Feather Chopping ? Problems ?

[MJB]

Recently picked up a banana regular li'l chopper and some full length right wing turkey feathers. This is my first attempt and chopping my own. The chopper will do right and left wing.

I followed the directions but the two arrows I fletched up , feathers were backwards. Putting into clamp wrong ?    

Do the feathers need to be ground or are they usually already done before ? Kinda thick on the bottom. I noticed after I removed the clamp (Jo Jan) there was a good helical but arrow did not seat properly.

I'm not experienced enough but seemed like the smooth quill area was a bit much for the helical if that makes sense.

When using the chopper does it matter which side of the feather faces up (bars) ?

I hope I didn't confuse anyone. Just trying to get on the right track and enjoy chopp'n and fletch'n my own arrows.

Any help , tips, comments are GREATLY APPREACIATED.
THANKS,
Mike>------->

[TNstickn]

I'm pretty sure the only wat to put the feathers on backwards is by putting them in the clamp backwards. I did a bunch of turkey feathers recently and when I started chopping them I chopped some both direction quill faceing up and down and after comparing them side by side I think they are the same. When I started I had 41 left wing primaries, thinking I could get 2 feathers out of most of the feathers I had. After a couple feathers I quickly realized that it was up to me and were I cut the feathers out of the whole length as to what kind/size of base came out. I selected the most uniform size that I felt was going to be best. I compared my bases with some factory parabolics that gave me good results and everything worked great. Good luck, its a good feeling to build your own arras!-Greg

[jdemoya]

Banana cuts are notorious for that problem. If you are not careful you will put them backwards in the fletching clamp: both ends look the same. You need to look carefully and see the direction on the quills in the front end point forward. It has happened to me too. The noise they make is what tips you that something is wrong.
Good luck. Enjoy!
God bless,

Jose

[jdemoya]

Correction: I meant to say the quills in the front end point backward: to the nock end of the arrow.

God bless,

Jose

[TNstickn]

These are the ones.

[Grey Taylor]

Yeah, I recently did banana for the first time and noticed the easy chance of fletching things backwards. Just something to watch for.
You don't mention if you're getting pre-ground feathers, if you're doing them yourself, or maybe even trying to chop unground feathers. That info may help us analyze what you're experiencing.

Guy

[longbawl]

You may need to adjust The fletcher so the quill sets on the shaft better.I havent used a jo jan for years but if i remember The top an bottom had screws  with wing nuts that would let you adjust the amount of helical. And allow the quill to set better. some times on the full length feathers I put them in the clamp if the quill looks to wide i will sand it with a block of wood an sand paper.If you do sand you will need to apply a little pressure  to the clamp with your fingers or the feather might slide in the clamp. Hopes this helps

[aromakr]

I can see at least one feather that is on backwards in the lower photo. Natural barred feathers its easy to tell the difference, the white barrs should point to the rear or nock end. Just like the feather veins do.
Bob

[M60gunner]

I agree with longbawl about the jo-jan set up. But it sounds to me that the feathers are not ground down? When it looks to me like the feather is not sitting on the shaft in the clamp I pick up the whole thing and look it over. If I am still in doubt I use one of the feathers in question and an old shaft, glue it up and see what it looks like.
I would like to suggest you not try and get every bit of helical twist you can with the fletcher. I found when I did this with banannas I heard them in flight more so than normal.

[TNstickn]

Aromakr,I killed the turkeys, built a feather grinding jig and ground all my feathers. Nothing backwards on any of them arras. heres a pick showing that the bars dont allways run like you say. Musta been one of those genetic freak turkeys LOL! Spread the feather so you can see a little better.
 
looked through my extras and that was the only one like that. I guess I dont pay that close attn. I do make sure they are all left wing, quilled the same, and viened the nock end. -Greg

[MJB]

Guys THANKS for all the replies and suggestions. Greatly appreciated !! Here are a couple right wings I chopped earlier tonight. I guess they came out OK.

[TNstickn]

Lookin good!

[MJB]

Thanks TNstickn

[**DONOTDELETE**]

That's it. You got them cutting great.

[aromakr]

Greg
In the Fifty+ years I've made arrows I don't believe I've ever seen a barred feather with the stripes pointing away from the veins. I Learn something new all the time.
Bob