Feather Choppers

[perry f.]

I currently own a lil chopper in 5" shield. However, it chops feathers with a higher profile of the feathers you buy. If I ever decide to use different color feathers I always have to relearn my arrow flight due to less or more drag on my arrow. Is there a company that makes a chopper that better resembles the feathers you buy. I've tried burners before, but I don't really care for them. Thanks

[Fattony77]

I have the high profile 5.5" banana cut chopper, but I am wanting to try to shorten the feathers (and therefore the profile) to 4". My plan is to shim them with a popcicle stick trimmed to the necessary size and glued in place along the top of the factory placed guide. Something similar might work for you, too. Although you may want to play around with the angle and/or taper of your shim, until you find something that works for you.

The thing that I like about my idea, is that you can play around with it as much as you feel like, but you're not making any modifications to the chopper itself, so if you end up finding something else that works better for you, you can still sell your chopper to someone, and it's still like it was when it left the factory.

Just an idea, hope it helps. Good luck.

[Flt Rck Shtr]

If you can pick up a Young feather burner, they are worth the money... you can make your profile at any height you want and can make any style of feather you want. They even sell pre-bent ribbons at whatever profile you like ..

[Sam McMichael]

Maybe I am just dumb. (Gregg Dudley need not respond to that one). I have had arrows with many feather configurations, and they all fly essentially the same. If your stuff is tuned, shouldn't they all fly to aim point? I often shoot mixed sets such as some shield cuts with some parabolic, etc. If I point to the bull, they all hit it equally well. I don't understand how feather style should make any real difference - assuming proper tune.

Still, I understand a preference for what you are most used to shooting.

[DanielB89]

Originally posted by perry f.:
I currently own a lil chopper in 5" shield. However, it chops feathers with a higher profile of the feathers you buy. If I ever decide to use different color feathers I always have to relearn my arrow flight due to less or more drag on my arrow. Is there a company that makes a chopper that better resembles that feathers you buy. I've tried. Tuners before, but I don't really care for them. Thanks

yes, buy full length and chop all your own.  it'll be a little cheaper that way too if you can get two chops out of one feather.

[M60gunner]

There is slots in my Lil Chopper's plate where you put the quill agianst. I have moved mine up on my choppers. When that was not enough I made the screw slots longer. If the blade hits the metal strip I take my double cut file and notch it out. I have also made a plate to work so I can get a low profile banana chop.

[perry f.]

Thanks for the comments. I've already thought of a few of your ideas. However, raising the feather on the chopper, shortens the length.
Sam, the arrows shoot pretty much the same,  however, with a higher profile feather and more drag, I get a lot more drop shooting my heavy hunting arrows anywhere past about 20 yards.. With the lower profile, I seem to get a flatter trajectory and pick up speed and distance with my accuracy.

[luvnlongbow]

You can order a custom made chopper from 3rivers.

[Zradix]

I'm surprised you can tell the difference in flight between a factory 5" shield and a slightly taller chopped 5".
..but if you can you can.

I can understand if you use the feather as an anchor point though.

I chop with a lil chopper myself.
Yes you can stick a spacer ( I use a popsicle stick too) to the guide to shorten the feather height...and yes it makes the feather shorter.
..fletch tape works great for sticking it on btw.

One thing that is often overlooked is that you can add a tapered spacer. A spacer that is taller in the back and tapers to nothing on the front.
...cuts the shortening of the length in half.

You may find the shorter length feather flies to your liking anyway..

Really though..You'll rarely get 2 5" fletch out of a full length these days anyhow.

There is really zero savings when you're only chopping 1 out of each full length.

If you like the factory cut 5" you should just buy them.
They're within pennies of a full length and you can only get 1 5" out of 90%+ full length.
...not to mention it saves a bunch of time.

my 2¢

[JimB]

I was thinking also of an angled spacer,reducing the height at the rear of the fletch.Length lost should be minimal.

And as far as two 5" out of one,commercial full length,I'd say never.I can often get three,3" but not always.

Tru Flight 5" cost $59 and full length,$55.

[LOTW]

I had some downtime yesterday so I started drawing up one to build.....it's on the list but may never get done!!

[katman]

PM sent.

[old arrow]

m60gunner

I'm with you,, I used a alum. strip and notched and slotted to get what I wanted..

[kenneth butler]

I just use a shim at the bottom of the feather. You can adjust the height and the length with shims.  A piece of thin plastic,card stock, or wood the needed size and double sided scotch tape will give you plenty of adjustment. It is easy to change when needed.    Ken