Where do I get info on grinding Rio Grande turkey wing feathers for s special set of Xmas arrows? I have a bunch split and ready but not ground properly for fletching. My Dad told me there's a jig that makes it much easier to do. Can anybody point me in the right direction?
Thanks!
Alex
3 rivers has the jig.
That's 3 Rivers Archery. Check under the Trad Gang Sponser List at the top of the page.
Here's a link to one you can make for a few dollars and it explains the process.
http://www.bowyersedge.com/feather.html
Nice. I am going to make one over Xmas break and since the special arrows will be for me, I can wait to give them to myself!
Can I use both LW and the RW feathers though? I can't seem to figure that one out.....although I usually use LW when I buy precuts or burn them.
I made my own jig out of a 2 x 4. Put a hinge on one end and a clip on the other. I installed the thin bar stock inside with counter sunk screws. Works pretty good. However after using it a few times, I found that I can just hand hold the feather against the sanding drum and do just as good. Takes a little practice. By sanding the sides of the heavy front end of the quill, I can get 2 fletchings out of one feather.
I made the one Kevin talks about. It works good. If you have a table sander it would work great. I don't so I use the small drum sander attachment with a cordless drill. It is harder to make a consistant even grind.
There are several threads on feather grinding. Here is a link to one that I posted a while back.
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=050150
Dennis
Thanks Aero.....my confidence has been boosted seeing the explanations. I could use both LW and RW though correct? It doesn't really matter I guess....
I have arrows fletched both ways and can't see any difference. Just don't try to use both on the same arrow.
Dennis
You use either type of wing if you use a straight clamp on your fletching jig. Just like Aeronut though, don't try to use both types on the same arrow.
If you have a helical clamp you need to use the matching wing. R helical clamp with RW feathers and L helical clamp with LW feathers. Right helical rotates the arrow counterclockwise if viewed from the nock end.
NOW...warning...even with a straight clamp you need to set the offset to match the feather. Feathers "lay down" very easy in one direction and not at all the other direction. I learned this by trying to use LW feathers with a R helical clamp. They were loud and flew poorly.
So remember, use a RW feather to rotate the arrow Counterclockwise and a LW feather to rotate the rotate the arrow clockwise. (Like I said though you can do both with one clamp if it's a straight-clamp.)