Choosing feathers
There are a few choices in various aspects of feathers.
Two major companies service the archery world for feathers: Gateway and
Trueflight. While both use domestic turkey wing feathers there are a few
differences that may or may not matter to you. The biggest difference in my
mind is the way the base is ground. Trueflight tends to have a thin but
wide base. Gateway feathers have a thicker and narrower base. For the most
part I rather prefer Gateway as they cut better in my feather choppers.
However, Trueflight is slightly more common in catalogs and, my opinion
again, has a better looking artificial barred feather. In the end, unless I
'm looking for something special like Gateway's camo pattern, I use whatever
comes to hand. The arrow really isn't going to tell the difference.
If you'll look at a turkey you'll see that it has two wings: a right and a
left. Feathers from both are used for arrow fletching. While there is a
persistent rumor that right handed archers have to use a left wing feather
and vice versa, it really makes no difference. Remember, the string is
holding the arrow for quite a while (in relative terms). It can't spin
during that time regardless of what wing feather it has. Even after the
arrow releases off the string, high speed photography has shown that it
doesn't spin until it's well clear and out in front of the bow. Some
individuals may find a particular wing feather gives them better clearance
as the arrow passes over the shelf or over their hand, but for arrow flight
it makes no different whatsoever. The only really important thing here is
that you do not mix wings on your feathers and you use the correct clamp on
your fletching jig for the wing you've chosen.
For color you've got a choice of quite a few solid colors and also
artificial barred. Gateway also has their camo pattern that has a pretty
nice look to it. Both artificial barred and camo will cost slightly higher
than solid colors. A lot of arrows are built with one barred feather in the
cock position and two solid color hen feathers. This makes a pretty good
looking arrow and gives you the visual reference for how to orient the arrow
on the string.
The shape you choose for fletching is pretty much up to you. For the most
part, similar surface area on the feather is going to perform the same
regardless of what shape they are. Feather shapes with a trailing edge can
tend to make an interesting buzz when they are shot from a fast enough bow.
The most common shapes you'll find are: parabolic, shield, traditional, Pope
& Young, banana, and Raptor. Parabolic and shield are what you'll usually
find available in a pre-cut feather. Most of the others will have to be
custom cut by you or someone else using a feather burner, a Little Chopper,
or scissors.
Feather burners offer the most versatility and uniformity as you form a
special wire to the shape you desire. Turning the machine on heats up the
wire, the arrows is placed in supports and rotated so the hot wire cuts the
glued feathers. It stinks but it works pretty well. Burners cost about $90
in the catalogs.
The Little Chopper is a mini-die cutter that allows you to cut full length
feathers to the shape the die is formed in. It gives very uniform results
and is easy to use. Little Choppers are available in the common shapes and
can also be custom ordered for special shapes; stock shapes cost about $19.
These tools are particular about which wing they are made for so keep that
in mind; if you're going to be using left wing feathers don't buy a chopper
made for right wing.
Scissors are probably the least expensive of all these tools. With care
they'll look good. Without care they can look like you shaped the fletching
with your teeth. Big, sharp scissors work best and you may consider using a
template of some kind.
If you're going to be making a lot of arrows, it can be fun to have the
versatility of one or more of these tools. If you'll only be making a few
arrows, purchasing pre-cut feathers may be a little limiting but is
certainly easier and less expensive.
First picture shows full length feathers as they are sold for fletching.
They are already split and the bases ground. I buy full length because it
gives me greater flexibility in shapes and colors. You can purchase them
pre-cut if you don't want to shape your own. From top to bottom: Gateway
camo green, Trueflight artificial barr (natural color), Gateway solid color,
Trueflight solid color. The top three are right wing, the bottom is left wing.
Next picture shows some shapes. Top to bottom: 4" shield, 5" shield,
Raptor, and parabolic.
Cutting feathers on the Little Chopper: placing the feather and the end
result after a couple whacks with a mallet. The Little Choppers can take
some practice but I really like them.
