feather choppers Love em or hate em?

[Missouri CK]

Not to highjack this thread but if we start debating choppers versus burners I have a question.  The burner gives me fits with arrow wraps. I tend to get a smoked look around the ends of the feather where the wire gets too close to the vinyl wrap.  Other than that I love the burner. Any solutions?

I found the chopper to be inconsistent as well and couldn't use it on my turkey feathers.

[EASTERNARCHER]

Originally posted by Chris Kinslow:
Not to highjack this thread but if we start debating choppers versus burners I have a question.  The burner gives me fits with arrow wraps. I tend to get a smoked look around the ends of the feather where the wire gets too close to the vinyl wrap.  Other than that I love the burner. Any solutions?

I found the chopper to be inconsistent as well and couldn't use it on my turkey feathers.

Just a thought here, but would wrapping the shaft at both ends of the fletch with tin foil or  heavy foil tape(hvac) reflect the heat long enough to burn the feathers but not scorch the wraps or dip?

[rickshot]

I used to have a number of Little Choppers, in different patterns and in right and left wings. (I used to remount the parts on maple blocks…’cause it just bothers me to have particle board in my archery life.) Anyhow, all the Choppers are gone and I now have a total of 3 burners. A hot wire works for both right wing and left…and the precision from feather to feather is just too cool for school.

For me, I just traded the shortcomings of Choppers for a good window fan…and a more satisfying result. Rick.

[Rob DiStefano]

choppers do a fine job, even the least expensive li'l chopper will provide yeoman service for years.  just get one and get choppin'.  'nuff said.

[David Mitchell]

My Lil Chopper drives me crazy (not a long trip, by the way) because as others have said, lack of consistency.  What I can count on is a frequent chop where there will be a hump, for lack of a better word, on the front or leading edge of the feather.  I am guessing it is caused by the quill turning as I chop it.  Anyone have a fix for that?  I have tried cutting the quill with scissors at the front first but with only modest success.

[JC]

I have a Vario Clipper and it's markedly better than the Lil Chopper, consistent cuts every time. Marcus sold the business; I'm not sure if the Vario will come back or not with the new owners. I only use one feather pattern so I'm happy with mine as it is. It was worth the money over the lil chopper imho, I was often frustrated with crappy cuts and ruined feathers.

Dryad Bows has a beast of a chopper that looks like it will last 4-5 lifetimes with consistent cuts. Here is the introductory thread:   Dryad Bulletproof Chopper . Expensive but if you don't like the LC and can't find a Vario, may be an option for you.

[Paul Mattson]

I am selling all of my Lil Choppers.  I have a few left listed on my website.  Been using a Vario for years now and never went back to the choppers.  I saw and used Herb's feather chopper and it works just as good as the Vario.

[Ragnarok Forge]

I figured out how to keep my bad cuts down to a minimum with the lil choppers.  It is all about watching the front cut.  I pull the feather down tight and then gently push the cutting blade on the tip side of the fletch down into the base a bit.  Then give it a whack with a rubber mallet. This keeps the fletch from rolling and giving you that ugly bump on the front of the fletch.  

I will be interested to see if the variable plates will be available in 3 and 4 inch left and right shield cuts for the bulletproof chopper.  If those become available, I will be making a purchase immediately.

[snag]

I've gone to the "double chop" to get a good consistant shape.

[JEJ]

Try taking a few seconds more to set the feather up the way Ragnarok Forge suggests, then whack twice like snag does, and you will like the results.  

Neither love nor hate them. They are just a necessary accoutrement to fletching your own arrows. The feather will slip now and again, making a less-than-perfect cut, but they will fly just fine. Anything is better than the toxic stench of feather burning.

[Barney]

I'd have to say.....get by with them. I don't mind the burner but sometimes the choppers are more convenient. I've gone through about every shape over the years but always go back to the high back shield. Also use the 3" parabolic to chop the scraps up for kids arrows.