How do you guys trim or shape your fletches?

[toomanyknots]

I use scissors, and I suck at it. They come out choppy and uglyer than hell. It is very easy to screw it up. I have tryed using a razor blade and setting something like a board or book down to on the fletch to trim em even and it doesn't work as the feather doesn't ever stand up straight on the arrow, so after it's cut perfect with the razor it sits all crooked and bumpy on the arrow, making that method redundant. I have seen a youtube video of a guy using like a hot stick or something from a fire to trim his fletches, anybody use this way?

[osage outlaw]

I made a feather burner.  It works good.  It does create quite a smell, but it doesn't bother me.  I use a car battery charger and connect a clamp to each post.

Here is a link with pictures of it.

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,23329.0.html

[George Tsoukalas]

I fletch them and then trim the fletch using a pattern which I just hold with my hand while cutting. A good sharp scissors is a must. Jawge

[Jtilley]

Cut out a pattern from cardboard, construction paper, etc. Then trim/split the quill , lay the side you plan to use on your table , bench, etc. Cover the feather with masking tape, taping the feather to the bench, then trace the pattern onto the masking tape. Lift the tape with the feather and cut out . Then peel the tape in the natural direction of the feather, and ta-da - there's your fletching! Kinda time consuming, but does produce matched fletchings, and the tape makes your cut more even...... Hope this helps

[toomanyknots]

thanks guys, using masking tape sounds pretty smart! I will definitely try some of these..

[Marlin]

I saw something once I would like to try. You take a flat piece of metal you shaped to the curve you want your feather to be. Heat it up in a fire and hold it against the fletching to burn the shape.

[Pat B]

About 15 years ago a friend gave me an old Young Feather Burner(and a JoJan Multi-Fletch, straight) that was given to him by an old guy that had it for 40 years. I bought a few new ribbons for it from 3Rivers have been burning fletching ever since. I've used a few choppers but they have a limited life and I never really got a clean cut. I've also used scissors a time or two, a knife against a hard surface and even a hot ember but for me the Young Feather Burner gives the best results...and to change designs it only cost about $1.50!
  El D and Osage Outlaw both have inexpensive ways to burn your fletching with the same results as the Young Feather Burner. 

[faltenhemd]

Here's another way to cut feathers:

German, but pictures will explain. The white layer on the wooden stencils is foam rubber. It's not my site and I haven't tried yet but it looks simple:

http://sites.google.com/site/bucherbogner/federn-selber-schneiden

[Pappy]

I use sissors most of the time,I have a long set and they must be very sharp,that is all that pair of sissors get used for. I glue on a full hight feather cut to the length  I want ,then trim. I have used a burner and also choppers of all kinds, they all work fine , just to slow for me.
   Pappy

[CraigMBeckett]

Here's another way to cut feathers:

German, but pictures will explain. The white layer on the wooden stencils is foam rubber. It's not my site and I haven't tried yet but it looks simple:

http://sites.google.com/site/bucherbogner/federn-selber-schneiden

Have tried a similar method, used aluminium or to you yanks aluminum covered in soft computer mouse mat, use one of the quilting roller knives to cut. Works ok but you will still occasionally get problems. Intend to build a burner.

Craig.

[Scowler]

I use either a feather chopper or a cardboard pattern.

[crooketarrow]

    I 've used everything but have settled on choppers and have used them for at least 20 years. Make a ice cream stick patteren to hold your feather down as you chop it and you'll get the same perferce cut everything.

[Boofus]

First I get them fairly close by trimming with scissors, then I use a cigarette to burn 'em to shape.  I get much better results this way but it is slow (and someone told me that smoking is bad for me )

[mullet]

Long, sharp scissors and a feather burner, depends if the wife's home.

[aznboi3644]

i use scissors...just eyeball it.  I don't even put the same cut on all my arrows lol.