Recycling fletching?

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I have a few old arrows I want for stumping that are missing a few feathers.  I also have a couple broken arrows.

Can I cut the Fletch off the broken arrow and glue them onto the stumping arrows?

[Rob DiStefano]

sure, as long as you can strip them off cleanly and they're the same wing and relative size.

[trapperDave]

piece of cake...with fletch tape  :D

[Chris Shelton]

If there is any glue left on the feathers I would sand them off using like a peice of 200 grit!  I have done it several times before!

[Bob L.]

I have done it just make sure you have a good gluing surface on the feather base. What I have also done on some run down flecthing is say you have an arrow that has 3 feathers flecthed at 120 degrees. I'll take used feathers and fletch 3 more in between the existing 3 arrows. For a 6 fletch arrow for stumping and small game, they work great and slow down. I guess you could call them my poor mans Flu Flu's.
Bob

[boznarras]

I once tried to dye some feathers that were already on some arrows, and they all fell off in the hot water (duh!).
After they dried I put them back with the Bitz jig and fletch tape.
This might be a good way to get feathers off without tearing them up....

[Tsalagi]

I posted this some time ago, so I'll put it here in this thread. This tool, I'm serious, works like a striped butt wildcat (whatever that means, my granddad always said that.)

Another thread got me to thinking I should post this in its own topic to share with everyone.


See this tool?
 http://flexcut.com/products/cart.php?target=product&product_id=1099&category_id=121  


I've been using this one tool, the #6, 5/16" sweep Falls Run "flex" tool for about 12 years now. I use this to strip fletching and it does such a good job, it can be almost always be re-used. It takes off fletching without cutting the rib, so that is what allows the fletching to be reused. It basically is cutting the glue junction between feather rib and shaft. With aluminum shafts, it strips it off clean as a whistle, all the glue residue comes off an once, too. And it work just as perfectly on wood shafts, too, allowing you to get the fletching off without gouging the wood---just takes a couple shafts worth of practice. With Duco, you just pick off the peices of dried glue from the feather rib and stripping it and you're ready to reuse it! This tool beats any fletching stripper on the market hands-down. You just flip it upside down with the "U" shape along the shaft and press forward. ZIIIP! The fletching comes off perfectly and reusable. The tool is small enough for any archery tackle box. It's very high quality and easily sharpened (though in 12 years, I've never had to sharpen it and it's still very sharp---these are made for wood carving, after all.) It fits the palm of your hand like this thing was made for stripping fletching and not woodcarving. This little tool has saved me a lot of money with fletching that I've been able to reuse. It also allows me to recover fletching from hopelessly broken arrows to reuse that, as well.

With this tool, if a feather comes loose at front or back, rather than try to glue it back down in that spot, I just zip the feather right off with this tool and glue the whole thing back on. Always works great.

[Izzy]

I use them all of the time Chuck.I even strip them from broke arrows I find discarded at shoots.I have bags of recycled feathers that I splice along with unused sections from my choppers.Clamp them between two rigid, flat surfaces and sand the glue off.Feathers aint cheap and I get a feeling of satisfaction reusing something that most would toss.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I feel the same way IZZY.  Thought I'd throw it out there seeing as though I drop 1/2 my arrows at Shawn's anyhow and lose the other 1/2 flinging at rabbits.  I dropped 2 while trying to get on the horse the other day too however, I noticed within a 100 yards and was able to go back for them (laying perfectly in a pile as if I placed them there).

Great advice fellas answered my Q. Thank you.

Izzy, You might find some competition at the shoots for the broken ones.   .  You didn't happen to pick the one I threw out at Vadney's, did you?    

[BOWMARKS]

Try a hair dryer I can strip them easly with a little heat.

[lpcjon2]

I have done it many times and sanding any glue is the ticket it also evens out the feather for a more uniform edge to glue.I use a Saunders pro stripper to get them off.

[Izzy]

Chuck, I did use the fletching from that arrow you tossed but I lost it when it fell out of my quiver somewhere.Im gonna start fletching with velcro and line my quiver with cotton.

[BowHuntingFool]

Sounds like you guys need new quivers so you don't loose so many arrows!        

[outbackbowhunter]

Try 10 seconds in the microwave oven, the fletches will fall off

[razorback]

Izzy and Chuck, I'm gonna follow you two at Shawn's, seems like I wont run out of arrows that way  

[leatherneck]

Originally posted by outbackbowhunter:
Try 10 seconds in the microwave oven, the fletches will fall off

How do you get an arrow in the microwave?????    :confused:    lol
Any salt with that arrow. Sorry, I had to. I know, cut  the broken shaft down.
Anyhow,cyclic-rivers, save yourself the trouble. If you need some feathers I have a bunch in the basement I'd send ya. Just PM me.

Mike

[davesonic444]

I recycle feathers till they are beyond use.I don't put forth much effort though. I have a glass bottle full of acetone,i put the arrow in there for a couple hours, the feathers are cleaned of glue and when they dry are ready to go on another shaft.I do this alot when one of the three feathers is badly damged and refletch.
Done this for last ten or twelve years.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Thanks Mike, I only need a few, sent you a pm.

Izzy how on earth could you lose brand new hot pink fletching?  Dont ask, I lost 2 arrows.

Tony, If you find my arrows at Shawn's you earned them.  

Joe, Come to Shawn's and all I can say is bring a few extra arrows for 2 reasons.
1. you'll lose asome shooting at rabbits
2. you'll see!  :cool:  

Thanks for all the help guys.

[kat]

Normally, I use the 50% rule.  If there is 50% or more of the feather missing, I refletch.
It will fly good enough for me if 50% is still there.