So...who has a feather burner...?

Al Kidner · March 17, 2009, 01:16:00 PM

Hi all,

Well after reading someplace that the Vario Clipper (chopper) is no longer being made it looks like I'll have to move on up to a feather burner one day.

How hard are they to use and I guess I'm really after the pros and cons of this item.

Thanks for the help,

ak.

Oh, and what sort of shapes can you make with the wire?

Firstarrow · March 17, 2009, 01:40:00 PM

Other than the burned feather smell.
They are great, the feather burners allow you to truely "customize" your feathers.

Roadkill · March 17, 2009, 01:42:00 PM

I like playing with it. Buy extra wires and catalog them to size and shape. Draw back-odor=wife's dismay in winter! It also supposedly "weakens" the edges. I don't worry about that much as they seem to frizz a little which may soften the whistle.
advantage is you can shape them as you want.

Pat B · March 17, 2009, 01:44:00 PM

I have choppers and a feather burner. I prefer the burner. They are easy to set up. You can get extra ribbons(burning element) and make up different style fletchings. I use mine outside because burning feathers really stink but you can burn the fletching on a dozen arrows in a matter of minutes.
There might even be a build-along for a homemade feather burner. I have seen them made with old electric train transformers and even an electric soldering gun.

Dick in Seattle · March 17, 2009, 02:08:00 PM

Have chopper and hated it... Waayyy to much work. Have burner... very nice and fun. I love making nasty smells in the shop... makes people think I'm doing something. However, all that said, last year I was in a hurry and bought precut feathers in bulk... now I think it's the only way to fly.

pointy sticks · March 17, 2009, 03:02:00 PM

all I use is a burner when doing most of my fancy work. It allows me to splice feathers and shape things the way I want them. The extra ribbbons (wires0 are easy to get and shape and don't cost near as much as buying a different shape chopper.

The one thing i would recomend is having some of that green painters tape around to wrap around the shafts to protect them from the heat on the wire if you get too close.

these were done using my burner, and have a slghtly higher profile in the mid section almost like an eleveate "orcha" shape.

Brian P. · March 17, 2009, 03:52:00 PM

Had choppers at first and hated them. I could never get a consistant cut (not a Vario Clipper)

Bought a burner and never looked back. Best thing since sliced bread, as they say. I have 3 burners, in fact, just so I dont have to swap ribbons around when doing different sizes or shapes.

Keep your eyes peeled in the classifieds. That is where I picked up 2 of mine.

BP

March 17, 2009, 04:02:00 PM

I have several different shapes/sizes of chopper and a burner. The smell is AWFUL when you burn feathers, and I haven't gotten the hang of shaping the ribbons--choppers are cheaper and work just fine.

Killdeer · March 17, 2009, 04:10:00 PM

Even a gurrrlllll can use one. And if you're a gurrrrlllll, you can make it a rule that the feather burner lives in the kitchen. On top of the microwave.

Al, your arrows are some of the prettiest pieces of deadly art that I have ever seen. I can't wait to see what you come up with once you get the freedom of a burner!

And buy lots of wires.

Killdeer :D

Orion · March 17, 2009, 05:01:00 PM

I rather like the smell of burning feathers, myself. Burner is all I've ever used.

Grant Young · March 17, 2009, 05:29:00 PM

You'll like it Al. GY

straitera · March 17, 2009, 06:05:00 PM

Easy to use and just as easy to make.

GUYZER · March 17, 2009, 09:31:00 PM

I use mine since the late 70's but the wife hate the smell!!!

MAY THE SPIRIT OF FRED BEAR GUIDE OUR ARROWS.

Jason R. Wesbrock · March 17, 2009, 09:47:00 PM

Honestly, I have a burner and a chopper and much prefer the chopper.

Al Kidner · March 18, 2009, 12:17:00 AM

Thanks all for the feedback. Looks as though I'll be moving onto a burner when my Vario Clipper has had it last day.

I too like the Ocra shape as it's not out there all that much and was one of the reasons I bought a Vairo.

Thanks for the kind words to Killy, I always like your photos ... not bad for a guurrrllll.

ak.

Dave Bulla · March 18, 2009, 01:49:00 AM

Al,

Here's a sample of a simple but different effect that shows the sort of stuff you can try with a feather burner. Been doing all mine like this for years "just because".

About the only drawback is the chance to scorch the shaft or crest paint. If you look real close at the lower feather in the pic near the front end, there is a little bit of brown. That's really just a smoke stain and would clean off if I'd bother with it but it is possible to end up with brown spots that won't come off because they are an actual burn. With a little care and practice it's really a piece of cake though.

Eric Krewson · March 18, 2009, 08:19:00 AM

I used a burner for my feathers up until last year when I bought a vario clipper. The clipper works so well I haven't used my burner lately.

If you have the wire set right on your burner it won't scorch your shafts. I also keep mine in a place where it can't be bumped and have the wire bent. My wife was always hitting it while cleaning and changing my wire position so I found an out of the way place to store it.

Bear · March 18, 2009, 09:12:00 AM

I love mine. Practice with it at first. Once you get the hang of it you'll be able to set that ribbon just right on the first try.

Killdeer · March 18, 2009, 09:24:00 AM

Dave, I love the effect! the arrow is again just a leafed sapling in the woods...great spirit in that.

Killdeer

Littlefeather · March 18, 2009, 11:25:00 AM

I have a couple. Some are more used than others.