I have been through almost this entire sight now, and I like all the thing-a-majigs and gizmos. Does anyone have a simple way to split whole wing feathers? I have tried a knife numerous ways and end upcutting through em. ANy ideas or advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

I use a large-handled X-acto knife, the kind with the burgundy handle.  Drill the proper sized hole in a block of wood, insert the knife, and put the whole thing in a vise, blade up.  You can probably skip the block, but I like to protect the handle from the vise.  Clip the end of the quill with wire cutters to give you a "square" end and just (CAREFULLY) push the feather through the blade.  It seems to me to be easier to control the feather going through the knife than it is to control the knife going through the feather.

Sounds great, I will give it a try. Once again this site comes through.....Thanks for your quick response. I will let ya know how that works for me.

Hmmm, I need to try that (for when I don't want the base as soft as when you split them by pulling apart, as on Ferett's site).

"Ro-osssse, get the bandages ready."   :D

Think I'd just push to start, then pull. I like my fingers just the way they are!

I split feathers on a board with my pocket knife. Start at the big end of the quill and do sometimes pull the feather with the point of the knife stuck in the board.

I do it on a wooden board with a utility knife.  I start on the thick end and just run the blade down.  

I made a clamp from sheetmetal for grinding.

bandsaw... its real simple. straight helical clamp on a table grinder to finish.

QuoteOriginally posted by Slimpikins:
bandsaw... its real simple. straight helical clamp on a table grinder to finish.

ROFLMAO ,,bandsaw ???? Talk about overkill  

QuoteOriginally posted by Slimpikins:
bandsaw... its real simple. straight helical clamp on a table grinder to finish.

I would think a bandsaw would tear or at best give a rough edge.  A utility knife blade gives a nice clean sharp edge, ready for grinding.  Only takes a second to slice down the quill.

Does anyone split them with their fingers the way the ferret does on his website?

QuoteOriginally posted by dj:
Does anyone split them with their fingers the way the ferret does on his website?

Sometimes depending on the mood I'm in.  Both ways work just fine.

I get them started using an xacto on a board, then I carefully pull them apart.  Then they go into a straight clamp and are ground on a belt sander.

Thanks for the help guys....I guess I will try em all and see whats best for my lack of finesse....lol.

I scribe a line down the center of the quill with an exacto then penetrate the quill on the same scribed line leaving the point of the exacto in the board and pull the feather through. The blade follows the scribed line. I use the exacto blade with the angled edge. Just pull the quill through the blade slow and steady.

Terry

A Rotary cutter,has worked well for me.

Got them all split. Tried each way, they all worked great. ended up with the knife and board method for most of em. Made up a clamp and will be using the belt sander on em. Again, thanks for the help everyone...I would have ended up with a pile of useless pieces if I didntget any help...lol.

I'm still trying to figure out the "straight helical clamp".    

This is good info, though.  Planning to try my own feathers shortly.  Steve