Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: NTD on October 26, 2009, 10:01:20 pm
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Any hints on how to smooth the vanes on my feathers? I hate to be a cry baby but my darn knuckle is really starting to hurt...I tried smoothing them by scraping it with a razor blade but all I did is chunk it up...
Nate Danforth
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well i shot of the knuckle bear handed all the time
never bothered me
so all i can say is
1. make sure the leading edge of the feather is as smooth to the shaft as possibl
2. toughen your hands up lol ;)
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Thanks Sailordad any particular method you use to get that leading edge smooth to the shaft?
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Hey Nate: All I've ever used is my belt sander. After splitting the feathers with an exacto knife I run em across the belt till thier nice and thin. I have tried peeling the feathers but have trouble getting them on the shaft right their so thin (I need to practice that more). Pappy and the guys at Twin Oaks have some gizmos that work really well.
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Wrap them as well... ;)
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I wrap the forward end of all my fletching. Also when you thin the quill do it from the back, pithy side before you glue it down.
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Thanks everyone for the responses. I did wrap the leading edge (with Floss) but probably not well enough. Also I guess I could thin the vane a little better. I had tried thinning it after I glued it down.
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I know firsthand what Feathers do...don't I Guys....... >:D
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Ok I want the gory details!!!
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i guess i forgot that didnt i lol
belt sander and then i wrap with sinew
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Ok I want the gory details!!!
Lets just say that I tore my Knuckle up pretty bad...every Arrow in My Quiver was coated in Blood by the Time I finished Pappy's 2 Courses at the Tennessee Classic!!
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ROFLMAO!!!! That is exactly what my knuckle looks like....well it's scabbed now. I opened it back up a few times too...I have a hard time going a full day without flinging a few arrows. Lol I even had the blood on the shaft ;D
Nate Danforth
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All I can say is....File them down....and wrap with Silk or Sinew to cover the edge of the Quill...because if you think that this is Painfull...wait till a Piece of the Quill gets buried in your Finger.... :'(
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If I don't plan on rapping them I take a round screw driver and roll it on the leading edge
of the feather till it is smooth,then put a little dob of glue. I usually do that even if I do plan on rapping. I always check the front edge of the feather before I shoot them,If I can feel any bur
I fix it before I shoot it. ouch ;) ;D ;D
Pappy
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I've never done it , but you could try mole skin on you knuckle/finger, at least till it heals.
Swamp
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I don't use an arrow shelf so a floppy rest really goes a long way at preventing hand damage from the fletchings.
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Ferret's Floppy Arrarest (TM) is the way to go for sure!
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Thanks all for the replies. The moleskin sounds like a good idea!!
Nate Danforth
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i always use a buffing wheele or sanding drum on a dremel tool. preferably the buffing wheele because it will "sand" down the vane without damageing your shaft. i had to shoot my frined's composite bow for a shoot a while back. still have a scar. :'(
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I use scissors to cut a 1/2" lengh of feather material from the quill. I then use a Dremel sanding disc or 150 grit sandpaper to sand down/smooth the exposed 1/2" of the quill. You should have an angled, smooth transition from shaft to quill. I then wrap the front of the quill with artificial sinew. I continue the wrap for about 1/2" to 3/4" onto the shaft. I tie off the beginning and end of the wrapping. I then apply a coat of Barge cement to the wrapping and allow it to set overnight. Good luck.
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you can always strip the feathers from the quill...I don't have a quill on my feathers and never have the above problem...I lay down some glue on shaft then wrap with sinew...feathers will not come off and are as stiff as before..gut
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scar tissue on your knuckle fixes the problem :)