Fletching youth arrows

[Bucket]

What size fletching is recomended for youth arrows? I have some 4 inchers, but I'm afraid they will be too long. What about cutting the 4's down to 3"?

[Orion]

Depends a little on the size/length of the arrow.  4-inch might be a little long for 24-inch arrows, but the extra length doesn't hurt anything.  I normally use 4-inch feathers on 26-inch arrows, but 3 inches would work there as well.  I'm using 5/16 shafts.  If you use 1/4 inch shafts, 3 inches would probably be best, particularly if you put any helical on the feather.

[nugget]

I use turkey feathers and cut them to about 4 inches. I leave them a little tall also. Kind of like a mini flu flu. They loose a little speed but are a lot easier to find.

[rbbhunt]

I just built some on 1/4" shafts, 18.5" lg and 21.5" lg and used 3" fletching.  Seemed about right.

[JohnHV]

Little kids bows (especially the long bows) have a short brace height.  Make sure, whatever length feather you use, that it clears the shelf so they can mount the arrow easily.

[SCATTERSHOT]

If you are using precut feathers, just cut an inch from the back. It makes an interesting shape, and will be about the right size for the kids.

[Bucket]

Thanks for the advice gang. I'll let you know how they turn out.

[Bucket]

Well, they're done. Had a bear of a time getting the jig set up correctly for the small dia shafts.

I'll post some pics when they get them Christams morn.

[Eric Krewson]

What I do is place a piece of tape for a guide on my 5" chopper that will let me chop about a 3" feather. I put the quill against the tape and chop out the feathers. I don't readjust my bitz for the smaller feathers and shafts, just pick a different reference point for placing the feather in the clamp.

Here is my taped chopper.

 

And a blurry picture of some 1/4" ramin wood dowel arrows with 3" chopped feathers I just finished to go with a little bamboo osage bow I made for one of my step daughters friends little five year old girl.

 

[Pete W]

http://git-r-donearchery.com/

 Dennis has Kids fletches 2 1/2" for under $10.00 per hundred last time I asked. They are not on his site, you need to ask about them.
 He has kids 1/4" 5/15 ramin, points and nocks also.