Something old something new

[AncientArcher76]

Hi guys wanted to share some stuff been working on and with hunting season here I have been busy.  Also been working hard on getting an AtlAtl club/class started as well. I have been making many arrows using traditional methods and recently with the purchase of a fletching jig I decided to give some precut feathers a go.  WOW how easy it is but I still like hand cutting everything.  Its good to know if u were ever in a survival mode.  I also had made a good trade recently with someone on here and I tried out for the first time a shield cut feather chopper.  It works good it surely takes practice to get things right.  Thanks guys for looking!

russ

[attachment deleted by admin]

[aero86]

looks good!  what kind of chopper did you get?  mine is tiny, but has a part on tip that is wooden, that i tap once or twice with a hammer and it cuts perfectly. 

ive tried a fletching jig, but it puts the fletchings too far forward for my taste, so i just hand attach all mine now.  its rather labor intensive, but after dozen's of arrows, ive got a system down that works pretty good.  even went with fletch tape for a while, but no more..

[AncientArcher76]

Thanks for the comments! The jig is kinda neet as u can use multiple fletching styles and u can adjust the distance from the knocks.  This is my first time and as far as the chopper same thing it cuts 5" shield cut I use a rubber mallet tap once and boom.  Once in awhile it cuts crooked but practice makes perfect.  Thanks!

Russ

[jonathan creason]

Those look great, Russ.  Glad that chopper is working out for you.

I saw a little tutorial somewhere a little while back on making a feather holder to get a cleaner cut.  Basically you use a thiin piece of tin or something glued to a popsicle stick to hold the feather down while you chop.  Keeps it from moving around.

[aero86]

yeah, my fletcher was an easy fletcher.. thats why! but, with my chopper, i got it down where i used my pinky and index finger to hold the feather down, while i brought the top of the chopper done.  THAT took lots of practice lol

[AncientArcher76]

Yeah thanks Johnathan hey hows the flint knapping working out???  I found that using the feather chopper to have things lined up exact or when u chop sometimes it dont cut clean or if u bang it with a hammer it will move and have a messed up cut!  Thanks for the responses!

Russ

[Parnell]

Those look good Russ, what are you using for shafting materials?

[AncientArcher76]

I use 200 year old cedar boards from those big white pillars from them old buildings... also I use mountain ash its
light flexable and makes some hard hitting arrows... thanx Parnell