Author Topic: Cutting Turkey feathers for fletching  (Read 14354 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

AKAPK

  • Guest
Cutting Turkey feathers for fletching
« on: November 24, 2008, 06:19:41 pm »
I sure would like to know an easier way to cut Turkey feathers for Fletching Any tutorials out there?
Some times I will soak them and then pull a side but that leaves no inner.PK

Offline John K

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,936
Re: Cutting Turkey feathers for fletching
« Reply #1 on: November 24, 2008, 07:05:05 pm »
When i split Turkey feathers i use a razor knife and spilt it down the middle, then i put it in a jig i made and use sand papper to smooth everything out.....now i just peel or strip the feathers, a lot faster and i think they look better !
The only way to fail is to never start !

AKAPK

  • Guest
Re: Cutting Turkey feathers for fletching
« Reply #2 on: November 24, 2008, 10:06:26 pm »
strippin them seems a good Idea cause they hold on the  the shaft better but sometime I cant get them to lay flat.PK

Offline mullet

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 22,886
  • Eddie Parker
Re: Cutting Turkey feathers for fletching
« Reply #3 on: November 24, 2008, 10:18:31 pm »
 I lay them on something hard and flatten the quill with a small hammer stone. Then I split the end and pull it apart.
Lakeland, Florida
 If you have to pull the trigger, is it really archery?

AKAPK

  • Guest
Re: Cutting Turkey feathers for fletching
« Reply #4 on: November 24, 2008, 11:59:53 pm »
 :)

Offline swiftjustus

  • Member
  • Posts: 14
Re: Cutting Turkey feathers for fletching
« Reply #5 on: January 11, 2009, 04:20:35 pm »
john, i was wondering if you could elaborate on the jig you mentioned, i see greatnorhtern bowhunting co. sells a jig for grinding feathers but is quite expensive.
thanks, swift

Offline DanaM

  • Member
  • Posts: 9,211
Re: Cutting Turkey feathers for fletching
« Reply #6 on: January 11, 2009, 04:44:52 pm »
john, i was wondering if you could elaborate on the jig you mentioned, i see greatnorhtern bowhunting co. sells a jig for grinding feathers but is quite expensive.
thanks, swift

I bought one from 3 rivers and Im not overly thrilled with the results :-\

Ok David you were right I was wrong ;) Inside joke
"Prosperity is a way of living and thinking, and not just money or things. Poverty is a way of living and thinking, and not just a lack of money or things."

Manistique, MI

Offline Pat B

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 37,496
Re: Cutting Turkey feathers for fletching
« Reply #7 on: January 11, 2009, 05:50:20 pm »
A straight fletch clamp, like for a JoJan fletcher works well for grinding feathers.   Pappy has the ticket though. Maybe he will post pics of his feather splitter.     Pat
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Cromm

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,064
Re: Cutting Turkey feathers for fletching
« Reply #8 on: January 11, 2009, 06:33:47 pm »
Sounds good to me........
Great Britain.
Home of the Longbowman.

Offline ricktrojanowski

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,064
  • Worlds Greatest Deer Repellent
Re: Cutting Turkey feathers for fletching
« Reply #9 on: January 11, 2009, 08:00:16 pm »
I cut them to aprox. length.  cut the quill with a razorblade down the center.  Then in a homemade clamp(Torges type) I plane the quill with a small block plane.  Then sand with 80 to about the final thickness.  Then put in a fletching clamp and sand with 120 to the thickness I want and cut and sand the edges.
Traverse City, MI