Feather burner or chopper ?? Need input

[John3]

My feathers are about the only part of my arrows that I cannot "customize". I want to be able to make my own shapes close to a traditional or Pope & Young fletch.
Anyone who has used either of these tools would you please point me in the right way to go? Can I actually get two 5" fletches out of a full lenght feather? Will the burner smell run us out of the house?  ha.
Any advice will be appreciated.

Sanderlin III

[Shaun]

Marginal to get two fletch from a feather. I try for one good one and then use the scrap for "nutters". Feather burner all the way. "Love the smell of napalm in the morning, smells like victory!" It WILL drive you out of the house, go outside with the burner.

[Barney]

Like Shaun said, go for one "good fletch" and save the rest for splicing and flu-flus.

I use a burner and chopper but if you want custom, get a burner. I use a range hood with exhaust fan in the basement but still get a little stink. You'll probably have to do the burning outside.

[Wapiti Chaser]

I have used a chopper for years and just got a burner. The burner is the only way to go. If you want two fletches from each feather make them a little shorter like 4 1/2 inch. Burn them outside or in the garage or you will regret it.

[John3]

Thank you for the help. A burner it will be.

John

[Killdeer]

My feather burner lives in the kitchen, with the Woodchuck. Only time I have a problem with the burner is when it sets off the smoke alarm. I'm too short to reach the bugger.   :mad:  

Killdeer  

[Pete W]

I don't think there is any better tool than the vario Clipper that Herb and Dennis sell.  http://git-r-donearchery.com/
http://www.herbsarchery.com

[sticbow]

vario clipper for me..you can get 2 good 4 inch feathers from the clipper an all are the same..

[pointy sticks]

I've tried cutters and I prefer the burner. Yup it's going to get you wife really PO by the smell if you use it in the house, but if you want custom fletching thats the way to go.

[SCATTERSHOT]

DON'T DO IT IN THE HOUSE!!!!!!

The smell is something you will never forget, and it doesn't go away for a long time!

I have one I could be persuaded to let go of, PM me.

[poekoelan]

If you don't want to spend a lot of money, get one of those binder clips. Get some thin plastic and cut two identical feather shapes of your choice from the plastic. Glue them to the inside jaws of the binder clip. Put feather in this and cut with sharp scissors.

I use this for all my feathers. Your feather shape is only limited by your imagination. But there is also another good use for this if you prefer choppers. Let's say you have a chopper but want to experiment with a different feather shape. You want to know how this shape will work for you before you buy a new chopper in that shape. Make this device and try the new feather shape. If it works well, buy the chopper in that shape.

But with the results I'm getting at a quarter a piece, I won't do it any other way even though it's a tad slower to do.

[LBR]

Vario feather clipper for me.  Umpteen different shapes available, does a "factory" cut every time, doesn't stink or leave a scorch mark on your shaft (or fingers) if you get too close.  Very quick and easy, you can cut feathers ahead of time if you want, every cut will be identical (vs. changing out the wire on a burner), etc. etc. etc.

Chad

[JRY309]

I like a burner,I can do anything I want as far as shapes.I tried a chopper when I first started but wasn't happy with it.Only did one set of arrows and then bought a burner,I've useing it for over 10 years.

[LBR]

For anyone that hasn't used one, there is a HUGE difference in the Vario vs. other choppers.  It's night and day difference to me.

Chad

[Rob DiStefano]

I've got a few Li'l Choppers, a Vario in Trad Parabolic and a well-used Young Feather burner.  I'll take the feather burner any day, stink and all.  The feather shape can be infinitely customized and the burnt shape is perfectly uniform.  

I have a large turbo fan set up in front of my basement shop window and that does a pretty good job of clearing out the burnt feather smell - it pays to leave the fan running for a good ten minutes after all the burning is done.    

Ya hafta be real careful, and lucky, to get a pair of 4-1/2" feathers from the average full length feather.  I use a 75x105 four fletch exclusively for all my arras, hunting and roving, and easily get a pair of 4" vanes from one full feather.  

Four 4" feathers is a heckuva lotta steerage for even the heaviest of arras and biggest of broadheads.  I use a modifed shield feather shape, Bohning tape and a dot of Fletchtite on the ends of each feather - they're near impossible to come off.

[Alaska Jim]

I've been using a Young feather burner going on 46 years now. It allows one to change the feather shape for various reasons. I also have a feather chopper too but it just cuts one size, It works very well also. Alaska Jim

[Brian Krebs]

I used to trim and shoe horses full time; and when I went to horseshoe college they said that burning the hoof and breathing the smoke- causes liver problems and death.
Feathers burning and horse hooves burning produces the same odor- and I think taking the burner outside or installing a stove hood fan over the burner area is a must.
I know that is a huge leap in logic- but never wanted to chance it....

[Tox Collector]

I still like and use my Young feather trimmer (I've used one for better that 40 years) -- it's easy to adjust the feather shape.  Now if I could only get rid of the odor.