how to remove vanes from wood arrows

[b44mag]

hey guys n gals
i just traded for some old bear woodies with vanes . i want to take the vanes off. how do i do it with out messing up the shaft. i was thinking and not sure how to. i have been messing with wraps and super glu on old woodies with messed up fletch area. but if i can get them off with out messing up the area would be better. so what tricks of the trade do you have for me to try.

[The Whittler]

A very sharp knife. I use a X-acto (spelling) knife. A thin blade works good. I lay the blade down almost flat and just go slow and do a little section at a time until you get use to it. When you get down to a thin base I use a green scouring pad.

You will find that no matter how careful you are you will bite into the shaft once in a while. No biggie when you refletch try to put the feathers in the same place as the vanes were. Good luck.

[Mike Vines]

Originally posted by The Whittler:
A very sharp knife. I use a X-acto (spelling) knife. A thin blade works good. I lay the blade down almost flat and just go slow and do a little section at a time until you get use to it. When you get down to a thin base I use a green scouring pad.

You will find that no matter how careful you are you will bite into the shaft once in a while. No biggie when you refletch try to put the feathers in the same place as the vanes were. Good luck.

x2

[trad_bowhunter1965]

Potato peeler I leaned from anther Trad Ganger today.

[Northwoods]

Never used vanes but have a commercial feather stripper (I think I got it at 3Rivers) that works very well taking feathers off without damaging the shaft at all.  works really smooth and I think it would work for vanes as well.

Ted

[The Whittler]

CA Bowhunter, thanks i'll have give the potato peeler a try.

[b44mag]

well the arrows showed up today they are from 1966 and the vanes peel off pretty easy but take the finish with them. the finish is cracking off a bit do you guys think polywipe would seal them back up with out messing the finish up more or should i just sand the finish off and start over. let me know what you all thing the arrows are ok other than the few finish splinters like its comming off and a few spots making like a lil splinter. i thought it was just the paint and pulled on one took a lil bit of the wood off i flexed them all pretty good and none of them cracked so let me know what you all think about this.
thanks for any and all info im new and just dont know.

[Zradix]

sounds iffy to me.
Old wood.
Bad seal coat.

Hate to see one shoved thru a body part ( yours )

If you're going through the work of sanding and all you might as well start with fresh new shafts. You can buy em pretty cheap.

[b44mag]

yea i here that on the body part thing. im on lots of blood thinners due to a few blood clots in my left lung. so poking is not a option for me. ill bleed out before i get 911 dialed.
i did flex these back n forth pretty good figuring ill break it first. but they seem good to go just bad finish. i have one with the vanes stripped. i hit it with a scotch bright pad and put a coat of polywipe on it. ill put a wrap on it and some feathers and give it a try with a 35# bow a few times to see how it goes. think ill wear my carthart when i do. just incase it should keep it from poking me if it does break.

[Zradix]

Good luck.

I hope they work great for you.

[b44mag]

thanks zradix i hope so too.
well its been 20 minutes since i polywiped it and so far no pealing or blistering of the old finish might work out ok ill let it dry till later tonight and give it another coat

[Zradix]

Hey I just thought of something.
I read a post recently about plastic nocks getting very brittle when they get old.

Might want to check em out.

[b44mag]

thanks zradix
i will give them the once over also maybe even twice over just to make sure . i just gave the shaft another look and so far the old finish is ok with the polywipe over might just work out good for stumping arrows. i just looked at the other dozen bear arrows that came with 1964 razor tips the paint finish is great on them. wonder why these are peeling. these ones came with field points and vanes the others have the razor tips and feathers. the vained ones are darker brown with black red and green cresting with a black bear and bear ceder under the picture of a bear. the ones with the razor tips are much lighter almost a tan with blue cresting and just the name bear in blue no picture or ceder word under it. i just checked the nocks they are fine but one was cracked when it was glued on you can tell it was like that when they glue it on. 3 out of the dozen the tips were loose. i pulled on the rest of them they are ok but the 3 came off. the other 11 nocks are good n tight i squezed them they are not brittle.

[b44mag]

well after messing with the arrows and getting all the vanes off. im thinking im going to try to strip a few with some maybe citrus stripper and start over. a few will be fine with the polywipe. after re reading the paper work they are 1980 or up. i was wondering why 1966 or 67 had vanes just did not add up. must have been a bad day for making arrows cause the tips are croked some of the nocks also. the guy that made these just pushed the tips and nocks on never spun the glue so it was all on one side. they will make fine stumpers with a bit of work and ill enjoy doing it for sure. im in no hurry ill break some lose some but enjoy it all. well i think i got all my turkey gear ready to go.
im heading to turkey hollar in the afternoon. sat is first day turkey
safe hunting to you n yours

[Zradix]

Good luck to you!
Those arrows will look better in red.