Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: paulsemp on January 30, 2015, 08:50:46 pm
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anyone that knows me knows how poor my arrows are. So I decided that I need to exclusively make arrows for a while. One thing I can't stand is grinding feathers. So I did a test run and stripped enough for one arrow. I was very impressed with my results. they glued on quite well and are rigid as a feather that's been ground. Any of you guys out there strip feathers also and if so what are the pluses and minuses to doing it aside from the mess grinding?
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Paul,
I've seen your arrow building and its not that bad.....but, as far as feathers, all I've got is grinding experience. I'll be very interested in this post too.
DBar
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Paul, I strip my feathers as well, the only disadvantage that I see is you can't use a chopper. I have a Young's burner so no diadvantage to me, Way faster than grinding, for me it's the only way to go ;D Bob
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thanks Bob that's reassuring. no chopper here all I gots a pair of scissors ;)
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Paul, even better no stink :o, Bob
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Put on some Whitesnake, spin the disco ball, and get away from my pole....I'm a hardcore stripper!
People have claimed that without some of the feather shaft attached, the fletch is too "soft". Ok, sure...until you glue it down to an arrow shaft. Now the fletch has the stiffness of the whole wooden shaft underneath it!
Oh yeah, make it rain!
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Yeah, I don't grind 'em. I make two fletches. There's a video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQQ2gTEzsWU&list=UU9l4lrfkOEV5iNSju5GxM_g) out there somewhere with how I do it.
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;D Yep, I strip feathers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-edfUmABlo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z96NQZNZRhQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuXi39bXE8U
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I don't seem to get a lot of Wild Wings, but when I do, I strip 'Em and trim them by hand. Most of My arrows I let Truflight do the work and use a chopper - I've always been a fan of the 5 1/2" high back Shield cuts. Bob
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I strip a lot of mine. In my experience, it is faster than splitting and grinding, and they go onto the arrow shaft easily (they are easy to adjust). The down side is, they don't last quite as long. Borrowing a phrase; "Your results may vary." Curtis
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This is interesting! Thanks, Paul, for starting the post and same to all that chimed in.
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This looks soooo much easier than grinding. I had no idea.
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I've tried stripping but I seemed to ruin more feathers than I save. I've heard that wild feathers are better for stripping than farm raised. Can anyone confirm this? Jackcrafty suggested soaking them first. I haven't tried that yet.
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I dunno, I think farm-raised feathers are easier to strip. But if you have good hand-eye coordination, you can manage almost any type of large feather. Small feathers always give me trouble, though.
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Just to add to my previous comment, I took a photo of one of the stripped feathers I've used for fletching. This is the only problem I've ever had with them; they just don't hold up to as much abuse. Having said that, I will continue to use this method, along with the grinding, because the stripping is so much easier and faster for me to do. Curtis
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I dunno, I think farm-raised feathers are easier to strip. But if you have good hand-eye coordination, you can manage almost any type of large feather. Small feathers always give me trouble, though.
There's that hand eye thing again >:( >:( My eyes don't even know my hands exist >:( >:(
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I strip mine can't tell a different in them when shooting.
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I have seen a correlation between the freshness of the feather and it's level of cooperation with the stripper. I always steam the feathers before stripping. I get a tea kettle going on the stove and wait for a strong jet of steam from the spout. Draw the feather thru the jet of steam and watch the barbules plump. Once thru with the top of the feather exposed to the live steam and once thru with the underside of the feather thru the steam.
I think it helps restore the natural resilience of that sheath on the quill. The styrofoamy stuff underneath sure doesn't have much strength by itself.
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strip mine they lay better on cane than grinding ones do..plus so simple even I can do it.....gut
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If you strip your feathers do you still use a jig to attach them or do you do it freehand so you can stretch them straight?
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Ive seen your arrows plenty, Lord knows I look for them enough over the summer. I haven't tried stripping, but I like the idea of it. I don't care if I cant get a perfect shape off my chopper, life will go on. Send me a few pics of an arrow when your done. I want to see it. Maybe we can do some stripping at Marshall in the pavilion?
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I put them on freehand on the few i did. Went real easy. I will post a few pics of what i did
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JW_Halverson,
Made a good point about fletching condition for stripping.His method sounds good too.In the past ive noticed the dryer feathers dont strip as well and i put them in a damp towel for a while before stripping.
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I split and grind, tried stripping but like grinding them better, to each there own. Pearl I was thinking about coming to Marshall but if paulsemp is going to be doing some stripping then I may have to rethink it. ??? :-\ ::) :)
Pappy
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You say that every spring ol' boy! Id love to see you up here with us. Its a fantastic gathering. And who knows? Maybe after a few beers you may strip with us in the pavilion.
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:-\ ;) :) :) :) Maybe.
Pappy
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You say that every spring ol' boy! Id love to see you up here with us. Its a fantastic gathering. And who knows? Maybe after a few beers you may strip with us in the pavilion.
Anyone else hear banjos or is that just me?
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Like Pappy, I strip and grind. That sounds awfully funny. Both ways work well, depending on the feather type. Stripping is particularly good for spiral fletched flu flus, and they sound so cool when they fly! A cheap belt sander works good for grinding, and no real stink.
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Tried stripping feathers a couple times just seem to brutalize them. :o
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Here is is a few amateur attempts
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I forgot to say not sure if you can tell in the picture but those white lines are not bindings on the arrow they are just paint
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Cool arrows Paul
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I freehand mine tied with real sinew...you can create a helical after tie down or during...you will wish for another hand but it can be done easily enough...gut
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I have stripped a few but get so many turkey wings every year I send the feathers to David Mitchell, trade the rights to have the lefts ground, works for me. I sent 41 wings and 11 fans off to trade last year, on my best collection year I had over 70 wings.
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.... Maybe after a few beers you may strip with us in the pavilion.
If stripping in the pavilion has become some kinda rite of passage, then maybe I should go to Elm Hall ... as a favor to you. ::)
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This strip/grind thing is getting outta hand ;)
I've only ever stripped my feathers, and I've been doing that for like 7-8 years now. Btw paulsemp, i make both those arrows exactly the same way! Those spiral flu-flu arrows go exactly where you point them
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Paul:
Remind me and I'll bring a bunch of turkey feathers to Marshall. I strip mine most of the time. If I get a bad strip (that didn't ruin the feather) I might dress up on the sander. Usually, stripping is all that is needed though. I like the natural curvature of the quill that is stripped. It seems to be a perfect match to the radius of the arrow shaft.
Hope all is well...
Matt
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With all this talk about stripping I tried it yesterday.. :o and its cold. :) :).
Do you guys that strip use jigs and clamps to add feathers to your arrows?? From my new experience it's a little more difficult to use a clamp & fletching jig. I can really see how nice it would be to fletch arrows without fixtures. I tried some and think I could get use to it after some practice.
It's hard to change what you get use to doing. :)
DBar
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I like the sounds of that Matt, nice to "see" you by the way. It would be fun to sit under the pavilion and mess with feathers and such. Id like to learn more and simplify my approach.
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DBar, I strip them then cut to length of clamp 6" or so just so they fit in, glue or tape an then burn to shape (phew) :o,easy peasy. Bob
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Thanks Drums! Good to hear back from you. Work seems to be gettin' in the way, lately. Been doing a fair amount of work in the bow shop though.