Doing the "Morning Burn" w/ photos

[Bernie B.]

Boy, I can smell those feathers from here!  I remember when I was just getting started in archery in the late 60's, I would burn my feathers with a Young feather burner.  If I remember right my father-in-law and I  used the burner in his basement one time burning flu flus.  That didn't go over too well!  I think that's when I started buying precut feathers!  Great memories!

Bernie Bjorklund

NC Iowa/SW Wisconsibn

[razorback]

Don't know about feathers but I was cutting an antler with the dremel this evening and I can still smell it. had to spray raid for mosquitos just to cover the smell  

[paperenginner]

I second the comment of saumensch.  I have always wondered how they worked.  I assumed that you burned the feathers prior to glueing them on.  Now I realize it is done afterwards.  Thanks for the pictures.

[monkeyball]

Thanks for the compliments guys. There is something about doing it yourself that even makes it more attractive to me.

  Ron L,that bar on the left helps hold the ribbon in place and probably helps to heat it up also.I had this burner from new, so I imagine you could probably get in touch with Young's if you need one.

                  Good Shooting,
                             Craig

[Rob DiStefano]

the little "L" bar that comes with the young is to be used when the burning wire is shortened for small fletches so that the wire won't heat up so red hot.

i added a simple in-line on/off switch and turn off the burner after each arrow is done.

[Killdeer]

Evening on the Beltway:

 

Killdeer  

[SEMO_HUNTER]

I've never seen that done before either. What's the advantage of burning over chopping? I chop all mine and it seems like a nicer cut than the burner leaves with not much clean up involved. Also wondering how much harder it is to fletch a feather that wide versus one that's already chopped to the shape you want?

Thanks for sharing.

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by SEMO_HUNTER:
I've never seen that done before either. What's the advantage of burning over chopping?

you get to create the feather shape

I chop all mine and it seems like a nicer cut than the burner leaves with not much clean up involved.

maybe, maybe not - there are important burning chops to be learnt and there are both good and bad feather burns ... it's not as easy as whacking a feather in a chopper, but once properly understood, burnt feathers are far more precise than those chopped.

Also wondering how much harder it is to fletch a feather that wide versus one that's already chopped to the shape you want?

piece of cake ... summa you guyz have GOT to check out the 'how to - resources' forum! ... see my fletching vid below ...

Thanks for sharing.

   

[maxwell]

Very nice Craig-  Like the pics

[monkeyball]

Thank you Mr. Bill.

  Rob,nice video. I use a straight clamp that is marked off in various sizes to cut my feathers. Put it in once,make your cuts and your done. It is really quick.

                       Good Shooting,
                                   Craig

[ronp]

Thanks for sharing the How-To, Craig.  Nice work!

[rluttrell]

That is really cool, I to have never seen it done before....

[Buckwheaties]

Can you get 2 5" feathers out of a full length? If so, is one end of feather different from the other.? Like is it ok to burn one feather from the front and the 2nd from the remainder? Or is it just 1 5" per 1 full length? Thx

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by Buckwheaties:
Can you get 2 5" feathers out of a full length?

with a *perfect* full primary, maybe.  for the most, no way, ain't gonna happen

If so, is one end of feather different from the other.?

yes - the front of any feather has a very full, wide quill base - the tip end can thin down to a pencil line which is just too thin. for the most part, with a *good* feather, i'll get a 5.25" fletch and a 3.5" fletch.

Like is it ok to burn one feather from the front and the 2nd from the remainder?

yes, i do that all the time with 4" fletches

Or is it just 1 5" per 1 full length?

yep, that's about it.  i'm careful the way i cut feathers, and i prefer 5.25" lengths for a 3-fletch shield cut.  the left over feather, maybe 3.5" if i'm lucky, is used for "throw away" woodies

Thx

[Buckwheaties]

Got it Rob, Thanks..

[Lee Viv]

good stuff Craig.....they look good enough to shoot at this year at either Standing Stone or Shade Mountain!


Lee

[monkeyball]

1 cut per feather for me,regardless of size. I take it where the oil line runs the highest that way I am getting the best possible feather I can.

                            Good Shooting,
                                     Craig

[RonL]

Rob monkeyball thanks, I also use a switch.

RonL