Need help with feather burner!

[bowslinger]

I recently purchased a used Young's feather burner.  It came with two wire filaments, one slightly used and one new.  Neither filament turns red hot, though one does turn red for about one inch at the point the filament attaches to the main body of the unit.  I may be wrong, but a few videos I have watched (3Rivers and others) indicate the entire filament should be red hot.  I tried to burn a few feathers and the feathers burn slowly, with significant residue build up on the filament.  Is the wire supposed to turn red hot?  Anybody have the name/address of the manufacturer so I can return it to for service?  Can't find this info through internet searches and no manual came with the unit.  Thanks in advance for any help!

[Steve Clandinin]

I've had one for 20+ years and the filament never gets red,burned hundreds of arrows and never had a problem.Just turn your arrow shaft fairly slow.Just use a screwdriver to nock off the residue from the filament. Its just like powder anyways.DID I MENTION DON"T BURN IN THE HOUSE OR WIFE GOES BALISTIC ! ps- re-read my last sentence LOL!

[joekeith]

The paper work I've got with mine says the manufacturer is.....
Griffin-Gauger & Co.
4954 Broadway
Manitowoc, Wisconsin 54220

Hope this helps....

[Killdeer]

Red hot!
(If you are the wife, you can use it inside!   :p )
Killdeer

[Killdeer]

Maybe you should buy some new ribbon and see if that helps. For your burner, not your wife.
Killdeer   :D

[Aeronut]

Mine gets red hot too.  Sounds like yours is not putting out full voltage to the wire.


Every time I see a feather burning thread I think of the Littlefeather episode.  Ya got an old toaster handy?  

Dennis

[Charlie Lamb]

Look on the right side of the feather burner in Killdeer's picture. See that little "L" shaped piece of metal next to the wire.

If you don't have one of those you probably won't get good heat to the wire.

[James Wrenn]

Yeah should light up like a light bulb in a couple seconds.Mine looks like Killdeers real quick.

[outbackbowhunter]

Make sure you element connections are clean and tight.

To get it hot, is a function of how much electrical current is passing through the element.

Voltage = current X resistance ( ohms law)

The elements resistance is determined by type of  metal used ( probably nichrome) and the length and thickness of the element.

The longer it is, the harder it is for the voltage to push the current from one end of the element to the other.

A shorter, thicker  element = less resistance = more current flow.

Also try doubling  up and twisting together the element ends, at the connection points back to the feather shape section will also decrease resistance to allow more current flow.

[bowslinger]

Thanks for all the input guys!  Tried to tighten the bolts down using an allen wrench and found the side mounts were a little loose.  I took the housing off, tightened the connections, and stuck an old iron allen wrench on either side.  The filament did get hotter, and it burns a feather reasonbly well, but still does not show any red.  I tried this in the kitchen, because I am not married and live alone.  A good exhaust fan and a a glass of single malt islay scotch and the smell of burnt feather doesn't seem so bad.

You know why married women are always trying to set up their single friends?  They can't stand to see a happy man!!

[Killdeer]

That's what I get for trying to be nice...

Killdeer~    

[bowslinger]

I apologize Killdeer!  I am relatively new to Tradgang, and though I rarely post, I visit the site often to learn what I can from the members that are so generous with sharing their knowledge and experience.  The advice I received from you and others on this thread is a great example of this generosity.  I probably need to be a little (alot?) more sensitive and more inclusive than .."you guys".

Mike

[Killdeer]

Just yanking your chain, bowslinger!
I felt a gentle tug on mine, so ...YANK!   :D  

I hope the tips posted help you out, or if all else fails, you get a burner that will have the neighbors checking their wiring. Nothing like a burner! I have so much more fun making my own shapes rather than using something that someone else had fun designing.

Killdeer  

[Eric Krewson]

Clean all the contact points with sand paper. These would be the allen screw points as well as the the contacts they tighten against, scrub the ribbon in the area it is clamped down as well. My ribbon gets red  after a good cleaning but will get dull again after a bunch of use, time for another cleaning.

[bowslinger]

I received two ribbons with the burner, one appeared to have been used once or twice.  The second one was unused with a bar code sticker on it.  That doesn't means it is new though.  I cleaned the one with a sticker with MEK (methyl ethyl ketone)to remove any glue from the sticker.  I will try to sand the contacts and ribbons tonight.  I have to work today.  One more question.  The ribbons are concave lengthwise, not flat.  Does it matter which direction the ribbons are bent, concave side toward the burner housing or concave toward the feather to be burned?  

Ain't givin' up jes yet!!  I hate it when I get outwitted by a hunk of metal!

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I found an old burner, It is a young but the lettering is all chipped off. IT never git red hot until tonight I put a new ribbon on it, it was red in a second.

Cant wait till it stops raining, I want to use it.

[Dave Bulla]

Concave side towards the shaft.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Thanks Dave, I guessed right Shew!    

Now for the rain to stop so I'm not tempted to stink up the house.  

[Cyclic-Rivers]

OK I used the burner. That was cool. I think I may be hooked! May even start fires to burn scraps just for the scent