I have a question on what feather is preferred for doing a membrane splice, I was messing around this weekend trying it out, but it seemed the feathers I was using weren't up to the task.  I got it to work once, but it seemed the feathers I was trying to use had a thin quill, the one I got to work had a thicker quill.  I was trying to use Trueflight feathers, but couldn't get the membrane and quill to separate without tearing through the quill, and I was trying to be careful not to cut too deep into the quill when trying to separate.  The one I did get to work I am unsure of the make of feather.  Thanks for any help I can get.


Jason

You don't cut it while its on the quill. Just pull up on the back of the feather while holding it on the table and it will break and start to peel. Peel it til you get to the length you want and put your knife on it. Pull the strip into the edge to cut it. I have never broken a quill this way.

Thanks bigbad, tried again, and same result, I get about halfway down a full length feather, and the quill will pull in two, I did a search and watched Mike Vines thread on doing a membrane splice and have had the same results.  I'm not giving up yet!!!  After watching Mike's thread made me wonder if anyone has heard how he's doing? I miss seeing his Motor City Machetes. Thanks.

Jason

Are you stripping the entire length of the feather? I generally only strip up to the point of the splice on the feather I am splicing to and only as much as I need from the feather I am splicing from.

I'm trying to peel the full length of the feather I'm going to use as the splice, it starts out ok...but halfway down it'll start splitting the quill.

Jason

Maybe this will help ya out..

http://www.tradgang.com/tgsmf/index.php?topic=108963.0

https://youtu.be/vY0AuoeRDhM

I have found that sometimes you'll get some feathers that are a bit dry and brittle. When pulling the quills off the membrane the membrane will crack.
Doesn't happen very often. Just go slow and make sure the membrane is flat
against a table top.

Thanks guys, my problem might be with not laying it flat, going to give it another shot tonight.

Jason