Do you have to have a chopper/burner?

[gudspelr]

I'm getting myself a bunch of free (my favorite price) feathers now and want to get some cut for fletching.  I'm thinking 4" shield cut would be great and a buddy has a fletching tool that I can use.  Only thing is, he doesn't have a chopper or burner and neither do I.  I'm not in a position to be able to buy one and was wondering if there was a "do it yourself" way of cutting the feathers to the proper shape?  Would a template and really sharp knife work?  I'm assuming there'd be some problems since all the choppers come in either left or right wing?  Thanks for the help


Jeremy

[barebow17]

Jeremy, I just got a burner.I have a bananna chopper that needs repair. You can use it right or left. If you can use it you can have it.

[JRY309]

I use a burner,there is no limit to what you can do with it in feather shapes.And is more consistent in the shapes.Choppers do alright,but doesn't always cut consistent depending on the quill.Burner ribbons are inexpensive,Little choppers you have one shape per chopper.I bought my Young Feather burner over 15 years ago and it still works great.

[Rob DiStefano]

lay down a section of full length feather on wide masking tape, hold down yer feather shape template, cut with scissors.  foregoing the tape can make for ragged feather edges as the feather yields to the scissors.  

for primitive type feathers (just an angle cut), fletch up with exact length full height feathers, lay down the shaft on a grooved board that also has a 'template groove' for the feather angle, lay a big knife blade in the angle groove and whack with a hammer - instant feather chopper.

but really, getting a li'l chopper is by far the better way to go.

[frank bullitt]

Do a search in the how to sec. There was a gentleman who did it with a template, cut to the shape of the desired shape, and used a flame from burner to shape to the edge. Seeme to work real good.

I have metal template for banana cut, and use another plate of sheet metal under feather, and cut with Sharp knife, works good, too.

[Jim Dahlberg]

Or just glue on the feathers and cut the shape you want with a pair of SHARP scissors.  I've been doing this with my wild turkey fletched sinew tied arrows for many many years.  The feathers don't have to be perfect to fly just fine.

[frank bullitt]

Yeah, done the scissors too, Jim. I know if you do this archery thing for awhile, you will probably try them all!

I have the burner, Young's and an old Outers, had the chopper, too.

Great thing about the sport, over 30 years of building arrows, still not my favorite thing, but it is a great part of the Romance! Have Fun!

[gudspelr]

Thanks for the help, guys.
barebow17-thanks for the offer; wouldn't know the first thing about repairing a chopper, though...

frank-thanks for the info in the how-to section.  Will definitely try looking that one up.


Jeremy

[graysquirrel]

Rob describles exactly how Howard Hill used to do it.  He did it that way very well.
When I do it that way, I screw up a lot of feathers.

I use a burner

[fishnbum]

I use a burner for two reasons. I can make any style fletching I want. And maybe more important is I feel that burning helps seal the feathers better.  I picked up both my burner as well as a creasting tool at a yard sale, some twenty plus years ago. Both home made by the older gentalman having the sale. He went to state a number of times.   When I get a chance I can post pictures, if you would like.
Dave

[3Under]

I have several choppers and a "Young Feather Burner". I prefer the burner. Choppers eventually get dull.

[Two Dogs]

Just a tidbit of advise, do your feather burnin" in your garage or outside.Especially, if your married!

[monkeyball]

Jeremy,
        These guys are not being nice by NOT telling you the most important part about a burner.
  Unless you are single,make sure you do this outside. Wives or girlfriends do not appreciate the
aroma of turkey feathers being seared on a hot ribbon,unlike us guys who seem to acquire a fondness of it. Kind of like limburger cheese,it grows on you. Make sure you do it outside and downwind of your house. It is my favorite way to shape fletch.Good luck, Craig

[monkeyball]

Looks like I was a post late on this one.

[DV of WI]

I use an acu sharp to keep the edge on lil chopper. Seems to work well keeping the edge when it goes a little dull.