First Feather Splicing attempt & question

[Firstlight]

I'm happy with the results, I put these on my Broadheads.  Something I have wanted to try for a while.

I followed the TrueFlight guide to splicing which was to cut sections from feathers and butt them together and attach to shaft. The barred fletch that I used was from leftovers I had from full length feathers.

Upon completion I did some web searches and I see that most examples on how to splice do it differently by only using the one feather & it's quill combined with the spliced sections which have been removed from their quill and sanded down to the membrane.   These smaller sections of feather are then adhered to the main feather quill, making the splice complete.

Why is only using the one quill advantageous?  

I can see for multiple splicing it would be cleaner in presentation as opposed to butting the ends all together, I suppose.  

Just curious the difference is splicing techniques.
   

[Lonesome Wind]

Membrane splicing allows you to splice full height feathers and then chop or burn them to profile so they the profile is perfect. You also do not see membrane spliced feathers have one part of the splice fall off because it's all one feather.

[Lonesome Wind]

Membrane splicing allows you to splice full height feathers and then chop or burn them to profile so they the profile is perfect. You also do not see membrane spliced feathers have one part of the splice fall off because it's all one feather.

[rwbowman]

I'm putting a batch together much like you have here (separate quills), but am using full height feathers and Bohning fletch tape to put them together in a clamp so that I can chop them to a shield cut. I'm hoping the fletch tape is as tough as it's been touted to be.

[Jack Hoyt 75]

For just splicing 2 colors together like your picture cutting and butting them works just fine.  You can glue them together first then put on arrow or just butt them in your jig and glue onto arrow without adhering them together first.  If this was your first attempt then       but as you do it more you will get even better.  Notice some of the barred are a little long or short.  Ideally want them perfectly lined up for best look and flight.  Try dry fitting them and then trimming quill tiny bit till perfect.  Or try lining both colors up next to each other and starting your cut with the knife. Gives you a reference point on each for the full cut.  Just my opinion if that was clearly explained.

Real nice look and color combo!    

[Firstlight]

rwbowman -
I used the tape also but I ran a bead of glue down the entire length of the quill and a drop at each end of feather.

I usually fletch w/ tape but I have always used the glue as described and have never had a problem with fletch moving.


Jack Hoyt 75-
Yes, 1st attempt & a little last minute.  I see the imperfections but I'm still really pleased.  Next time will be better!  I've got the splice - color combo ideas flowing.

Thank you for your suggestions, yes you explained it well.  I will take more time in ensuring everything lines up better in the future.  It does kinda bug me it's not perfect.

I'm always wanting to improve so I do appreciate suggestions from people, no need for me to reinvent the wheel.  Or fletch in this case.

[STICKBENDER98]

Sounds like a good question for Mike Vines, if you do a search there should be a couplethreads on how to do the membrane splicing also.

[Cryogenic]

RMS Gear Splicing Tutorial

RMS Gear (linked above) offers an excellent tutorial on membrane splicing.  I tried it a few days ago and it works very well.

I did these using the RMS Gear tutorial just a few days ago:
   

[jcar315]

Well done on the splicing! They look nice and the colors go well together.

I've done them both ways quite a bit. The "butting" method is how I started and once you get an "eye for it" and find like sized quills it can look pretty nice. The membrane method gives a very sharp final presentation.

Try them both and find what works best for you and your style. It can provide an excuse for more arrow making! Good luck.

[Firstlight]

Thanks guys.

Cryogenic-
I like that link, I read the article and I suspect I will try that sometime in the not to distant future.

First I want to dip & crest, something else I have never done.

Nice finished arrows by the way.

[Mike Vines]

Nicely done.  There are a few tutorials in the "How-To" section here on TG.  This site is a wealth of knowledge and experience.

[snag]

I started out doing the "butt-splice". Just never found it to provide a good enough "fit and finish". By stripping the quills off one feather and then gluing on the thin membrane, with it's quills, of another feather you are replacing one membrane with another. Just can't get a more perfect fit. It does take a little longer to do it this way. But being a bit of perfectionist I like membrane splicing.

 

[AngelDeVille]

I tried it once....  I'll leave it to David...

[Firstlight]

Originally posted by Mike Vines:
Nicely done.  There are a few tutorials in the "How-To" section here on TG.  This site is a wealth of knowledge and experience.

Thank you, just read your "how to" on splicing.  I'll be trying that next.

Also read "marble dipping"   Pretty cool.

Wish I would have read all this during winter, not when the weather is turning nice.

Something to do after the kids are in bed.

[JoeArizona]

Those look nice Firstlight.  
You got me wanting to try the butt-splicing method now.  Looks like a faster way to get me some cool shooters going.  Thanks for sharing.

[Firstlight]

Originally posted by JoeArizona:
Those look nice Firstlight.  
You got me wanting to try the butt-splicing method now.  Looks like a faster way to get me some cool shooters going.  Thanks for sharing.

I'm hooked :>)

One BIG thing I found helpful in getting the two quill ends to butt together was -

I over lapped the "splice" part of the feather about 1/16" ( or less) onto the feather it would be butted against.

Then, I took a new razor blade and aligned it (parallel) as best I could to the feather barbs.  It's important to match the angle of the feather barbs with the razor blade.

The razor blade is also sitting on top of the two quills / shaft.

So, now the razor blade is aligned with feather barbs and sitting on both quills.

Just gently press down, starting at the barb end, ending at the quill's.

This makes a very clean cut of both quills thus allowing them to butt up together with a perfect fit.

Before gluing I did a dry fit then into the jig.  I used fletch tape followed by a bead of glue along entire quill / shaft and a drop at both ends.

There may be a better way however, as I didn't do a "search" on the, "how to".  I kinda just did it...

After reading all of the above post I'm going to do some membrane splicing on my "hero" arrows but still use up my left over fletch for judo's / flu flu's, etc.  

I have a ton of leftovers from chopping full length over the years.

I confess, my bow quiver is looking much finer w/ the arrows I spiced riding in it.

[JoeArizona]

I tried my hand at 'butt-splicing' last night and here's the result:

 

 

Thanks for the inspiration Firstlight!  Let the experimentation begin!