Feather re-use

[JMSmithy]

So, I don't know if this question is in the correct place and I apologize if it's not, but,

Can you re-use fletching from an arrow once it's snapped or somehow destroyed?  I've reclaimed nocks, heads occasionally inserts but never feathers ...      

Thoughts?

[ripforce56]

I have reused feathers, if you can get it off  the shaft with out much damaging them too much!

[Keefer]

If you can clean up the quill to get most of the glue off I don't see why not..If you have a clamp from a fletching Jig (preferably straight) you can run it down a bench sander very carefully or take a sanding block and clean off the old glue residue ...

[Rob W.]

I have salvaged some to use on my kids arrows. Usually only if my shaft breaks too short for my boys to shoot or they break a shaft.

I use tape/wraps and cut down through the wrap then trim up. Never tried it with glue. With the prices these days any little bit helps.

Rob

[Flying Dutchman]

I do it all the time, but I use woodies.
Here is the "recipe": cut the arrow an inch after the fletching.
Put the fletched piece in the micro-wave, half a minute per piece.
Take the piece out and the glue will be melted.
Now you can pull off the feathers. Carefull: the piece might be hot.
If the feathers don't come off easily, put it back again in the macro-wave, otherwise you will ruin them.
You can also pull the nock off.
Put the feathers in a fletching clamp, and sandpaper the foot of the feather gently, till the old glue is removed.
There you go!I do it all the time and it is very easy.

I don't know if you can put carbons in the micro-wave.

[Dave Worden]

A number 6 X 1/4" carving gouge works great for taking off feathers and leaving them in a reusable state.  As mentioned above, put them in a clamp and sand lightly before reusing.  You can also take off 5" feather from broken arrows and chop them into 3" or 4" feathers to use on smaller (generally kid's) arrows.  I salvage a lot of fletchings for use on the arrows used in my club's youth archery insturctional program.  Saves the club a bit of money.  I also mooch the cut offs left over when you guys chop a five incher from a full length feather.  I can get a 3 incher out of what's left.  And 3 inchers are all we use in the program.  Hint, Hint!