Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: stringstretcher on June 11, 2010, 12:14:57 pm

Title: Feather complaints
Post by: stringstretcher on June 11, 2010, 12:14:57 pm
As most of you have a favorite feather,  but when using pre-cut feathers, or full lenght from manufacutres, what is your biggest complaint?  Are the bases to thick?  Are the bases to wide?  Etc?  What I am asking and seeking is how to grind feathers that would be of the best interest to all or make improvement on whats out there
Title: Re: Feather complaints
Post by: Pappy on June 11, 2010, 12:31:12 pm
Haven't use any store bought in a while but when I did ,some were to thick for my liking. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: Feather complaints
Post by: George Tsoukalas on June 11, 2010, 01:33:58 pm
No complaints. I just don't like it when I can't get 2 feathers from 1 full length. Cheap ha? I do grind my own too. Jawge
Title: Re: Feather complaints
Post by: sailordad on June 11, 2010, 04:58:19 pm
never used store bought feathers
when i make my own arrows i do it from the ground up
collect the shaft material,straighten the shafts,split feathers that i have gotten off of either roadkill turkeys or ones that i have shot my self or friends had killed.
i only use store bought stuff for my wheelie bow(very seldom these days)
Title: Re: Feather complaints
Post by: Josh on June 11, 2010, 05:07:44 pm
I use turkey feathers from turkeys killed by all my turkey-hunting friends, but I also buy the different colored goose feathers for my cock feathers at the different shoots I attend...   I am like Jawge though if I can't get at least two fletches from a full length feather I don't like em.    :)
Title: Re: Feather complaints
Post by: Diligence on June 11, 2010, 05:37:16 pm
I'm far from an expert, and so my opinion should be taken very lightly.

On the goose feathers I prepared myself, I could get them really thin on the quill portion, but on the store bought flecthes, they are waaay thick. I ended up grinding down the store bought feathers to have a nice low profile.
Title: Re: Feather complaints
Post by: zenmonkeyman on June 11, 2010, 11:20:10 pm
The Canada geese have finally started moulting here, and I've managed to collect a bagful.  I use a stainless steel chip bag clip (from the Dollarama; cost:  a dollar) that I use to hold the fletches for grinding.  I had to adjust the clip by slicing off the rubber parts and twisting untill the two sides met perfectly.  For the grinding I use a coarse foam sanding block, but I carefully cut the quill back with scissors first.  It's not a perfect system, and it sure ain't fast, but it works for me.  Oh, I also use the bag clip to glue the feather on the shaft, too. 
Title: Re: Feather complaints
Post by: JW_Halverson on June 11, 2010, 11:44:10 pm
I don't like the way the store bought feathers never include the very outermost two primaries...you know, the shorter ones that are really stiff, have a pronounced curve and have the most distinct white bars.  I always save those feathers for my own special arrows. 
Title: Re: Feather complaints
Post by: bowkee on June 14, 2010, 07:55:35 pm
I always end up cuttin them to look primitive ;D