Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: nclonghunter on December 15, 2010, 06:52:55 pm

Title: Strip or Grind
Post by: nclonghunter on December 15, 2010, 06:52:55 pm
Many of the recent primitive bows and arrows covered in PA appear to show the feathers as split and ground in some fashion. They do not appear to be pulled from the quill. I see more feather base than what would be present if stripped or pulled from the quill. So, I wonder if cutting and or grinding is the correct primitive method. What's your thoughts on this?
Title: Re: Strip or Grind
Post by: nugget on December 15, 2010, 07:28:59 pm
I strip all mine.
Title: Re: Strip or Grind
Post by: JW_Halverson on December 15, 2010, 10:03:39 pm
I strip them all, but some days I am better at it than others and some days I end up grinding the excess from those that didn't strip worth a darn.
Title: Re: Strip or Grind
Post by: stringstretcher on December 15, 2010, 10:47:23 pm
I have done both, but grind the most.  I do strip them if I intend to wrap the feathers down on the shaft and also when wrapping the ends of each feather.  But most of my arrows, the feathers are glued on for just casual shooting.  The stripped ones are usually in my hunting quiver. Andnothing makes a better flu flu than a stripped feather wrapped around an arrow shaft.
Title: Re: Strip or Grind
Post by: Pat B on December 15, 2010, 11:53:44 pm
I prefer to split and grind for standard 3 fletch. Primitive enough for me. For Eastern Woodland style two fletch I strip half off the whole feather but use scissors to cut them or use my feather burner. I can and have made arrows totally abo but for everyday use I prefer to add a bit of technology. I also use whole smaller wing feathers in a tangential style fletching.
Title: Re: Strip or Grind
Post by: Outbackbob48 on December 16, 2010, 09:25:35 am
I strip mine , my dust of choice to sniff is silca especially obsidian dust ;D Bob
Title: Re: Strip or Grind
Post by: gutpile on December 16, 2010, 11:43:50 am
I strip mine only...wrap with sinew and they are on for good...only a white man would try to rebuild a turkey feather......LOL...gut
Title: Re: Strip or Grind
Post by: Ryano on December 16, 2010, 01:42:14 pm
Strip and grind  ;D  ;D  ;D  ;) Oh your talking about feathers.....lol.
  I do some of both. For truely primitive arrows I strip for sure.
Title: Re: Strip or Grind
Post by: Pappy on December 17, 2010, 09:13:18 am
 :o ;D ;D and put on a loin cloth Ryan. ;) ;D ;D ;D  I grind most of mine,not as flimsy and easier for me to deal with. To cold to strip. Never to cold to grind. ;) ;D
   Pappy
Title: Re: Strip or Grind
Post by: BearG on December 17, 2010, 09:53:45 am
PG-13 guys LOL
Title: Re: Strip or Grind
Post by: iowabow on December 18, 2010, 03:28:21 am
Can someone post some pictures of how to strip a feather and what it looks like on an arrow for me. thank you for the help.
Title: Re: Strip or Grind
Post by: hillbilly61 on December 18, 2010, 07:12:31 am
PG-13 guys LOL

 According to todays ratings, that might make the PG rate ;D
Title: Re: Strip or Grind
Post by: Sparrow on December 18, 2010, 12:36:56 pm
I like to cut them with a obsidian micro-blade and sand them to get the perfect thickness. Uugg !  '  Frank
Title: Re: Strip or Grind
Post by: Hillbilly on December 19, 2010, 09:26:17 am
I do both, but I prefer to split and grind them usually, for the reasons Pappy mentioned. I don't think that there is any "correct primitive method-" peoples who live by primitive archery had and have many different ways of doing things.
Title: Re: Strip or Grind
Post by: sailordad on December 19, 2010, 10:58:31 am
i like to,no make that i ENJOY STRIPPING  ;D
but i do find that if i dont get a clean strip then i have to grind them anyhow
Title: Re: Strip or Grind
Post by: iowabow on December 19, 2010, 01:27:13 pm
I got deer tendon this morning from neighbor. What do you folks do with it at this point...cut it open and dry it or.........
Title: Re: Strip or Grind
Post by: Pat B on December 19, 2010, 01:34:19 pm
It will dry as it is. Be sure all the meat and fat are off of them and just set them aside where they can dry. I put them on wax paper or foil and out of the way of critters.
Title: Re: Strip or Grind
Post by: iowabow on December 19, 2010, 01:44:55 pm
thank you for the reply
Title: Re: Strip or Grind
Post by: Pat B on December 19, 2010, 02:49:31 pm
You will know when they are dry when they are amber in color and hard as a rock! Once dry store them in a ziploc bag.
Title: Re: Strip or Grind
Post by: iowabow on December 19, 2010, 03:11:55 pm
thank you Pat after dry do I hit them with a hammer to seperate the fibers?
Title: Re: Strip or Grind
Post by: Pat B on December 19, 2010, 03:38:04 pm
If you are ready to use them now you can shread them while still "green". I would cut down the sheath that holds them together and soak them in warm water while pulling the bundle of fibers apart.
  If you dry them first you pound them until the fibers part then seperate with your hands. Using a rawhide or wooden mallet on a hardwood base will help protect the fibers but some folks use a ballpeen or other hammer on an anvil.
Title: Re: Strip or Grind
Post by: iowabow on December 19, 2010, 03:44:26 pm
I need to make 6 arrow heads and finish the spine work on the arrows before I can use them so maybe I shoudl dry them first. Can they be frozen then used later.
Title: Re: Strip or Grind
Post by: Pat B on December 19, 2010, 05:28:30 pm
They can be frozen but drying is just as easy.