I have modified/cut down feathers, but I just used scissors because that's all I have. So, of course, the question is what's better, or give me the pro's and con's of both: a good feather burner vs a good chopper.

Thanks in advance for any info.

Never used a burner and just bought a chopper last year. Does a good job, suppose a burner would give you options to design your own design?

The chopper doesn't stink.

"the chopper doesn't stink" Yep, that did cross my mind.

Well, seems obvious but the copper is used before you fletch, the burner is used after you fletch.

Chopper 100%

I like the burner.

The chopper is clean and easy, but there is nothing like creating your own fletches and watching that burner zip through your feathers on a brand new arrow. I have both and choose the burner every time.

I have both and choose the chopper every time.

Burning stinks like crazy. Chopping makes a heck of a lot of noise + you need one for every style & size you want to make. Both are best done outside or in a large area. It depends on which you & the folks around you tolerate the best. Nothing wrong with what you are doing. A rotary knife & template works well also. >>>----> Ken

Burner is more versatile and gives more consistent results. Can cut any shape feather you want, and it will be the same every time. Same can't be said for the chopper. The result is all three feathers, or four, when burned are the same size. They may not be if chopped. Obviously, need a whole bunch of choppers to create different fletch sizes, shapes, etc. Only need a couple of inexpensive wires to do it with a burner.

Unfortunately, the burner is a lot more expensive. I have one, but don't know if I would buy one at current prices. Since I've pretty much settled on one fletch size and shape, I also have a chopper for that size/shape, and use it more than my burner nowadays and accept the small differences in the fletches that result.

I rather like and miss the smell of burning feathers though.

I'll keep my burner. Repeatable and consistent results, it makes replacing them easy as well. I've heard the burnt ends make for a longer lasting fletch but don't know it for a fact. With my big shop doors the smell goes away fast enough and I don't find it that bad to start with.

I use both. I have 3 or 4 sizes and shapes of choppers that I use. I also have a burner when I do spliced feathers on my personal arrows. It makes the shape easy on spliced feathers.

I have both, little choppers and the new one from bearpaw. I like the bearpaw over my young.

RonL

I have never seen this mentioned before about burning feathers, so I'm not sure it applies, but burning a feather seem to burn and melt the feather, I seemed like it sealed the feather and made it a little less susceptible to moisture

Chopper all day long.

I have used both. Still have and use the burner. I like its consistency and options vs the choppers.

You can make a feather burner using an old lionel train transformer. For the DIY er that wants to save money. You can buy ribbons or use the wire from an old electric heater.

There are Youtube videos about how to make a feather burner

Thanks for all of the information, guys.

Tried a burner. Went back to a fabric cutter and mat with a wood stencil

It depends on the chopper, I preferred a burner to the standard Lil chopper, but got a Vario Chopper and sold my burner.

They don't make a Vario Chopper now but a guy in Canada picked up the design and started making them. They are called a Bear Paw Chopper now.

I made a cardboard template of feather shape, and used a rotary cutter (from wife quilt supplies) to create the shape I needed. Worked great for small number of fletching feathers.

The shark cutter or bearpaw is really hard to beat. No tools required and zero slop in your chops. However, I still use a burner on occasion. For instance, just received 9 arrows with a bow I bought that had some ugly shaped feathers on them so I fired up the burner and took care of them and now they look great. Can’t go wrong with either method. Both have been around a long time and have withstood the test of time. They will both get you to where you need to go.

I've never burnt or chopped feathers, always bought them pre-cut. But I've been thinking about a chopper for some time now. In you guy's experience, can you get two chopped 4" shields from a single full length feather?

L -

What bothers you (or the Mrs) more, loud noises or bad odors???

Viper out.

About '90 or '91, a coworker returned from a long weekend up north having to settle father in law's estate. He brought in a 2 burner Colman stove, a Young feather burner and a 4' mahogany level and asked if I'd give him $20 for all three of them. So, yup, burn feathers and actually don't mind the smell. Add a tube of fletching cement and it almost smells like an archery shop. ;^)

Steve

You can get two 4" cuts out of most full-length feathers.

I have both but like the burner best. I can make any length and whatever profile I want

I've been through several chopper's at best they last 1000 chops for me. I have a store bought and my own made hot rod burner hooked up to a 10 amp battery charger and singer sewing machine pedal.

I think the burner does a cleaner job than the chopper, but inside both.

Hot rod burner parts

would think needed a burner if spliced feathers?

young featherburner for me

chopper did not hold up well

I have both and prefer burning. I burn the fletch before mounting. I have also reshaped some large high profile feathers.

Chopper. Less hassle and kids love helping

I'm with you fellas on the Shark Cutter, nice clean cuts.

Feather chopper for me.

The burner is for in the shop use only.Or make sure you have a first class divorce attorney.

I do like the idea of the burner for being able to experiment with different profiles. I do know of some that will modify a chopper to get a high back feather. But I think it a more or less permanent modification. Maybe not, I have never had one in my hands to look at.

Aside from the obvious "start up" cost of a burner or chopper, are most of you doing this to save money, or as another level of DIY? My main motivation is to save money on the amount of feather fletching I buy. I haven't made the switch yet because I'm still trying to figure out if I'll actually save any money. For you guys that have been doing it for a while, what's your thoughts on this?

Never used a burner myself,but did watch one being used once.Theres just something about the burners thats really is cool.Kinda takes me back in time.If i could find one at a decent price i would get one for sure.Both my choppers are pretty much worn out anyway.

Make your own. Hopefully a video will follow.

Sounds good Rooty

Sounds good Rooty

Sounds good Rooty

,,,"still trying to figure out if I'll actually save money",,,,,,years ago you could get two 5" feathers from one full length, not anymore,, the price now of full length compared cut is not that much, but, if you're using 3" or 4" fletching the savings are there because you can get two cuts from one full length, more so with 3" than 4"

burn baby burn I've got 2 1 for 5inch and 2nd for 4 inch fletchings

you can bend that wire in any shape try that with your chopper

The vario chopper is still made. There is just no-one importing it to the US/ Canada. https://www.arrowforge.de/Vario-Clipper-Federstanze-Grundmodul By the way, small parcel shipping from Germany is affordable and about as expensive as a domestic parcel for most items.

Burner !

Have not used a chopper, but a substantial perk with a burner is that you can reshape the fletchings on a finished arrow if you find (for example) that your profile is too high and noisesome….

Juuust sayin’…..

Burner will likely cost more up front, but I don’t see how a chopper could really get any more fletchings out of a feather than a burner would…..

A few years ago I made the burner stand above. Materials were simple. The 2 uprights consisted of plumbing parts. Wingbacks reduced to 1/4 nipples. Nipples drilled and Pete's plug caps used to hold ribbon. Pipe stays used to hold shaft or burning tool.

I use both

I think my resistor is an old, ceramic chicken coup heater. Works well.

Had the chopper. Had the young burner. Tried templates and a cutting wheel a d sold both.

I chop a bunch of feathers pretty quickly.

Chopper for me .... burning feather smoke contains some pretty nasty dioxin compounds I'd rather not have in my lungs

As far as spliced feathers go, I've chopped them countless times with no issue. They chop the same as any other.

Btw, I splice by peeling away from the quill, not by butt- splicing.

I chop my feathers. Don't like smelling up the house.

I burn in the garage. For basic shapes a template and rotory cutter works. I went through at least 7 chopper's the last 2 were sharks. Never again. Clear?

Scissors are better , you can change shapes to what ever you like.

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