What is the best way to remove feathers from wood shafts without hurting the finish?

Stiks

Without hurting the finish?  That's tough.  Fletch-tite actually becomes part of the lacquer finish when used.  The only way to remove the fletch is to scrape it physically off - finish and all.  

You could try a heat gun, but you'll likely singe and ruin the feather before the glue softens enough.  If you aren't saving the feather I would recommend a razor plane or Bowyer's Friend type spokeshave to slice away the quill down to the finish.

Or go hunting with them for a week in the rain.

I've used fine bail wire to get under the edge and slide it along under the feather. A lot of base often remains but I just sand it off with 350-600 grit sandpaper.

Peel them off the best you can. Sand the shaft clean again and dip it in paint, or wrap the shaft with a wrap to your liking. Or you can stain the sanded portion a diff color and put a thin crest line between the colors. Lots of ways to do it, but its tuff to make them look the same as beofre. Mine usually break before the feathers go to pot on me.

I do the same that Pearl Drums explained.

Kinda what I figured.

Thanks guys

Kris, run a very thin bead of acetone or lacquer thinner along the glue line.  It will soften the glue and make it easier to peel the feather.  I use a glue bottle with a VERY fine tip.

They actually make a little feather remover tool.  it looks like a 38 bullet case that has been cut in half length ways and sharpened.  works slicker than a minows d--k.  Mine has a handle on it and a little plastic guide to help you set the angle.  I would think if you contacted one of the traditional archery sponsors they could find it for you.  i can't tell you where i got mine as they are not sponsors on the site.  they work really easy on aluminum shafts, but you have got to be a bit more careful on woodies so you don't dig in too deep.

thanks stics for the post.i was woundering the same thing.thanks guys for the tips.i have at least a dozen arrows with bad feathers.these tips are going to help alot,steve

The ones I need to put new feathers on are some sweet shafts that Fletcher built me and I don't want to screw them up.

I'll give the acetone a try

Stiks

I use a feather stripper from 3R and then 220 grit sand paper wrapped around a 1/16" thick piece of scrap wood 2" long and gently sand the glue off then I re-fletch in the same position.

I just stripped some feathers from wood arrows, I just used a sharp razor blade under the feather carefully removed the old feather as to not gouge the wood sanded the residue and glued on a new feather!

We have found a potatoe peeler works about the best.

I'll have to try that potato peeler.  Learn something new every day.