Feather Chopper

[Flyboy718]

Lookin at gettin a feather chopper from 3 rivers...mainly cause I use 4" feathers and I think I could get two feathers out of each full size one and save money in the long run.  Anybody else do this?

Also out of the differing cuts that are offered is one more accurate than the other or all the same...like banana vs pop and young, etc.

[Brently]

You can get 2 4" feathers out of a full length feather, I do it all the time.  I really don't know if there is a difference in cuts in a 4" feather but the taller cut will stabilize quicker.

[creekwood]

I use 4" parabolic fletches, and I can get two out of each full size feather with my chopper. I say "go for it".

[Zach Mikita]

I've shot pretty much everything through a bow and I prefer 4 4" shield feathers on an arrow.  Cutting your own no matter what the shape is a smart thing to do and it'll save some $$$$ which we all like.  Ive never used a chopper (use a burner...has its pros and cons) but I think I might rig me up one and see how it works

[Rob DiStefano]

a banana chopper will work fine for both right and left wing feathers.

for me, li'l choppers work best reversed - that is, i prefer a right wing chopper for left wing feathers.

as to feather shape, only you can decide what will work best for .... you.

i have more than a few choppers, including the german vario, but mostly use a li'l chopper big banana that i adjust for a shorter and lower feather.  all my arrows sport 4-fletch bananas that are either 4" x 7/16" or 4-1/2" x 5/8".  to each their own, a great aspect of making yer own trad gear.

[SEMO_HUNTER]

Originally posted by Flyboy718:
Lookin at gettin a feather chopper from 3 rivers...mainly cause I use 4" feathers and I think I could get two feathers out of each full size one and save money in the long run.  Anybody else do this?

Also out of the differing cuts that are offered is one more accurate than the other or all the same...like banana vs pop and young, etc.

Yep......best choice I ever made was to get my own feather chopper. Now I split, grind, and process my own wild turkey feathers and I don't spend a penny on arrow fletching unless I want to.
My personal experience with large wing feathers is that a fully mature gobbler wing feather primary will yield 2-4.750" shield cut fletchings. Rarely do I every get three from one full length feather.

If your chopping them 4" long then you will probably get alot of 3's out of full length feathers?
At any rate you will see the savings immediately!

[Rob DiStefano]

mmmmmmmmmm, gray gold ...... and free!

 

[Flyboy718]

Rob that it awsome!  Would you mind maybe doing a little step by step on how to get those raw turkey feathers ready to glue to the shaft?  Also, wander if you could use a sander attachment on a drill press and make some sort of a jig to get the quill right?

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by Flyboy718:
Rob that it awsome!  Would you mind maybe doing a little step by step on how to get those raw turkey feathers ready to glue to the shaft?  Also, wander if you could use a sander attachment on a drill press and make some sort of a jig to get the quill right?

always remember to check out the "how to - resources" forum!

turk fletching

goose fletching

[Flyboy718]

lol...k thanks!