Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => HowTo's and Build-a-longs => Topic started by: Scottski on March 08, 2017, 03:22:11 pm
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Ok guys I have looked and not found what I was looking for. Any one have any plans or know how to make a feather burner from a soldering gun? I tried the train transformer but my transformer was not powerful enough to het up a wire. New ideas! I do have a soldering gun, or if you have a burner you are will to get rid of? Thanks for any help you may have.
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Here is one I made from some scraps I had in the garage. I used a battery charger for the power source. One time I used jumper cables and a car battery. I unhook the power in between arrows and brush the element off. I gave this one away when I got a Young feather burner. I wish I would have kept my home made version. I like using it better. You can just hook each lead from the soldering gun to each post I think. I never found an old soldering gun to use.
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r55/clintanders/SDC14590.jpg)
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I made a hot wire feather burner, it was a pain in the butt. As the wire gets hot it expands and unless it is under tension it won't hold shape. If it is tensioned it can only cut a straight line.
Far simpler and more effective is to simply cut out the shape you want from a sheet of brass or copper (a bit of pipe opened out flat will do)
Heat it up held in grips and then touch it over the roughly trimmed feather. Cheap simple easy effective!
http://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/curved-profile-feather-shaper.html (http://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/curved-profile-feather-shaper.html)
For comparison here's the post about the hot wire cutter:-
http://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/hot-wire-feather-cutter.html (http://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/hot-wire-feather-cutter.html)
I think you can see which is simpler :laugh:
Del
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Del, the flat ribbon that 3rivers sells doesn't lose its shape when heated.
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An electric soldering gun will work as your power source. I think a battery charger will also but that I'm not sure of.
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I've heard a toy train transformer also works as a power supply
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Well I have the base built so I guess I will try and hook the leads from the soldering gun to it. I didn't think about trying that thank you Osage Outlaw. I will try that as soon as I can get out to my shop.
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Here are some pictures I found in an old thread.
(http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=23329.0;attach=47266;image)
(http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=23329.0;attach=47267;image)
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Del, the flat ribbon that 3rivers sells doesn't lose its shape when heated.
Cheers... :)
Del
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If that whole wire heats up it will cut the entire fletching off. Or am I missing something?
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I don't how he used that burner. He hasn't been active for years. I agree with you. It looks like it would be a feather remover. If I was going to make another burner I'd make one just like the one of mine I posted but with the soldering gun as the power source. Please post some pictures of whatever you make.
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You could do a set up like Clint's and use the soldering gun as the power source. Just connect with wire.
I also could not figure that last one either.
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Here is what I made. It didn't take very long to throw together. It was simple and easy to make. Made the whole thing out of scrap minus the 3 dollar guitar string.
I tried the train transformer but I didn't have any luck. So I used an older style battery charger. I don't think the new ones will work because of a safety they have in them.
(http://i.imgur.com/8pWI4fF.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/ROWyW6E.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/vj0XWzo.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/prc7Lsf.jpg)
It takes a few minutes to get set up, but once you do, you can do a dozen arrows in no time. As long as you make sure your cutting wire is red hot. First set of kids arrows!
(http://i.imgur.com/up71pyH.jpg)
A buddy and I have been using this for about 3 years. I bought 2 pack of guitar strings and have only used one!
Patrick
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I successfully made one several months ago, very similar to Patrick's. I used a 6v battery charger like Clint suggested. For the burn wire I am using .045" stainless steel Mig welding wire, haven't had one burn up or lose its shape yet.
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Nice job Patrick. I liked my home made burner better than the Young burner I traded for.
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I successfully made one several months ago, very similar to Patrick's. I used a 6v battery charger like Clint suggested. For the burn wire I am using .045" stainless steel Mig welding wire, haven't had one burn up or lose its shape yet.
Stainless steel might wire, I never thought about that. I will get some and try that! Thanks Aaron.
Thanks Clint, it was simple and cheap, just the way I like it!
Patrick
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Patrick, if you or anyone else needs any I can mail you some stainless weld wire, easier than buying a whole roll if you don't have access to any. Just pm me
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Long time lurker first post.
I haven't figure out how to post pics since photobucket crapped out, but can do so when I figure it out.
Anyway the best success I've had for the burner wire is ribbon resistance wire that vapers use in their vaporizer. For power I'm using a Variac Autotransformer, if you can find one these are awesome as they let you dial in the amount of heat you need.
The wire itself is a 2mm wide ribbon, can be bought online or vape shops. It will slightly expand when heated but nothing like the round wires I've tried.
Hope this gives some ideas of options.
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Welcome to PA!
Thank you for the info, I may see if I can get one of those and try it as well.
Patrick
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I didn't have to make a feather burner as I got my dads Young feather burner from the 60's so I can't add to that but I just picked up a feather burning stick made by Howard Hills son Jerry Hill. It allows me to slide a length of feather into the stick and then use my Young burner to burn the feather design. I can burn almost any length of feather for future use. No more tossing 3" of feather and no more choppers. NOW if I can just convince my wife that burning feathers has a good smell to it.
On the sentimental side I can use all my dads old ribbons that he shaped.
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Do you think there is an advantage to burning the fletch before or after attaching it to the arrow? My brain says after might be truer but it may just be covering for a crooked shaft or something.
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After is the way my burner is made to do it. Not sure how the consistency would be doing it before it was glued on.
Patrick
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I burn after fletching to be sure the feathers are evenly shaped. You have to be careful not to scorch the shaft, binding or paint.
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I think we as a group come up with a lot of neat jigs, tools, and such! I like Patrick's set up, and will try to duplicate it.
JEB, you might try smudging sage and/or sweet grass while doing the feathers! White sage if you can find it! Lots of Fabreze, maybe!
Good ideas everyone, thanks,
Hawkdancer
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Aaron,
Pm sent.
Hawkdancer
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Back in the 60's in dads Archery shop I used to fletch and then burn. This stick gives me a chance to burn smaller feathers for kids arrows and not have so much feather waste. I won't mess with it now until spring and we get back from the SW .
I also like to fletch pencils with 1" feathers and give them away to the young ones. This gives me a chance to burn that size feather also.
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JEB,
Can you post a pic of the feather stick? Sounds like a neat idea. Thanks,
Hawkdancer
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Here you go. You slide the feather into the cut out slot.
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Thats cool, I guess it would work almost like it was on the arrow.
Patrick
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It does work like it is on the arrow. I just slide the feather out of the groove and snip the front and back of the feather to length . I needed that thing like I needed a hole in my head but it does allow me to use smaller feathers for kids arrows rather than toss them. That is the only reason I bought it.
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What's the rest of the name wrote on it?
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It reads, the Original Archery Feather Burning Tool and is signed by Jerry Hill. Jerry is Howard Hill's nephew.