Hey gang, Just trying to figure this out because I am considering buying a chopper and making some 4" Shield feathers for my arrows.  I thought that I remembered in another thread that someone said you can get 2 4" feathers out of one full length feather.  If so this would be very cost effective in the future.  Thanks in advance for any and all help.  Mark  

Yep, I've started using more and more full length cut to 4" for that very reason.

Mark:
Your question is kind of like asking "How long is an arrow" in other words they vary. Can you get two 4" from each one. Some you will and some you will not get a quality cut. It might be four inches long but poor viens or poor glue base.
Bob

I can usually get two 4" cuts on a full length feather. The quill can start to get thin so you need to position your first cut using all the thick quill you can. I really like cutting my own now instead of buying the precut. I have the Vario (sp?) chopper and it gives me a slightly higher back (shield cut) than some of the production cut feathers I have bought. I use my feather as a secondary anchor point on my face so the higher feather suits me better. Do watch the chopper though. Mine bit me last Sunday when I dropped the blade on my pinkie finger OUCH. Just a little irritating cut but these are sharp and I do know better.... Guess I got into a groove and got careless.

Bill

Could you splice? Just curious.

Juan, I tried splicing a while back on another project and it was ugly.  Yo no tango "skill".  Mark

So far I've just been chopping 2x4" feathers from wild turkey and goose, so I can't comment on purchased full length feathers.
I do manage to get 2 out of one for nearly all the turkey feathers and a little less than half the primaries from a goose wing.

Bill, I dropped the blade on my pinky finger last weekend as well!

I'm using a Little Chopper now from 3Rivers, but in the past have used one of the two choppers I made.  This was the first one I put together:

The second one had a bunch of improvements, including a feather clamp made out of paperclips.  The next one will have a few other features that'll make it real easy to use for left or right wing feather.  They're easy to make.

I used to do this, until I discovered Rainbow feathers. I buy them for $70/1000, and for 7 cents apiece, I'm too lazy to chop them.

That's the reason I bought a chopper years ago: I can get 2 4" cuts from a full length feather. It adds up over time.

You are my hero Jeremy, I have been lusting after a chopper but lack the funds and had not considered making one. Please post some picks and tips on your latest creation.

John-What are rainbow feathers?

John, got a link to Rainbow feathers? Sounds too good to be true. They sell finished feathers for $70.00 per 1000?