feather burner or chopper

[Jhawk]

I have stored up a good supply of turkey feathers and have started grinding them down.  I do not have anything to make the fletching yet and would like to hear opinions on the feather burner or little chopper.

I shoot left wing parabolic feathers.  I don't anticipate fletching more than a couple dozen arrows a year, but as my kids grow older that may change.  I also have an endless supply of goose feathers so I was thinking I could make some for gifts, trade, sell or whatever.  

For those who have used one or both products, what would you recommend?  The questions I have are: Can you burn feathers not already glued on a shaft?  Which one makes a better fletching?  Can you chop left and right wing with the same chopper?  If not, why?

Any other input is appreciated.  Thanks, Sam

[Pat B]

I prefer a burner but the feathers have to be attached to the arrow to use it. You can buy extra ribbons for extra patterns cheap($1.50 or so).

[macbow]

I use both. For my more primitive arrows I use the burner.
If you only need to do regular arrows a chopper might be mor practical cost wise.
So I'd suggest starting with with the chopper.
If it were a banna fletch one chopper will do both left and right . But with you would need two choppers. This is due to keeping the feather properly orientated.

[JRY309]

I prefer a burner,but like said they have to be on a shaft.If you are not going to do a lot of arrows a chopper can be more cost effective.I bought a chopper when I first started,but was never really happy with it.Bought a burner after a couple dozen arrows.I have had my burner for about 20 years now and still works fine and new ribbons are cheap.And I can do so much more with the burner,different shapes.

[M60gunner]

I have done both. I do not burn anymore as I am challenged at shaping ribbons. Now you can buy them shaped. I have a few different choppers that 3rivers sells. Also have a Vario  I got from Herb's archery. For me anymore it is the Vario, cuts the feather cleaner and more consistly.

[AkDan]

I do both as well...chopping is fine for basic cuts, I do prefer to burn though I'm also not the greatest at it.   I'll typically take some junk feathers and tape them on a junk shaft and burn to finalize my shape.  I typically set the ribbon bigger than I really want anyways so I could easily burn the finished arrows though I do end up burning the front/back end paint if I go at it without the test shaft or three, never fails.  I do have a template that gets me close initially so the test shaft or two is usually enough most of the time.  I made it out of hardboard.

You can build a burner easily enough, and like was said the wires are cheap.

Choppers are nice you'll still ruin feathers though and they do dull in a short period of time.  Initially they cut well, than kind of get to a ok to decent state for awhile.  They're cheap until you buy 5 of them than you might as well just buy the burner.  lol!  

For me if I had to buy just one I'd buy the burner.  

Save those cut offs for the kids arrows!

[Longbow58]

Just used my little chopper for the first time to do the wings of the turkey I shot this year and was very pleased with the way they turned out. But I never tried a burner and sounds like they work great if doing a lot of feathers. Will stick to the chopper for now. Right wing 5" shield.

[nightowl1]

I have no experience using a burner.

I bought a chopper and have no complaints. I like to make up my fletching as I want and then make arrows when I want as time allows. I'm not trying to make pieces of art just good functional arrows and I get that everytime.

Some nights I will sit, splice, chop and bag a ziplock full. Then I'm good for a year and can easily repair arrows because my replacement fletching is ready to go.

In fact, after buying it I starting getting friends to give me turkey and pheasant feathers and I starting splitting and chopping my own. Super easy to do. I only buy full length orange feathers now to add visibility. Everything else is scavenged.

[dnovo]

I have choppers and burners. I really prefer the burner. It's easier and faster once it's set and works great for doing spliced feathers

[Pat B]

I've had a few choppers but never liked the end results. The Young burner I have was given to me 25 years ago or more and it came from an old time archer so it was probably 20 years old or older when I got it.

[Biathlonman]

I tried a burner and wasn't impressed. Prefer the chopper but agree it's still not perfect.

[Owlmagnet]

I tried a chopper, first, then I got a burner.  I prefer the burner.  I guess the stink aggravates me a little less than the noise I make, pounding on that chopper.

When I'm feeling really froggy, I have been known to use a pair of quality scissors....

[Bldtrailer]

Burner     (smell is     not) if you want all arrows the same     burner! if you want extra flechtings ahead of time chopper.

[neuse]

I have a burner and have never figured out how to use it.
I don't know how to bend the ribbon for a pattern I like.
I bought a chopper from Herb Haines.

[Eric Krewson]

I used a burner when I had a little chopper, put up the burner when I got a vario chopper.

[JRY309]

When I use my burner I usally do a shield style burn.I used two separate ribbons to make my shape.The first ribbon I would burn the sweep and then swap out to my second ribbon to burn the shield end.With two separate ribbons I can burn 5.5",5",4.5" and 4" shield feathers with just two ribbon.And I can adjust the height of my shield burn feathers by adjusting my first ribbon.This is how I like to burn my feathers using two ribbon I can make so many different shields aand with different heights.

[Rufus]

The little lady of the house much prefers I use choppers. Once stinking up the house was all it took.
 One of my motto's is to never tick off the cook so with her blessings over the years a have half a dozen choppers to take care of my wants and needs.    

[Bldtrailer]

To use the burner I make wood forms (1/4 ply wood) into the shape I want. then using an old wood arrow shaft I rub/bend the wire to the shape around the form.

[D.Ellis]

Never had good luck with the little choppers........much prefer my Young burner.
Darcy  

[3arrows]

If your single get a burner,if married a chopper.