Splicing feathers???

[DJT]

Of the two tpyes of feather splicing 1)Shaving the quill and inserting a shaved base ontop of the existing quill and 2) just clipping feathers and bases entirelly and getting the bases aligned and even what are the advantages or disadvantages of each method?  I seem to see a lot of great results both ways and were wondering what gives the best results what do you great fletchers use?

[jrchambers]

number one all the way.

[jrchambers]

you cant hardy do pinstripes and complex paterns with the second method

[pointy sticks]

see now I beg to differ... all I use is the "butt" splice method (or #2) and I get great results. I (for me )also find it much easier and faster to do.

[rbbhunt]

I use method #2.  I have a straight clamp that I put the feathers in and sand them together to make the bases even before gluing, works well.

[R. Combs]

I use method #2 most of the time. I cut the pieces to the length that I want, make sure that they butt up to each other good and square, put them in a Vario Clipper to cut them to the shape that I want and put them in clamp and glue them on. Very fast way to do it for me anyways.

Rick

[longbow1]

Second method by far, quicker and easier, same results.

[jrchambers]

can these kind of splices be done by way of #2
i like easyer

[pointy sticks]

yup, I often just put 2 strands of a different color feather in to highlight the seperation these have 2 strands of black on each side of the blue....  

 

[vtmtnman]

Wow guys...

Those look to nice to get all bloody...   :D  

Dirty in my case...  

[jrchambers]

do you have any pics of the other side.

[pointy sticks]

jrchambers

Cropped this out of one of the originals, I think your wondering how they match up?

I have to add that I also place all the pieces in a 6 inch paper clamp and sand them with a sanding drum on my dremel tool to make all the quill pieces the same thickness. After I’m happy with them I’ll place a little duco on the joints to hold them together until I’m ready to fletch.
Another advantage I have found is that by sanding them out even I can use either / or trueflight and gateway and their factory grindings can be made compatable. I have sanded down to the point where none of the pulp of the quill is lefty on so your basically just glueing the membrain straight to the shaft. Never tear them off thats for sure


 

[DJTJR]

that looks really (amazing) good even blown up into that level of detail and seems a lot easier than the other method.  any other thoughts out there this is getting pretty cool.
d

[DJTJR]

that looks really (amazing) good even blown up into that level of detail and seems a lot easier than the other method.  any other thoughts out there this is getting pretty cool.
d

[jrchambers]

well all the ones ive seen in person done that way look no were close.  must have some sharp cutters to make square cuts on such short quills

[Mike Most]

I tried #1, they looked pretty, but when I shot the arrows, the feathers came apart....at the splice. Maybe I will try #2.... Thanks for the good info.

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Traditional Bowhunters of Texas (member)

[snag]

How do you keep the super glue from running down into the frills? I barely put some on the qwill and then when I take the feather out of the straight clamp there is glue up in the frills.