Hi All! So, Ive decided I'd like to take a stab at feathering myself some arrows and it'll be -basically- my first attempt at splicing feathers (the shafts are Gold Tip Trad Classics 500 spine). I'm using an Arizona EZ fletch LW for my fletching jig with Trueflight brand feathers on reflective vinyl arrow wraps. 5" "traditional" shaped cutter from 3rivers to cut down the full length feathers. I'll start at least splicing and gluing one feather at a time. My questions are this. Anyone have any "pointers"? Best glue to use? A better fletching jig? Any good references to check? Decent YouTube videos? Basically anything anyone thinks may be good info to know.... Thanks in advance!!! TJ

Hi TJ, Here's the video I watched. You'll have to cut n paste it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlc9RXo_DCE

I tried a few, and took a short cut. I use 3.5" feathers and find that to be enought to control broadheads.

The barbs and barbules (hooks and loops of a feather wants to knit, even inter-species (think goose and turkey) so instead of skinning the quill, I cut a 2.5 section and a 1" section of one color, and the same of the other color. Cut the quill at 90 degrees, mix the colors, press the barbs togather, and stick a piece of blue masking tape on the seam. I pre-floded a tab on my 3/8" wide strips, again 90* across the 3/4" tape.

The 2 keys to getting them to knit is try to keep quill width the same, as you move to the tip of the feather, the angle of the feathers barbs change, keep them close to the same.

Here's what they look like. I've been abusing them ever since, tore a few off shooting in groups.

"patience"

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=how+to+splice+feather+fletching

Go to youtube and type "feather splicing" and you will get at least 10 videos on ways to do it.

I have a much easier time watching something being done than reading how to do it.

I use super glue or fletch tape. I start with a brand new blade in my Xacto knife. I have a spare straight clamp to hold the spliced feather until glue dries. Besides my knife I have a set of those toe nail cutting pliers to cut the quill easier. If your not a patient person or in a hurry forget this project! There are two ways to do splicing. The one I do is stripping the feathers from the quill. The other is just cutting two feathers in same place and butting them up together. Both methods are in those YouTube vids. Fresh feathers work best for the first method. I am doing some now with feathers about 8 years old and the quills are brittle and break.

My late friend and mentor, Mr. John Dodge was the master at splicing. He taught me that the best splices are made when you consider several factors. 1.the height, thickness of the barbs, amount of oil line, the angle that they come off the quill and the curvature of the barbs should be the same to get them to marry correctly. Which means you don't use scraps of feathers, you use full length feathers. Don't cut the quill on the feather being spliced, just cut through the hard calculus not the pith and peal that section out. The feather your getting the splice peal the barbs and hard calculus off the pith in one long piece.

The above arrow is also footed. If I remember its triple footed. using two colors of Dymondwood

Bob

I'm sorry its double footed with Ebony and Blk/white Ebony.

Bob

Holy smokes that flag arrow is nice!

That footing is killer Bob.

Huge thanks to all for sharing some knowledge and references. Ive gotten my order placed for all the "bits" so once I have some pics to share I'll share...no matter how they turn out! Thanks again everyone!!! TJ

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