Stripping quills for splicing??????

[snag]

I have been "butt gluing" when splicing feathers. But I have also tried stripping the commerically sold full length feathers. I usually find that they don't strip off cleanly with the membrance attached. If I get the membrane to lift and then start pulling the attached quills the membrance rips into....? Is it just best the membrane becomes brittle with processing the feathers?

[snag]

I looked at the "How-To" section and I think I have answered my own question....thanks.

[MSwickard]

Snag

Tommy Clum (RMSG) wrote up this very good tutorial on feather splicing.

 Feather Splicing RMSG  

But to anwser your question, you just want to strip off the quill from the membrane.  It does take an little practice but I have experience this also.  The biggest concern is getting the quill to start stripping off.  Once it start it is usually easy going.

The tutorial covers this in detail.

Mike

[snag]

Thanks Mike. I'll check it out.

[snag]

EXCELLENT Mike...exactly what I needed to see. Thanks, David

[MSwickard]

No Problem!

Makes splicing really easy.  BTW, When I spliced up my first batch, I used Duco cement.  Worked great and dries quick.  I also tried a thicker CA glue it it did not work.  I'll stick with Duco.

Mike

[Dirtybird]

I've sanded down the membrane before with pretty good success.

[snag]

Last night I got out the feathers and went at it. It worked good. Still sometimes I would get the quills to stripping off the and then they'd break off the membrane that they are attached to when stripped off. But for the most part it worked great! The fit is so much better...seamless.
I did the same thing Dirty. I took some sandpaper and lightly sanded the membrane to even up the surface.
Mike, I used Fletchtite because it hardened quickly. I do use Duco for gluing the fletching on the shaft though.
Oh boy, I can see a lot of splicing in my future!!!!

[NoCams]

TTT for by buddy snag. Great thread.

I am learning more and more from all the fine arrowsmiths on the gang each day. Wished that i could spend a few weeks working side by side with ya'll to really learn firsthand all the tips and tricks involved with a true custom set of woodies. Anyone can throw together a set of woodies but you guys are cranking out true art !

nocams  

[snag]

Hi Jimmy! Isn't this great. Love kicking around this stuff to see what you can come up with.

I pulled out the dremel tool last night. I took a razor blade and cut the quills off at the membrane. Then lightly ground the stumble down to the membrane to provide a good surface to glue to. Then I ground the membrane down on the piece to splice. Laid some Fletchtite on the membrane and held the spliced piece on for awhile....looks good! It is more work then just stripping it and gluing it. But it works everytime. The only thing is when you cut off the part of the feather quill you are wasting that piece, whereas, if you strip it off you can use it for another splice.  But I can't argue with success!