Grinding full length Turkey feathers...?

[Al Kidner]

G'day guys,

I've been offered a bunch of full length Turkey feathers from a guy I know whom I'm making two dozen arrows for. Question is, I've never dealt with ungrounded feathers before, straight off the bird...

So how does that work guys? Will I need to order one of those grinders I see at 3 Rivers?


Cheers,

AK.

[Al Kidner]

I just had a look over on 3Rivers and for $149.00 + shipping to Aussie thats a little steep! (nifty looking idea though) ... and also not owning a drill press lends itself to more issues...

So that leads me to another, better question... who here grinds feathers? Jeff work as a guide in BC, Canada but I'm sure he could have them sent someplace to be grounded before having them sent to me?


AK.

[scrub-buster]

I grind mine on a belt sander.  I made a clamp to hold the feathers.

[Biathlonman]

If you've got steady hands you can just throw them in your clamp and hit them on a belt sander.  I usually clamp between two scrap pieces of aluminum and hit on a belt sander.

[Crooked Stic]

Use a straight clamp for grinding. If you got no power tools or not a steady hand a straight sanding block will work. Just slower.  :D

[J. Cook]

I don't have a drill press or fancy jig, so all of mine have been done using a straight clamp of some sort, and using sanding blocks by hand.  It's tedious, slow, slow, slow...did I mention slow?...but effective.  

For the price of getting them ground by someone else - you may as well buy the jig and equipment from 3Rivers.

[Pat B]

I use a straight fletch clamp and table top belt sander. A simple clamp can be made with scraps of wood too.
You first have to split the quill then you can grind it.
Another option is to strip the feathers. Grab the quill at the end of the feather with one hand and with the other hand grab the other side and just pull down and out and that half should peel off the quill with a thin membrane of the quill attached. If the feathers don't strip well they are probably too dry. You can rehydrate them in a sealed plastic bag with a damp paper towel in the bottom for a day.
This method might take a few feathers to get the method down but once done it is pretty easy.
I personally prefer to split and grind over stripping.

[Al Kidner]

Thanks guys. I do have a bench sander so I'll do that option I'm thinking! Sounds easy enough... just a steady hand is needed I'd say.

Cheers,


AK.

[Pat B]

Watch out for the dust!

[Jon Stewart]

Wear a mask. I wear two as that dust is nasty.

[the rifleman]

Dont spend $ on a jig-- you can make one just as good.  As others have said you can start out w simple one-- an old fletching jig clamp works fine for belt sander.  I did get guidance recently thats helped me-- cut off the first couple of inches at thick quill end otherwise it acts as spring shoving feather up out of clamp.

[Mint]

I sent mine to Josh to grind for me. Best decision I made this year.

[RAU]

Here's some great info from the late great Dean Torges


http://bowyersedge.com/feather.html

[AkDan]

Rau, Dean immediatly jumped to mind on this.  His jig is simple and effective!  

I would add the 'spacer' to your drum sander on 3 rivers jig, if you can.  It really makes it super easy!  

Masks a must!

I need to get a bunch ground myself.