Trad Gang
Topic Archives => How To - Resources => Topic started by: Rob DiStefano on March 10, 2010, 02:47:00 PM
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From Raw Feather to Completed Arrow Fletch
or, how to grind yer raw feathers for cheap 'n' easy.
a left wing turk feather with the ends cut off
(http://www.tradgang.com/rob/grind/f1.jpg)
use a sharp blade to strip the feather
(http://www.tradgang.com/rob/grind/f2.jpg)
stripped and ready to grind the base
(http://www.tradgang.com/rob/grind/f3.jpg)
resize the stripped feather to best fit yer jig
(http://www.tradgang.com/rob/grind/f4.jpg)
a pair of .038" thick sheet metal strips that are about 1.5" wide and 8" long
(http://www.tradgang.com/rob/grind/f5.jpg)
sandwich the stripped feather 'tween the sheet metal strips
(http://www.tradgang.com/rob/grind/f6.jpg)
leave the feather base exposed and clamp
(http://www.tradgang.com/rob/grind/f7.jpg)
i use a stationary sanding wheel w/120 grit abrasive to grind down the feather's base,
BUT, a belt sander or some 80-100 grit glued to a flat surface works just as well
(http://www.tradgang.com/rob/grind/f8.jpg)
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press into the abrasive, leave a thin white base line remaining
(http://www.tradgang.com/rob/grind/f9.jpg)
now all that's left to grind off is the excess base on the SIDE of the feather
(http://www.tradgang.com/rob/grind/f10.jpg)
press lightly against the abrasive
(http://www.tradgang.com/rob/grind/f11.jpg)
a beautious feather fletch with a perfect base, ready for chopper or burner
(http://www.tradgang.com/rob/grind/f12.jpg)
insert into chopper
(http://www.tradgang.com/rob/grind/f15.jpg)
and one good whack later
(http://www.tradgang.com/rob/grind/f16.jpg)
ready to fletch!
(http://www.tradgang.com/rob/grind/f17.jpg)
fletched!
(http://www.tradgang.com/rob/grind/f19.jpg)
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Very nice thanks Rob
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Good walk through Rob. I think I will put some of that to use. did you draw a little blood on your table. :biglaugh:
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quote:
Originally posted by FerretWYO:
... did you draw a little blood on your table. :scared:
nah, from staining a tele body 'purple haze'. :)
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i understan the steps that you went through, my question is how do you get consistent from one fletch to the next? or is this " it took a lot of practice" to acheive good results
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Would a Bitzenburger straight clamp work?
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Originally posted by snag:
Would a Bitzenburger straight clamp work?
This is how I have always done it before and used a foam sanding block to grind them down.
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Great post Rob!! I use a Bitzenburger clamp also to hold the feather while I grind the base.
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Originally posted by broketooth:
i understan the steps that you went through, my question is how do you get consistent from one fletch to the next? or is this " it took a lot of practice" to acheive good results
as my dad used to preach to me, 'son, the best measuring device is a good pair of eyes'. he was right (as usual).
when you see the fat base abrade down to a thin white line, yer done. just use yer eyes, they won't lie, promise. :thumbsup:
here's a batch i just stripped, ground and chopped for a nice set of surewood fir shafts i just completed ...
(http://www.tradgang.com/rob/grind/a2.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/rob/grind/a1.jpg)
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i used to grind with a fletching clamp but the risk of grinding the clamp (and sure enuf i did) told me to just use a few strips of sheet metal and a spring clamp instead.
really, it's too easy. you'll see.
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Hands down my favorite "how-to" tutorial to date!!!!! That's great stuff!!!! Thanks Rob!
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Nice looking shafts there Rob. :thumbsup:
I do mine full length, free hand on my belt sander.You're right,the eyes won't lie.
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Rob, Is this going to get moved to the How to Forum by the mod's...LOL This is a great thread I always wanted to do this,now I know how.Thanks
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Thanks for walkin us through it Rob! I am just settin up to do this very thing.
Eric
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I have some turkey feathers waiting to be turned into fletching. Your info and photos are a big help, thanks.
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Yep this is Great!! Now I just need to get me some turkey feathers and then let the money saving begin! :goldtooth: Thanks for sharing Rob!
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This is my feather grinding jig. It takes a little practice but works good.
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee98/Benjy45/TradGang/DSC03134.jpg)
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee98/Benjy45/TradGang/DSC03128.jpg)
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using a stationary drum sander (which i have several in my shop), or a sanding wheel on a drill (which i also have) really 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 or an uneven surface 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 disc on a sanding station, or a belt sander turned upside down or sideways), freehand sanding the turk base is really foolproof every time because the entire surface of the feather base is sanded at one time. i like using 120 grit and the completed feather base looks like it came from true flight. seriously! :thumbsup:
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Leave it ROB to show the masses ho easy some of this stuff really is :thumbsup: :notworthy: Well done sir.
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Very nice grind there Rob, feather bases look thin and even.
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home made hog huntin' 'n' killin' arra
(http://www.tradgang.com/rob/grind/f20.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/rob/grind/f18.jpg)
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Very nice Rob.
BTW- Package is on it's way. Enjoy
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Great post makes the process look easier than I thought time to get started.
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Rob, great how to, thanks for posting it. Nice job on those arrows, there is some good mojo with natural turkey feathers on an arrow I think. Now just have to get some of those turkey feathers to work up. Reminds me of the recipe for buffalo burgers which starts … 1. Locate, kill and clean one buffalo …
:thumbsup:
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from plucked feather to finished arrow
(http://www.tradgang.com/rob/grind/f21.jpg)
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Well Done Rob!! :notworthy: :archer:
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This should save a few from dropping $100+ on that feather grinding jig. Thanks Rob!
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NICE WORK!!! Thanks Rob!
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Nice work Rob. Your the best How-To'r there is.
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TTT great job! I have metal, a sander, and a feather chopper...no feathers (yet). I am eyeballin' my full strut mount and wondering if he'll miss 'em if I pluck a few feathers :)
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Great how to. Now I'm gonna have to start talking to all the turkey hunters I know. One or two birds a year just won't be enough.
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Excelent post/Tutorial. It is hard to beat a simple setup.I was given 2 bags of wild turkey that I have been wanting to grind and not sure how to do it.Wild Turkey is scarce, and like gold to get in Northern Alberta. Now I can finaly have some Wild Turkey Fletches.
Thanks Rob :)
Pete
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Thanks Rob, great thread :)
Can show us some of your Goose feathers finished?
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Originally posted by coaster500:
... Can show us some of your Goose feathers finished?
here's a pictorial i did on canada goose feathers, from bird to fletchings ...
canada goose feather fletching (http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000106)
some of my local buds, growing this year's crop of gray gold for me ... :D
(http://www.tradgang.com/rob/canada.jpg)
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canada goose feather fletching
They make a great looking fletch. Great looking arrows and you can't beat the price :) I'm going to have to take a look around at the lake.
Thanks Rob