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Topic Archives => Build Alongs => Topic started by: marc_groleau on March 30, 2006, 07:00:00 PM

Title: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: marc_groleau on March 30, 2006, 07:00:00 PM

Was burning some feltches tonight on my home-made fletch burning jig and thought that I might post the method I use for those who may not have used it before. It's nothing new of course but I thought some might find it useful and want to give it a try. The nice thing is, in a few minutes you can make yourself a custom jig any shape or size. I like to burn mine 4 to 4 1/2" long because then I can get two fletches from one feather.
Here's a view of the front and back side of a jig. Just a couple pieces of 1/8" thick scraps. Glue a popsicle thick for a straight edge at the bottom of the jig. Fabricate a top half to the jig that is just slightly smaller than the bottom half. This allows space for the vane of the feather.
     (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/marc_groleau/feather_burn_2.jpg)
     (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/marc_groleau/feather_burn_1.jpg)
     (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/marc_groleau/feather_burn_3.jpg)

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: marc_groleau on March 30, 2006, 07:03:00 PM

Line a full feather up with the straight edge and  then clip the feather to length.

  (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/marc_groleau/feather_burn_4.jpg)
Now place the top half over the feather and trim roughly to shape following the jig.
  (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/marc_groleau/feather_burn_5.jpg)
  (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/marc_groleau/feather_burn_6.jpg)

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: marc_groleau on March 30, 2006, 07:07:00 PM

Now pass the jig with the feather sandwiched between the two halves over a torch. It takes a little to get the right speed to move along at. Don't stay in one spot and pass it over a couple of times if needed. In the top photo, you can't see the flame. It's a photography thing.
 (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/marc_groleau/feather_burn_7.jpg)

 (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/marc_groleau/feather_burn_9.jpg)

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: marc_groleau on March 30, 2006, 07:08:00 PM

Finished fletch.
 (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/marc_groleau/feather_burn_10.jpg)

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: marc_groleau on March 30, 2006, 07:10:00 PM

Here's a "humpback" style I've used. Just to make something different. Whoops! I mean swayback.
   (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/marc_groleau/feather_burn_12.jpg)
   (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/marc_groleau/feather_burn_13.jpg)

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: marc_groleau on March 30, 2006, 07:12:00 PM

Finished arrows.
  (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/marc_groleau/feather_burn_15.jpg)

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: emilio fracchia on March 30, 2006, 07:18:00 PM

...nice..thanks for sharing.
I tried some time ago with a piece of tin that I cut and folded to shape.
It worked quite all right, but I kept burning myself    :scared:   darn thing heated up all in a sudden!
I like the wood idea.
emilio

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: Osagetree on March 30, 2006, 07:48:00 PM

sweet!

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: Shakes.602 on March 30, 2006, 08:15:00 PM

Pretty Cool!! Thanks for Sharing!!

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: Gote Rider on March 30, 2006, 08:37:00 PM

Thanks Marc for showing that. The fletches turned out very good. I will give that a try.

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: BillJ on March 30, 2006, 08:59:00 PM

I love the stuff I learn on this site.  Thanks!

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: TXRED on March 30, 2006, 09:33:00 PM

Cool.Looky here,CK,ya don't hafta plug this one in!  :bigsmyl:

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: Trevor on March 31, 2006, 07:19:00 AM

Great stuff. thanks for sharing.

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: TexMex on March 31, 2006, 07:46:00 AM

Cool, thanks for sharing.

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: marc_groleau on March 31, 2006, 06:57:00 PM

You fellas are welcome. I've learned and continue to learn an awful lot from this site. Might as well share what I can. Lord knows I won't be postin any shootin lessons anytime soon.
  :D

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: Weasel on March 31, 2006, 07:20:00 PM

I like it!!  Found out the hard way that gasket laquer is highly flammable if you get the feather burner wire too close to the shaft...

This method is MUCH better than chopping!

Jerry

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: marc_groleau on April 01, 2006, 12:36:00 PM

Glad you liked it Jerry. Hope you get around to trying it. Hey now that's some kinda photography aint it?   :D

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: kyle on April 01, 2006, 04:44:00 PM

That second one is sort of a "brokeback" fletch ain't it.     Sorry, couldn't resist.

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: thehaf2000 on April 03, 2006, 01:40:00 PM

Very nice. Could this be added to the "How To" Forum so we can refrence it in the future?

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: Kevin Lawler on April 03, 2006, 02:09:00 PM

This should be done inside for best results. Any wind will mess up the results.  :p

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: Tom Leemans on April 03, 2006, 03:07:00 PM

That's a man's feather burner right there, waivin' yer hands over fire...

 :campfire:

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: Fritz Brown on April 03, 2006, 04:41:00 PM

I gave this a whirl this weekend.  You see I have a big ol' box of feathers, but no chopper or burner.  So I built myself a fam-dancy new wood and torch feather burner and proceeded to burn me a set of feathers for an arrow.  Next week, after the burn blisters heal up, I'll burn me some feathers for a second arrow.  At this rate, by July I should have a dozen arrows fletched up  :)

I'm thinking I might put a handle on the rig...

-Fritz

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: marc_groleau on April 04, 2006, 06:01:00 AM

Fritz,
Try clamping the feather between the two halves of the jig with a spring clamp and hold onto the clamp.
 If you aim the nozzle away from you and pass the edge of the jig over the very edge of the nozzle, it will burn the feather just fine without setting yourself on fire. It doesn't take much heat to burn off the feather.
 Kyle, that's real funny. I'm gonna call those my brokeback fletchings from now on.

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: Jack Skinner on April 04, 2006, 05:55:00 PM

I like it. Easy as it gets. Will make mine this week-end.

Along with all the others Thanks
Jack

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: Ray Hammond on April 04, 2006, 06:14:00 PM

how have you found the noise level on these  feathers to be?

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: marc_groleau on April 04, 2006, 06:33:00 PM

Ray,
They are totally silent. I've never heard a sound.
It would be nice to see the outcome of any of you who may try this. It would be cool to see will some different shapes.

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: The Whittler on April 04, 2006, 08:01:00 PM

Marc, do you have to burn the feather after you cut it with scissors. Alan

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: marc_groleau on April 05, 2006, 04:49:00 AM

Whittler,
I'm not good with scissors. I have not been able to get as clean of an edge as I get with burning em.
 As for the smell, I do it in my workshop. It's supposed to smell down there. Just kidding. I just open a window in the shop. It doesn't smell so bad to me and it goes away quick. You can do it outside an a nice day.

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: Eric Krewson on April 05, 2006, 08:56:00 AM

When I first started burning feathers I thought the smell was awful, twenty years later I kinda' like the smell because it is a prelude having brand new arrows to shoot.

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: marc_groleau on April 09, 2006, 09:37:00 AM

Glad you said it Eric. I was gonna post that I liked the smell of burnt feathers anyway but figured folks would think I was a little crazy.

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: Shakes.602 on April 09, 2006, 10:42:00 AM

Just Think "Chip Clip" for Holding the Sides in Place, That Should do it! Wally World sells some Dandies and Different Sized ones too!

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: Gordy on April 09, 2006, 04:07:00 PM

Hey cool !  Here I thought I'd have to buy something to burn custom feather shapes ! Thanks.

I'm thinking a couple hunks of 12ga aluminum and a big vise grip would work nice for this eh ?
 :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: marc_groleau on April 09, 2006, 04:28:00 PM

Wood works just fine for me. I'm thinking vise grips may crush the feathers. I get by fine by holding the jig in my hands while burning. I'd say go with hardwood and use a spring clamp if you're concerned about burning yourself. You might be more likely to burn yourself on the hot aluminum than the torch.
Good luck with it.

Shakes, what's a Chip Clip?

Title: Re: Custom Feather Burn-along
Post by: MikeW on April 09, 2006, 06:37:00 PM

Ole fly tyers trick.
I'm a 35+ year fly tyer and have all the wing burners and it never crossed my mind to apply it to fletching.
thx for sharing.

My first thought would be make it like the fly tying tools are made. Fold a thin piece of brass in half, cut out your shape and two sides. Glue a dowle to a strong aligator clip for a clamp and there ya go. I have a bunch Turkey feathers laying around cause I don't have a chopper or burner. I was getting ready to buy a chopper...forget that now.