Thinking of getting a feather chopper from 3R. Whats the feeling about em. I know raptor archery has a video on youtube and makes it look effortless.
Lil Choppers are ok, and pretty easy to use, but don't expect a consistent cut. I much more prefer the Vario, but I don't think it's available anymore. I think Herb (sponsor--Herb's Archery) offers his version of the Vario--I haven't tried it, but hear it works great. The few reports I've heard on the German Ridge haven't been good. A burner is an option, if you can set it up outside the house--stinks something awful. Downside is you have to fletch the arrow before you burn the feather to shape.
The Vario was too expensive for me so I've only used Little Choppers (for which I am thankful since the Vario seems to have disappeared).
Out of 36 cuts to make a dozen arrows I may get 1 to 4 mis-cuts that need to be done over. Sometimes I can correct the original cut but sometimes I have to trash it. I only take one cut per full length feather. Lots of guys get more but since I make arrows for other people I am pretty picky on how they look. When I get into the thicker or wider parts of the feather base I get poor cuts so I don't even go there.
If you're only making a few dozen arrows for yourself, I counsel just getting per-cut feathers. If you want to try cuts that aren't typically available pre-cut, then the chopper is a good, but sometimes frustrating, alternative.
Guy
i love my little choppers . i have four of them they work great for me .
Thanks all.
I used the little choppers for quite sometime and never have any problems. I have even been thinking of getting another.
I use the little chopper, too. It will make a different shaped cut depending on how thick the base of the feather is, though. I end up sorting them into similar cuts. It's a pretty handy tool, but I think I'm going to try a burner. or make one.
You know a burner is one of those items you could buy, then use and sell back. I mean I get a turkey like once every haleys comet visit.
Does a chopper work on natural feathers?
From LBR:
"Lil Choppers are ok, and pretty easy to use, but don't expect a consistent cut."
There it is, what he says, spot-on.
Yep. It works on fingers, too. So be careful.
Get the one from Raptor. Best investment around!
Choppers never appealed to me. I like the creative flexibility of designing my own fletch, bending the ribbon and smoking up the house.
Killdeer :archer:
Yep , there not for everyone Killy, But I love mine .
We have some feather choppers that I have been using since we opened for business ( 20 years).
Once you give them a try you will see, in my opinion much better than stinking up the shop.
Good thing we all have a choice eh!
Makes the world o 'round, Ted! :D
Killdeer :wavey:
Never used a chopper but love my burner. I can get 2 4" shields per full lenght feather. I bend the ribbon to the shape I want, place it in the burner and hold the feather to the burner. I don't glue on shaft before burning. It works for me.
Little choppers are all I use because of price and availibility.They SUCK for consistancy.You can hit them the same way twice and have the feather look different.I have found that starting the blade down in the base of the feather before chopping helps,but not always.
Why can't someone in the US make a vario or something similar but better.Doesn't make sense why no one in the US carries Varios either.I would've much prefered one of those.Folks that have them say they are better.Never used one myself.
I Love My Chopper! Mount it on a piece of heavy stock like a 2X6 and use a rubber mallet. Keep her screws tight and you will get years of use out of the same one.
... mike ...
quote:
Originally posted by Killdeer:
Choppers never appealed to me. I like the creative flexibility of designing my own fletch, bending the ribbon and smoking up the house.
Killdeer :knothead:
Hope dinner smells better. :biglaugh:
Killie, Just gotta ask....What else ya smokin'?
Only kiddin'! I love my Little Choppers, but on special arrows, I love to use my burner.
I even have an old, old, old burner...dims the lights when ya plug it in. Don't use it much. Like the newer ones much better. Still smokes up the house, quite good!!!!!
JAG/Johnny
Not to highjack this thread but if we start debating choppers versus burners I have a question. The burner gives me fits with arrow wraps. I tend to get a smoked look around the ends of the feather where the wire gets too close to the vinyl wrap. Other than that I love the burner. Any solutions?
I found the chopper to be inconsistent as well and couldn't use it on my turkey feathers.
QuoteOriginally posted by Chris Kinslow:
Not to highjack this thread but if we start debating choppers versus burners I have a question. The burner gives me fits with arrow wraps. I tend to get a smoked look around the ends of the feather where the wire gets too close to the vinyl wrap. Other than that I love the burner. Any solutions?
I found the chopper to be inconsistent as well and couldn't use it on my turkey feathers.
Just a thought here, but would wrapping the shaft at both ends of the fletch with tin foil or heavy foil tape(hvac) reflect the heat long enough to burn the feathers but not scorch the wraps or dip?
I used to have a number of Little Choppers, in different patterns and in right and left wings. (I used to remount the parts on maple blocks...'cause it just bothers me to have particle board in my archery life.) Anyhow, all the Choppers are gone and I now have a total of 3 burners. A hot wire works for both right wing and left...and the precision from feather to feather is just too cool for school.
For me, I just traded the shortcomings of Choppers for a good window fan...and a more satisfying result. Rick.
choppers do a fine job, even the least expensive li'l chopper will provide yeoman service for years. just get one and get choppin'. 'nuff said.
My Lil Chopper drives me crazy (not a long trip, by the way) because as others have said, lack of consistency. What I can count on is a frequent chop where there will be a hump, for lack of a better word, on the front or leading edge of the feather. I am guessing it is caused by the quill turning as I chop it. Anyone have a fix for that? I have tried cutting the quill with scissors at the front first but with only modest success.
I have a Vario Clipper and it's markedly better than the Lil Chopper, consistent cuts every time. Marcus sold the business; I'm not sure if the Vario will come back or not with the new owners. I only use one feather pattern so I'm happy with mine as it is. It was worth the money over the lil chopper imho, I was often frustrated with crappy cuts and ruined feathers.
Dryad Bows has a beast of a chopper that looks like it will last 4-5 lifetimes with consistent cuts. Here is the introductory thread: Dryad Bulletproof Chopper (http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=085578) . Expensive but if you don't like the LC and can't find a Vario, may be an option for you.
I am selling all of my Lil Choppers. I have a few left listed on my website. Been using a Vario for years now and never went back to the choppers. I saw and used Herb's feather chopper and it works just as good as the Vario.
I figured out how to keep my bad cuts down to a minimum with the lil choppers. It is all about watching the front cut. I pull the feather down tight and then gently push the cutting blade on the tip side of the fletch down into the base a bit. Then give it a whack with a rubber mallet. This keeps the fletch from rolling and giving you that ugly bump on the front of the fletch.
I will be interested to see if the variable plates will be available in 3 and 4 inch left and right shield cuts for the bulletproof chopper. If those become available, I will be making a purchase immediately.
I've gone to the "double chop" to get a good consistant shape.
Try taking a few seconds more to set the feather up the way Ragnarok Forge suggests, then whack twice like snag does, and you will like the results. :thumbsup:
Neither love nor hate them. They are just a necessary accoutrement to fletching your own arrows. The feather will slip now and again, making a less-than-perfect cut, but they will fly just fine. Anything is better than the toxic stench of feather burning.
I'd have to say.....get by with them. I don't mind the burner but sometimes the choppers are more convenient. I've gone through about every shape over the years but always go back to the high back shield. Also use the 3" parabolic to chop the scraps up for kids arrows.