Reusing Feathers?

[fido dog]

I've got a couple of broken arrows with 5" perfect shield fletchings. I've got a couple of shafts with NO fletchings. I can't buy 5" feathers anywhere close to me.

Can they be taken off with a razor or something around the house and reused?

[non-typical]

Yep. Be careful not to ruffle your feathers though.

[Tsalagi]

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 well on wood shafts, too. 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 and high quality, easily sharpened (though in 12 years, it's still very sharp---these are made for wood carving, after all), and fits the palm of your hand like this thing was made for stripping fletching and not woodcarving.

[vtmtnman]

I take mine off the shaft carefully,run them on the belt sander to regrind the base,reglue and good to go.

[fido dog]

Originally posted by vtmtnman:
I take mine off the shaft carefully,run them on the belt sander to regrind the base,reglue and good to go.    

How do YOU remove them?

[outbackbowhunter]

I have read here on trad gang, some years ago, that a few seconds in a micro wave oven will melt the glue to let feathers fall off broken wooden arrows easily.

Remembering that micro waves don't like anything metal placed into them, so do not try this with alloy arrow shafts.

It works very well and is so easy to reclaim perfect feathers.

[vtmtnman]

quote:Originally posted by fido dog:
 

quote:Originally posted by vtmtnman:
I take mine off the shaft carefully,run them on the belt sander to regrind the base,reglue and good to go.  

[Scott F]

I've reused feathers a bunch of times, usually without having to regrind but when I use feathers I always use fletch tape vs glue.  The fletch tape peels off with the feathers IF you pull very slowly and not at a drastic angle to the arrow's shaft or you run the risk of crimping the feather's base or quill.

Also, I never put a dab of glue on the front and back of feathers after I apply them with the tape.  I simply clean the shaft very well being careful not to touch the area that the feather will attach to the shaft and press hard with my thumbnail after I remove it from my jig.

I've yet to lose a feather with only the tape.
(disclaimer - I don't live where it gets cold so I've never contended with extreme temps affecting the tape adhesive)