If you are like me and have used a LiL Chopper, you have probably like me done everything but run over with your vehicle.  I have never been able to get any consistency chopping feathers.  Now doing a lot of chopping, I was not at all please with the end results, so I got to thinking.  Now after you read this, you will gain pounds, I promise, but that is part of the fun.  What I am going to show you is just a proto type that I made up to see if it would work, and the results are amazing.  Now instead of the aluminum suppressor that I have here, you need to use popcicle sticks.  That's where the weight gain come in..but oh what fun.
The first picture is of two feathers chopped one right after the other
 
The next picture is a prototype I made out of thin aluminum to try
 
The next picture shows the suppressor inside the chopper profile
 
Lay the suppressor on the inside edge of the feather quill and pull down to the stop base
 
Put slight down pressure on the suppressor and close the chopper and wack it
 
Tow perfectly matched chopped feather one right after the other
 
See ya, I have to go buy 4 doz popsicles to do the rest of my choppers.

AWESOME solution to a very frustrating problem! Thanks for sharing.
GLENN

I am sure a lot of popsicles will be eaten shortly.

Yes.  Most definately.  Pretty easy for you to make and solves a major problem on a common product.  Either go commercial or patent that idea and sell it to a bigger archery company.

Hope you don't mind, I will be making some popsicle tools this weekend.

I am sure a lot of people will.  It works, and rather well I might add.

Good idea!
Thanks,
Benjy

I bought a chopper many years ago,but wasn't happy with the cuts.Got rid off it after 3 dozen feathers and then bought a feather burner.For me I've been happy with the burner ever since,I can do many more things with the burner and is more consistent for me.

I have solved some of the problems with mine by moving the hinge plates in to remove side play. I also hammer these same hinges in a little .

"pressure load plates" for choppers have been created and used pretty much since the birth of commercial feather choppers.  i used a cut out piece of tin can, back in the 60's.  

learning how to properly insert the feather into the chopper and holding it in place with a finger (instead of a load plate) prior to setting down the guillotine is actually faster and better than using the plate.

Those last two feathers look great, Charles. Must be doing something right.

I used a bent paperclip as a spring clamp on a few choppers to keep the feather in position, but

QuoteOriginally posted by Rob DiStefano:

learning how to properly insert the feather into the chopper and holding it in place with a finger (instead of a load plate) prior to setting down the guillotine is actually faster and better than using the plate.

I have to agree with Rob on this one  

There are lots of chopped feathers that I have seen that looked great, and my hat is off to the ones that can do it.  Either my fingers are not that cordinated or something, because I just could never get them all the same.  Just saying, "it works for me"  thats all.

hey, anything that helps get a job done well is a good idea, good tool!  

What I do with my Little Chopper is to simply cut off the front of the quill that I don't want toi use with scissors and then lay the feather where the front part of the quill is now resting against the point where the blade comes down--i.e., it does not get cut by the chopper blade so it does not twist as the chop is made.  Very good results with that method and very simple.

what's also very important with chopping, as opposed to burning, is that the quill isn't too wide.  if so, the wide part of the quill will distort as the blade comes down on it, skewing the feather and making for a ragged barb hair cut.

My chopped fletches turn out OK-not perfect-but just fine for me.



No complaints about that from the recipients.

Yes, if you eliminated the side to side play of the hinge it'll be consistant too.

Nice arrows Bjorn. Those will do the job on that Utah elk!

I have always used the Lil Chopper. But they are not perfect by any means! They just aren't built really well. Oh they will work...just not great. I traded for a Young's feather burner to try out because of this. After trying to set it up and doing some testing on a shaft..burning it a few times!...I might give this a try.

Actually like Rob was saying most of the inconsistent feathers from choppers come from the operator , but hey if it makes it less likely to make a mistake thats a great idea, I love to see all the guys on here thinking, hmmmm what if?

Had a buddy make the hinge angles out of stainless steel and tightened up the side to side movement this took care of my inconsistant shapes.