From Raw Feather to Completed Arrow Fletch

[Rob DiStefano]

From Raw Feather to Completed Arrow Fletch

or, how to grind yer raw feathers for cheap 'n' easy.

a left wing turk feather with the ends cut off
   

use a sharp blade to strip the feather
   

stripped and ready to grind the base
   

resize the stripped feather to best fit yer jig
   

a pair of .038" thick sheet metal strips that are about 1.5" wide and 8" long
   

sandwich the stripped feather 'tween the sheet metal strips
   

leave the feather base exposed and clamp
   

i use a stationary sanding wheel w/120 grit abrasive to grind down the feather's base,
BUT, a belt sander or some 80-100 grit glued to a flat surface works just as well
   

[Rob DiStefano]

press into the abrasive, leave a thin white base line remaining
 

now all that's left to grind off is the excess base on the SIDE of the feather
 

press lightly against the abrasive  
 

a beautious feather fletch with a perfect base, ready for chopper or burner
 

insert into chopper
 

and one good whack later
 

ready to fletch!
 

fletched!
 

[wv lungbuster]

Very nice thanks Rob

[FerretWYO]

Good walk through Rob. I think I will put some of that to use. did you draw a little blood on your table.  

[Rob DiStefano]

quote:Originally posted by FerretWYO:
... did you draw a little blood on your table.    

nah, from staining a tele body 'purple haze'.  

[broketooth]

i understan the steps that you went through, my question is how do you get consistent from one fletch to the next? or is this " it took a lot of practice" to acheive good results

[snag]

Would a Bitzenburger straight clamp work?

[FerretWYO]

Originally posted by snag:
Would a Bitzenburger straight clamp work?

This is how I have always done it before and used a foam sanding block to grind them down.

[DesertDude]

Great post Rob!!  I use a Bitzenburger clamp also to hold the feather while I grind the base.

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by broketooth:
i understan the steps that you went through, my question is how do you get consistent from one fletch to the next? or is this " it took a lot of practice" to acheive good results

as my dad used to preach to me, 'son, the best measuring device is a good pair of eyes'.  he was right (as usual).

when you see the fat base abrade down to a thin white line, yer done.  just use yer eyes, they won't lie, promise.    

here's a batch i just stripped, ground and chopped for a nice set of surewood fir shafts i just completed ...

 

 

[Rob DiStefano]

i used to grind with a fletching clamp but the risk of grinding the clamp (and sure enuf i did) told me to just use a few strips of sheet metal and a spring clamp instead.

really, it's too easy.  you'll see.

[J. Cook]

Hands down my favorite "how-to" tutorial to date!!!!!  That's great stuff!!!!  Thanks Rob!

[vtmtnman]

Nice looking shafts there Rob.

I do mine full length, free hand on my belt sander.You're right,the eyes won't lie.

[lpcjon2]

Rob, Is this going to get moved to the How to Forum by the mod's...LOL This is a great thread I always wanted to do this,now I know how.Thanks

[WESTBROOK]

Thanks for walkin us through it Rob! I am just settin up to do this very thing.


Eric

[glass76]

I have some turkey feathers waiting to be turned into fletching. Your info and photos are a big help, thanks.

[Kenneth]

Yep this is Great!!  Now I just need to get me some turkey feathers and then let the money saving begin!       Thanks for sharing Rob!

[Benjy]

This is my feather grinding jig. It takes a little practice but works good.

 

 

[Rob DiStefano]

using a stationary drum sander (which i have several in my shop), or a sanding wheel on a drill (which i also have) really requires using a feather holding jig that rides on a fence. if attempted to do freehand, the narrow grinding surface (the arc of the sanding drum) can leave ridges or an uneven surface in the feather base because the sanding contact area is so small and your applied pressure won't be that consistent.

with a large sanding surface (rotary disc on a sanding station, or a belt sander turned upside down or sideways), freehand sanding the turk base is really foolproof every time because the entire surface of the feather base is sanded at one time.  i like using 120 grit and the completed feather base looks like it came from true flight. seriously!  

[COOCH]

Leave it ROB to show the masses ho easy some of this stuff really is        Well done sir.