arrows whistle in flite?

jarheadusmc · December 09, 2013, 07:52:00 AM

I built 6 arrows last night. 2 of the 6 whistle in flite when I shot them this morning. Don't notice anything w/ the feathers that are obvious in flaws. Their 5 1/2 " banana fletch w/ field points. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Mark

Dave Worden · December 09, 2013, 08:03:00 AM

Mark, I think usually a whistling arrow is due to a loose feather or high feather(s). As these are bananas, it would be possible to put one on backwards. I don't know if that would make the noise, but you may want to check the quill on your feathers and be sure they are all sticking out on the same side from each feather. That's all I can think of. Semper Fi.

gordydog · December 09, 2013, 08:16:00 AM

Check the front of each quill. Do the 2 loud arrows have a higher bump or maybe more squared off. I have found this to cause noise so I trim or file them for a smooth, aerodynamic transition from the shaft.

reddogge · December 09, 2013, 11:09:00 AM

I made a dozen arrows for a friend and 2 of them whistled although they were identical to the other 10. Later I read that secondary feather whistled and I know I did use a few secondaries but since the dozen is long gone and lost I can't verify if that was the problem. BTW these were natural turkey feathers and burned to a shield pattern.

M60gunner · December 09, 2013, 11:23:00 AM

I agree with gordydog. My first chopped bandanna feathers were not the best so about half of mine made noise. I was lucky to have someone show me how to make better cuts and trim the lead edges.
I ended up going back to parabolic for hunting. But there is something about a back quiver full of bandanna cut feathered arrows that says trad to me!

jrchambers · December 09, 2013, 02:09:00 PM

feather thickness can do it. if two are prime and one is lean or vice versa.

Airdale · December 09, 2013, 02:18:00 PM

No expert but when I use feathers off southern birds I have had a couple arrows whistle Dixi just saying!

bofish-IL · December 09, 2013, 04:39:00 PM

An old gentlemen that shoots old Howard Hill longbows at the local archery range shot 5 inch banana cut feathers. I could be on the other side of the 6 foot privacy fence and knew it was him shooting at the practice range before I walked around the fence. Each of his arrows had a high pitched whistle.

I noticed a new batch of my arrows was doing it after I installed a new ribbon on my feather burner. After comparing the new to the older arrows the height of the feathers on the new arrows were a good 1/8 inch taller than the old feathers. A little adjustment of the ribbon solved the problem.

December 09, 2013, 05:10:00 PM

I use to have a homemade feather burner. It tended to char the edges of the feathers, that brittle edge always made noise. I had some four inch four fletch arrows make noise this year, with those , it was the blunt lead edge of the quill. A bit of shaping with a diamond fingernail file and a drop of glue worked. I use to also have a feather book and sanded my quills to a minimum, I have gotten lazier about feathers, but that old stuff worked. "Arrows whislte in flight, afternoon delight" sorry, I will get back to work now.

Easykeeper · December 09, 2013, 05:24:00 PM

New feathers are louder than they will be after being shot for a while, but it's not a "whistle". I've found that a true whistling noise comes from either a void between the feather base and the shaft or an irregularity in the leading edge of the quill.

For the front of the quill, a single edge razor blade to clear it up followed by a drop of glue usually does it. For the void, a little extra glue might take care of that too.

Pine · December 09, 2013, 06:10:00 PM

Naners are noisie , but I love'em for thick brush .

karrow · December 09, 2013, 07:45:00 PM

Graps is wright they are noisie. they are prob just to alittle to tall. if they were pre cut you could trim one with scissors to see if it helps, or reburn them.

reddogge · December 09, 2013, 08:03:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by Airdale:
No expert but when I use feathers off southern birds I have had a couple arrows whistle Dixi just saying!

Try some northern feathers. They whistle "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."

jarheadusmc · December 09, 2013, 08:58:00 PM

Thank-you to everyone who gave their input. Will try a few of the fixes.

PrarrieDog · December 09, 2013, 09:04:00 PM

You might steam your feathers, let em dry and try them again. Let us know if that helps.

Walt Francis · December 09, 2013, 09:46:00 PM

I used to pay attention to the whistle, and then eliminate it, usually buy lowering the profile of the feather. My hunting buddy Mark Baker always had loud arrows and it didn't seem to make any difference, he killed a lot of critters every year with them. He calls them the whistle of death, seems that is a fitting description.

jarheadusmc · December 10, 2013, 09:56:00 AM

I lowered the profile of the 5 1/2" banana's. Not a sound now. Wish I would have bought the 5' chopper instead. Thanks again everyone for the advice!!!