My son wants to buy a new feather chopper. I've currently have the little chopper in LW. He wants to get a RW one. I know there are other choppers out there. Just curious which ones you guys use and why. thanks in advance

I like banana choppers. No problem to chop left or right.

I use 3rivers bananna cut, modified to cut a low profile 4" feather.

actually I meant what brand, I know there are at least two different ones. only tried the one from 3 rivers

Bearpaw has a new 1 out. With interchageable blades. Think its 50ish dollars @ kustum king. Thats what ill get when my 3 rivrs 1 takes a crap

The Bearpaw shark chopper is much nicer then the Lil'choppers. I've been trying to sell 3-lil choppers forever with no interest.

Had Lil Choppers and sold them, bought a Bearpaw and have been more than happy with the quality and ease of cut.

From what I've read and heard, seems like the Little Chopper & Bear-paw MIGHT be the only ones left? The guy who used to sell the "VARIO" no longer doing that ( as best I know). Might GOOGLE to see what Y'ALL can find? Just sayin'

Shark

Bear paw

Rooty had some from France, Viking Arrows, that looked nice.

Herbs Archery has a copy of the Vario he used to sell. The blades in his new ones are interchangeable with the Vario. What's new? Saw a video of one that uses a "shape" that you cut around with a rotary knife. Kind of the same idea as the one Rooty showed us. Haven't seen the BearPaw one in person yet. But if I was in the market I would want one the holds down the feather quill like the Vario.

I am also saddled with four little choppers that no one wants. I pretty much trashed one trying to improve it so the chopper would be more consistent.

Just make sure you get a 4" chopper. You'll get a lot more feathers. :^)

They are shark

All choppers fail. Templates are good for some shapes. Had a young burner found it too compact. Building one. Rooty

I have one from Herb's Archery and like it.

I've got the old Banana chopper with 2 quill plates.I like it because I can get a decent profile height even at 4" length.

Ive had good luck with my little choppers,,and IMHO,,,for the money ya cant go wrong That said im with my cuz'n,,,(mgerard)im like'n the Viking french curve and im thinkn real hard on ordering one

https://www.vikingarrows.com/product/feather-chopper-hill-french-curve/

I hope you're getting left wing cuz, I'll send you some feathers to chop :>)

Of course left wing Ill let ya know cuz! I have some light weight bamboo shafts i just got too,,,might be the ticket to building back up

Seems like building back up is all I do lately! Building arrows with feathers you chop, cut or burn yourself, makes a more personal experience for sure.

I just bought a 4" chopper that has a 3 Rivers sticker on it.The feathers chopped out of it measure 3 5/8 of an inch!I'm disappointed in it as myLil Chopper's cut as advertised.

I just bought a 4" LW Bear Paw Shark chopper and hate it !!!! Never cuts clean.Taking it back to Lancaster Archery Monday.Very disappointed !!!!Oh well...Live & learn !!!

I have made my own based on a post years years ago. They worked ok, but they couldn’t hold up to the amount of feathers I was doing. I tried the bear paw and wasn’t impressed. I ended up selling it off. I’ve been using the lil choppers. They aren’t near the quality they used to be. I mean they are made of the same materials as they always have been, but obviously no attention to detail when assembled. They are like a bow, and need to be “tuned”. If you try to use them right out of the box you will be disappointed.

Scissors last a long time, are quiet and don't stink. You can even use them in the living room while you waste time in front of the TV--provided you vacuum after. :)

If you are careful the little Choppers work fine. I tried a Bear Paw about 6 months ago and sent it back. Very disappointed. None of them are perfect but the Little Chopper works the best for me.

Date: 15-Dec-17

unhinged's embedded Photo

Oops, funny that you can copy and paste a photo from a previous post, in a number of venues, but not on the website it was originally posted on.

If you trim the quill so that it isn’t too wide, you can chop lw feathers in a rw chopper and vice versa. Just takes a little practice. I use the little chopper

I like the BearPaw, but I have two that do not cut the length as "advertised". Creates problems when I may be replacing one fletch on an arrow. Otherwise, I love them.

You guys using a sledge hammer on your choppers? I've used them for decades and chopped thousands of feathers with zero problems! Sometimes it pays to be smarter than the tools you are using!

I have a Vario and some of Herb's Archery blades. Far better than the Little Choppers and the first version or two from Bearpaw. (I don't know what BP has now the early ones were not good)

I haven't looked the Viking option either but I know the guy that owns the shop and suspect it is good.

A quick check appears Herb is making his.

I have used nothing but Herb's for about ten years. First class

I'm a scissor guy like Jim Davis.

When I was chopping my own, I got one of those Vario, and was very pleased with the results. The Lil Choppers never worked well for me.

I did a lot of feathers like Jim showed. Just a template and a set f scissors. Worked okay, but gets a little old. I like to keep my trimmings for making a few bream jigs and flies. Just bought a Lil Chopper from 3 rivers. So far so good.

-Bones

The "Vario Clipper" is still made: http://www.eternal-archery.de/

Little choppers work ok for the little bit of chopping that I do- I'd really like to see someone come along with a sturdier, more consistent tool for chopping that doesn't wear out as fast.

Ya all know you can sharpen the little choppers,,,right?

If you but better edge on the carbon blade on a little chopper it not only cuts better it takes alot less pressure to get a clean cut,,,so you dont have hit it as hard with a mallet and the tool lasts alot linger

I recently bought templates from 3rivers. If they work well im gonna make my own out of metal. They suggest a 60mm rotary fabric cutter. Awaiting my cutter before i can report results. If it doesnt work out ill just use scissors

Well, I found something better!!! I got a 4" shield Shark cutter from a friend of mine on here and I bought a 5" right and left shield shark cutter. THey are a little more expensive, but man they are NICE!!! I cut over four dozen turkey feathers over the Christmas holidays and these things are SLICK! VERY sturdy and well made. THEy make the Little choppers look like toys that you'd expect to find at the bottom of a box of CRACKER JACKS! The QUALITY of the Shark cutter made the LACK of QUALITY and poor construction of the little chopper blatantly obvious. I'm well pleased with my new Sharks!

Make sure u use a rubber hammer, not a steel one!!

Vario is the best i have used, now i burn more.

I could use a LW 5" shield & a LW 4" Traditional. I get too many miscuts trying to chop the wrong wing.>>>----> Ken

Little chopper works for me.

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