Question about Preparing Fletching

[CherokeeKC]

Iv only made a few arrows where i prepared the fletching instead of buying precut and I always have trouble cutting it down to size.  Iv prepared three feathers for fletching so far.  They were the first 6 inches of a turkey primary feather.  Now I have the back half of each feather where the quill gets thicker and wider.  Do you guys trim the width on this part of the feather?  In the pic im pointing to the part im asking about trimming.

[bowtarist]

Looks like a right wing feather.  If you've used boughten feathers you know what the quill should look like.  I think a lot of guys make a fixture and grind the quill, I have done it few times, but have hillbillied it and used scissors and a knife to scrap down the quill.  Make sure they are all from the same side wing.  How'd you split em?

[Gus]

Cool Thread!

I've read that you can peel the feather off the quill, on wild turkey that is.
Haven't had a chance to try peeling yet but have some feathers and aim to give it a try.

-gus

[Pappy]

YesI always trim that off,with a razor or on the belt sander.
   Pappy

[CherokeeKC]

Thanks for the replies.  bowtarist i hammered a razer blade into a 2x4 and pulled the feather down that to split it.  I also used that to trim the thickness of the quills down on the 3 end pieces iv done so far.
Gus iv peeled a feather before and IMO the resulting feather is too flimsy and thin.  I think i remember breaking it pulling it tight while fletching.
I will try and trim the width down as I trim the thickness on these.  Thanks again

[CherokeeKC]

oh and bowtarist, my feathers never look like the store bought ones lol.  I like to thin my quill down more than the bought ones.  I was just wondering if everyone else took the time to trim the width down also when your dealing with the base of a primary feather

[crooketarrow]

   I split my feathers with a razor blade,chop my feathers . But them in a clamping jig and put the sand paper on a flat surface hold it down as I sand the feather down.

[macbow]

I grind my quill thickness on a sander. The width is cut with a large scissors.
Ron

[Black Hawk]

If you put your feathers in warm water for a few minutes to soften the quill you can peel them and not have to worry about grinding them at all. It takes a little practice but once you get the hang of it you will wonder why you ever split them. As an added bonus they lay closer to the shaft. The natural curve of the quill forms to the arrow shaft. 

[Scowler]

I trim that portion of the quill with a Dremel (sander attachment).