feathers, chop 'em or burn 'em?

[matt g meyers]

I'm wondering which is the better way to go.I know the feather burner is quicker,but I'm curious about choppers. Has anyone used the new Bear Paw chopper from Germany?I've seen it at Kustom King and it seems slick,but for the price it's 3/4 of a feather burner.

Anybody got any ideas?

[Mint Hill Mule]

burn baby burn......  never chopped

[Longbow338]

Burner hands down more precise than any chopper.

[StanM]

I've done both.  Burn in the shop, chop in the house.  Before you lay down a lot of money for a burner, do a search for making one.  I made one with a guitar string for a ribbon and it works fine.  Uses a battery charger to heat it up.

[JRY309]

I prefer my burner,more consistent and unlimited shapes.

[carpenter]

Burner is the way to go.

[ErikT]

I've used both with good success.  overall, I prefer to burn.  Pros and cons.

The chopper has advantages if you ever need to replace a feather.  A chopped feather would be somewhat easier to replace.  Not saying you cant replace a burned feather and re-burn as long as your burner ribon has not been modified.

I have trouble getting clean consistent cuts with some of my choppers and that gets annoying.

Burning is a bit messy, smelly and smokey, but a fun to do. It must be done in a garage, shed, barn, or on a picnic table on a calm day.

[Rob DiStefano]

burn or chop?  just take yer pick, both get the job done (like comparing flemish and endless strings  :D  )

choppers make NOISE ... burners STINK.

typically, choppers are cheaper ... burners cost 4-5x as much.

choppers do ONE pattern that typically can have varied fletch lengths and heights ... burners offer an infinite variety of shapes and sizes.

a GOOD chopper will make very precise cuts, many thousands of times.  cheaper choppers MAY not be as precise but won't matter a bit in terms of arrow performance,

[deaddoc4444]

I have three choppers and three burners  NO matter what I do  I usualy mess up about 1 in 6 feathers I chop. Once you get the burner set up you almost never mess up the fletch  unless you are truly sloppy in how you place the arrow when you first start to burn . Burning is an outside only or  inside the garage with a good fan.

[cbCrow]

If I decide to get on a kick and not buy premade feathers I chop.     I can't stand the smell of burning feathers!  

[James Wrenn]

I do both.Burning gives you more options but I have 3 or 4 choppers as well.I often chop high feathers and then burn them down lower after the arrow is finished.Both work just fine so just pick your poison.  

[Bowwild]

I have never tried burning. I do this kind of work in my house so the stench would get me kicked out just like making doughball baits for carp did when I was a kid. I have the "Lil Chopper". I've only chopped a few dozen feathers but I have no complaints with it. I use a rubber mallet to make the hit. I imagine it will get dull eventually.

[lil jake]

chopper

[BOWMARKS]

Read some where,that Bear Paw chopper did not cut a good feather. Never used one but plan on trying one at Denton this year.

[Wapiti Chaser]

Bought a burner and sold all of my choppers !

[Slomo]

My experience, burning is better. You can adjust the shape to your liking and it just does a better job.

[BCWV]

I've been using choppers but was having issues with the blade bending on the 5" I use the most.

 I just bought a burner and love it so far.

[matt g meyers]

Thanks to all!

I feel good about the burner.

[wapitimike1]

Chop

[acolobowhunter]

Have been using a burner for years.  The good part is:  They usually come with several "wires" that you can bend for different shaped feathers.  In just a couple seconds you can change from parabolic to shield or more.  Can't do that with a chopper.