Another thread got me to thinking I should post this in its own topic to share with everyone.


See this tool?
http://flexcut.com/products/cart.php?target=product&product_id=1099&category_id=121  


I've been using this one tool, the #6, 5/16" sweep Falls Run "flex" tool for about 12 years now. I use this to strip fletching and it does such a good job, it can be almost always be re-used. It takes off fletching without cutting the rib, so that is what allows the fletching to be reused. It basically is cutting the glue junction between feather rib and shaft. With aluminum shafts, it strips it off clean as a whistle, all the glue residue comes off an once, too. And it work just as perfectly on wood shafts, too, allowing you to get the fletching off without gouging the wood---just takes a couple shafts worth of practice. With Duco, you just pick off the peices of dried glue from the feather rib and stripping it and you're ready to reuse it! This tool beats any fletching stripper on the market hands-down. You just flip it upside down with the "U" shape along the shaft and press forward. ZIIIP! The fletching comes off perfectly and reusable. The tool is small enough for any archery tackle box. It's very high quality and easily sharpened (though in 12 years, I've never had to sharpen it and it's still very sharp---these are made for wood carving, after all.) It fits the palm of your hand like this thing was made for stripping fletching and not woodcarving. This little tool has saved me a lot of money with fletching that I've been able to reuse. It also allows me to recover fletching from hopelessly broken arrows to reuse that, as well.

With this tool, if a feather comes loose at front or back, rather than try to glue it back down in that spot, I just zip the feather right off with this tool and glue the whole thing back on. Always works great.

ttt, as I've seen a number of people asking about stripping fletching.

I use a tool called a zip strip on aluminum and carbon - that shape is the same although looks sharper. They work well although on carbon they can gouge the shaft if your not careful (nothing a wrap doesn't fix)

Nice tool,  thanks for posting it.

Nice tool,  thanks for posting it.

QuoteOriginally posted by rraming:
I use a tool called a zip strip on aluminum and carbon - that shape is the same although looks sharper. They work well although on carbon they can gouge the shaft if your not careful (nothing a wrap doesn't fix)

I had the same problem with my zip strip on carbons so I just used it to get most of the vane off and then used a dull knife and scraped the rest off.

Tsalgagi -  I caught a previous post where you posted this tool and I went out and bought one at Woodcrafters.   In fact, I bought it without the handle which made it even cheaper - like $12.

Works great!!  And I would highly recommend it.

I use carbons and used a sharp knife as a scraper to clean them previously and always worried about scrapping off too much beyond the glue.   This tool makes it real easy to get clean.  Thanks for the tip.

I used to call these things "gouges".  I guess sweeps if a newer term.  I do have some gouges laying around from years of gunstock work.

Thanks for posting. It is something to try out.

Glad to help! Sometimes the best archery tools, I've found, didn't begin their lives as archery tools.

I found dog toe nail trimmers . I take them apart and have two. Plus they easily sharpen on a crock stick. Works for me!!