How do you grind your feathers?

[barley40]

I've tried several ways to grind barred turkey feathers and it's hard to get the perfect surface to glue. Some work out pretty good but I'm still looking for that factory looking glue surface.

[Orion]

I've made my own jigs to sand them on a disk sander.  Get a factory grind for sure.  Sorry I don't have pix.  I hear the jig that Great Northern sells does a very good job.

[Paul Mattson]

I use the jig made by Great Northern, simple to use and does a great grind.

[Jack Skinner]

My hunting partner uses the Great Northern and it works great for us. I just made one following directions from a post on here. It was made by Dean Torges found it easly with a search of POW WOW (Home made feather grinders). Mine is working great. Add the rub plate he talks about and get store bought results.

[wtpops]

Great Northern here also.

[Rob DiStefano]

my method is super cheap, super fast, and too easy.

fletch makin\\'

....

[Richie Nell]

I use an X-acto knife and shave the quill marrow down like I like it.  Then lightly hand sand.  Good to go.
20 yrs. and counting.

[maineac]

Looks nice and easy Rob. I have he metal and was going to try to make a hardwood metal combo jig, but simple is better imho.  Thanks.

[Rob DiStefano]

i actually did make a coupla wood/metal grinding jigs, and when i ripped my shop apart trying to find one i just went 'primitive' and that turned out lots better in the short run for me.

btw, using a flipped over belt sander works equally as well as a stationary wheel sander.

[Jack Denbow]

I use the Great Northern grinder also.
Jack

[barley40]

Is the Great Northern a jig or just a grinder? The Great Northern tool co.?

[NoCams]

barley40,
It is a fixture used to hold the feather and comes with a drum sander attachment that fits into your drill press. I think that is what 3 Rivers carries ? Pricey, but seems well made. You can make your own as mentioned above off of Dean Torges site, the Bowyers Edge I think ?

nocams

[MercilessMing]

I think Rob's simple version will work fine.  Just did some full length feather grinding recently using a Rigid oscillating sander.  Comparing with other photos on Pow Wow, it seems like the result will be better and would be an easier job if I used a belt sander or a disc sander instead of using a drum sander.

[Rob DiStefano]

using a drum sander (which i have several in my shop) requires using a feather holding jig that rides on a fence.  if attempted to do freehand, the narrow grinding surface (the arc of the sanding drum) can leave ridges in the feather base because the sanding contact area is so small and your applied pressure won't be that consistent.

with a large sanding surface (rotary wheel or sanding belt), freehand sanding the turk base is really foolproof every time and the sanded feather base looks like it came from true flight.  seriously!  

[Tom Leemans]

The great northern jig is pretty much the same concept of what Dean Torges has had on his site for awhile now. If you're inclined to make your own, you'll find instructions there.
 http://bowyersedge.com/feather.html

[acolobowhunter]

After looking at the price of the Great Northern jig, I made my own.  Used it several times, but then found if I do a good job splitting the quill using an exacto knife I don't need the jib.  Just a light pass on the sanding drum ( hand held feather) and I am ready to apply fletch tape.

It is not like you have a LOT of material to grind, just making a flat surface and this can be done without a jig.

[Aeronut]

Do a search for feather grinder.  There are a few threads covering this.

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=031841

Dennis