little choppers

[zarch]

I was just wondering if anybody knew the name of the archery shop that sells little choppers or if they still make them. also if anybody had any problems with the choppers from 3 rivers just couldnt get cosecutive cuts thanks

[Dimondback]

I bought one of those from 3 Rivers a few weeks ago to try the "$.92 arrow build along" and had the same issue. It just does not want to cut the highest part of the feather every time. I found the only way to get a solid cut on the first try is to position the feather, press down firmly with my left fingertips and strike with a heavy rubber mallet on each end of the chopper.

[Precurve]

Yes, same issues.  They need to be popped twice with a rubber mallet.  Still very happy with it.  Just the way it is I guess.

Dave

[Mike Vines]

I'm having the same issue.  Kind of frustrating at first, but I just got used to it.

[magnus]

Guys use the search function. There are detailed instructions on using the little choppers. Search pow wow and the bowyers bench. It's no secret how to get good chops just takes time and practice. Watch your fingers!!!  

[JRY309]

Thats the problem when you get some feathers with wider quills,it just won't get a consistent cut.Thats one of the reasons I bought a feather burner many years ago.

[Doc Nock]

With Magnus' custom ground feathers, you don't have those big quills, John.

Burners take a special place to use em or a total loss of olefactory senses!    

My smeller won't cuff them and not having a shop or garage, I chop!

[Breakfast Boy]

Kustom King sells the Little Chopper, or at least that's how they have them listed.  Is the Little Choppers and the choppers sold by 3 Rivers not the same?

 http://www.kustomkingarchery.com/Little-Chopper/productinfo/4300/

[owlbait]

I bought a custom made Little Chopper from 3Rivers. Sometimes you need to bop it twice. No big deal. If I was in a hurry I'd buy my arrows fletched.  

[smoke1953]

That's always been the case with the chopper. You have to live with the inefficiency.

[Red Beastmaster]

I've been smacking them twice for over 20 years and thousands of feathers. I never gave it a second thought, I just figured it needed it. The extra whack takes what, a half a second?

Choppers are great and have saved me hundreds of dollars over buying pre-shaped feathers. Also, you can usually get a regular size fletch and a shorter one from full length feathers. The free drops go on my stumpers.

[AWPForester]

I don't think whacking it twice is the gripe.  Inconsitency in the chopped feather meaning if the quill is thick at all on the edges it doesn't cut them well.  It also cuts it dull on the leading edge instead of coming to the point of the feather.  In other words it doesn't follow the contour of the chopper ell.  That is the gripe.

Obviously the guys that made the suggestions of hitting it twice wasn't a big deal has better choppers than they are producing today.  God Bless

[Zradix]

This is what I do to get a really nice clean chopped fletch.

I take a full length feather to my belt sander and sand the forward base so it has a very nice taper so it will have a smooth transition from the shaft to the fletch. I find it easiest to use a thin strip of wood ( think paint stirring stick) and use that to press the base to the belt. Helps to trim it off perfectly...and saves your hide.

Then I lay that full length feather down next to my ruler a cut the base to my desired length with a razor.

Then I place the tapered base " flu flu " looking fletch in the chopper and give it a whack..
I use a rubber mallet and it pays to try a few different points of impact to find the sweet spot where it'll cut the first time 99% of the time.

I've found on my chopper, it likes to be hit a bit toward the back of the fletch to cut it clean.

Cutting the base of the feather with the chopper is what produces the "bump"...I hate the bump..

You don't have to sand them..you could just leave the factory base on em. I just like the smooth taper.

Sanding and pre-cutting to length does take some extra time but it produces EXCELLENT and EXTREMELY consistent results.

even if you just take the time to pre-cut to length you'll be amazed how much it helps.

[MR BILL SHORTY]

DIMONBACK HIT IT RIGHT. IT'S THE TOP OF THE FEATHER LOOKS RAGGED. THIS IS WITH THE 3 RIVERS CHOPPER NOT WITH MY OLD LITTLE CHOPPERS. I HAVE NOTICE A DIFFERENCE IN THE TWO ANYONE ELSE?

[deaddoc4444]

About one out of every twenty or so   on all of mine  ( I have  6 or 7 Little Choppers )  cuts with one stroke   most take two hits    That's been for about 20 years now.  Just the way it is!!!!!!

[Ragnarok Forge]

If you want a consistant cut, I found that a quick clip with scissors on the front of the full length fletch to where you want your cut to start is a good step,  Put the tip of the fletch you just trimmed tight to the inside of front cutting blade and give the cutter arm one firm whack with a rubber mallet.  I loose about one fletch per twenty to bad cuts.  I just use those fletchings for my metal target arrows.

[MR BILL SHORTY]

BEEN CHOPPING THIS MORNING. IT'S NOT A QUILL PROBLEM WERE HAVEING. IT'S THE TOP OF THE FEATHER. THE THING I HAVE NOTICED IS THERE'S A STIFFER FOAM BEHIND THE BLADE ON THE 3 RIVERS THEN MY LITTLE CHOPPERS MY NEWEST IS 2005 MY OLDEST EARLY 80'S[needs a blade]I'VE CHOPPED A FEW IN MY DAY NEVER SEEN THIS. COULD IT BE THE FOAM?

[Zradix]

I bought mine 2 yrs ago and it works fine.

I'm sorry you're having this problem.

Here's my questions...from duh to ??

Not trying to be a smart        here...

1. Does the blade on your new one feel as sharp as the old?

2. Is the hinge pin the right size for the holes it goes through..maybe it's sliding a bit and "shaving" thru the feather rather than chopping straight through.

3. Do the feathers you're using chop ok in your old choppers? With the declining quality of feathers these days maybe the feathers you're chopping are so weak there smushing down and getting crushed/cut rather than standing strong and getting cut straight through.

4. Is the strike plate flat?

[MR BILL SHORTY]

THE BLADES FEEL THE SAME AS FAR AS SHARPNESS

THERE SEAMS TO BE THE SAME AMOUNT OF PLAY IN THE HINGE PIN

LAST NIGHT I WAS THINKEN, THE FEATHER. THAY WERE AMG [I THINK THATS THE 3 LETTERS?] NICE LONG FEATHER HAVENT SEEN THAT IN A FEW YEARS.SO THIS MORNING GOT SOME OF ME TRUEFLIGHTS. SAME THING

I'LL LOOK AT THE STRIKE PLATE MORE.YES IT'S LIKE A SLIDING AND SHAVING OR CRUSHING TEARING THING. THE CHOPPERS ARE A 4" AND 5" RIGHT WING.DOES YOURS HAVE THE DENSE BLACK FOAM OR THE SOFT GRAY FOAM?

MAYBE JUST GOT A PAIR OF BAD ONES? DID FIRER UP THE YOUNGS BOY DOES THAT SMELL!!

JOHN THANKS FOR THE HELP     BILL

[Zradix]

My foam is a really dark charcoal gray.

Not quite BLACK

It's pretty firm.
I know that's relative but it's more firm than quiver foam.