Snowed in project

[Seth Stevens]

With a fresh 14" of snow on the ground, I decided I would use my time indoors to try my hand at making my own fletching.

I selected several wing feathers from a turkey I killed in Texas this spring.

I split them with a utility knife. I then placed them in an old Bitzenburger straight clamp and ground the bases using my dremel.

The feathers I selected were right-wing so I fletched them with a right helical.

I then formed a ribbon on my feather burner to a modified shield cut and burned them to shape.

Pretty happy with how they turned out. For the first attempt!


Thanks for looking!

[wooddamon1]

Lookin' good!  

[bofish-IL]

Nice looking.

I did this last year and it only took a few minutes of sanding to realize I needed a respirator. I started sneezing from the dust.

[Jayrod]

darn goodlooking they look like factory feathers

[Seth Stevens]

The dust is awful! It clings to everything! Including your lungs!

[LC]

Wow looks great especially considering using a dremel. May I suggest using a flat board with dry wall finishing sandpaper stapled to it! It works great with a lot less dust. That's how I use to do it but now adays do it on a small table top belt sander OUT SIDE! lol

[Seth Stevens]

Great tip! I'll try that with the rest. Thanks!

[jmrsyrs]

Nice work!

[Huntrdfk]

Great, now when you learn how to dye them I'll have my  very own feather maker and supplier!!!!! They look great!

David

[Seth Stevens]

You supply the dye and I'll take a shot at it! With all my spare time!

[LC]

You have conquered the hard part of making your own fletching! The dyeing part is the easiest. Check out the How to Forum here, there is a detailed post of how to do it. I use Rite clothing dye but lots of posters use food coloring. It's like most things in life it's simple once you do it, and hugely rewarding when you walk up to a animal you've taken with some of your own hand made equip! Good luck.

[Tsalt]

Nice!

[Seth Stevens]

Here you go Dave....

First attempt at dying feathers.

I also used my orbital sander to grind the bases. Much easier!

[Hot Hap]

very nice-Hap

[Huntrdfk]

Wow, I'm impressed!

David

[Caughtandhobble]

Those look great... I have given the wild turkey fletching a try. I have actually given thought to buying the vise grip clamp from 3Rivers for the sanding. I do like the idea of stapling sand paper down to a board.

Like mentioned, stay out of the dust, it's BAD for you!!!

[Pheonixarcher]

Originally posted by Caughtandhobble:
Like mentioned, stay out of the dust, it's BAD for you!!!

Bad for you as in it poses a health risk, or just the smell and allergen factor?

[Seth Stevens]

Thanks everyone! My Orbital has a dust collector on it. It really cut down on the dust!

Going to fletch these up today.

[Bill Carlsen]

Seth: Good to see you on the forum. Are you giving Trad a try? Would be nice to see someone in a pro shop that knows what trad is all about.

[Huntrdfk]

Hey Bill......I finally got him to give it a shot after years of trying.....he ordered a Whip a few months ago. While he still has to keep with the wheeled bow some he is well on his way with the longbow. He has already become a very, very good shot, he has taken to it quicker that anyone I have ever seen!

David