want a shape that just isn't available in choppers. I don't use it very often but the burner is great in those instances.

Guy

Title: Re: Making Fletching
Post by: briarjumper12 on May 03, 2010, 08:17:00 AM

Got any pics of your grinder?  I too am in need of a grinder.  Got the feathers off 3 sets of wings this spring and no grinder!

Title: Re: Making Fletching
Post by: Eric Krewson on May 03, 2010, 09:18:00 AM

I have both a chopper (Vario Clipper) and a burner. The burner is a pain to adjust the wire so it shapes the feather without burning or scorching the shaft but once set properly it is much faster than the chopper and very precise.

I just changed my burner from a parabolic cut to a shield. Several hours of adjusting and lots of test burning to get it just right.

The chopper makes a great fletching but it does take a while to chop out enough feathers to fletch a dozen arrows.