Custom Arrow Fletching

[JerseyHighlander]

Thought ya'll would find this interesting. Not sure this is the proper forum for it but I'm sure the mods will let me know.

My son wanted to make custom arrows for use with his recurve bow. He purchased all the components from Three Rivers Archery; carbon shafts of a specific weight/flex, weighted threaded inserts for the tips, etc and used turkey feathers to make the fletchings himself. Once mounted they need to be trimmed as uniformly as possible. Since he was doing two dozen of them, we made this hot wire set up to trim them to the shape & size he wanted. Very good results. Nice accurate arrows & he learned some new skills.

Shaping Custom Arrow Fletchings with a Hot Wire

My son wanted to make custom arrows for use with his recurve bow. He purchased all the components from Three Rivers Archery; carbon shafts, weighted threaded inserts for the tips, etc and used turkey

rumble.com

 

[Ray D]

Very nice. I’ve fletched a bunch of arrows for my compound bow but never with real feathers.

 

[Wildthings]

that works fabulously! Real cool

 

[2feathers Creative Making]

Awesome. Never thought of a hot wire for feathers. Will store that little idea...

 

[woodtickgreg]

When I used to bow hunt I fletched all my own arrows, both plastic and natural feather. I would use the plastic if it rained and the feathers when it was dry. I also dipped the ends of my arrow shafts in white and used chartreuse nocks so I could see them sticking in the ground from the tree stand after they passed through the deer.
Maybe a little overkill but I enjoyed doing it and they worked really well. And they looked cool in my quiver too.

 

[JerseyHighlander]

Awesome. Never thought of a hot wire for feathers. Will store that little idea...

Works remarkably well. Just don't do it inside, smokes like crazy and stinks to high heaven. Worse than burning hair.

 

[JerseyHighlander]

When I used to bow hunt I fletched all my own arrows, both plastic and natural feather. I would use the plastic if it rained and the feathers when it was dry. I also dipped the ends of my arrow shafts in white and used chartreuse nocks so I could see them sticking in the ground from the tree stand after they passed through the deer.
Maybe a little overkill but I enjoyed doing it and they worked really well. And they looked cool in my quiver too.

These days they have all kinds of glow in the dark nocks even have some with flashing led lights inside. I'm more than willing to trade an arrow for a freezer full of venison though.

 

[El Guapo]

Man, I bet that stunk something fierce! Very cool though, and brilliant simple setup to ensure consistency!

what is your broadhead of choice?

 

[Mike Hill]

Works remarkably well. Just don't do it inside, smokes like crazy and stinks to high heaven. Worse than burning hair.

You ain't just whistling Dixie!!! Made a few feather wings for flies by burning feathers around a wing template.

 

[JerseyHighlander]

Man, I bet that stunk something fierce! Very cool though, and brilliant simple setup to ensure consistency!

what is your broadhead of choice?

I've not yet bowhunted. I much prefer my rifles but with the world losing it's mind and all things uncertain in the future, I'm keeping options open. Bow does add another season to the potential freezer filling so it's always a possibility but right now just trying to put together a proper kit and tune the skills.
My point of reference is pretty small regarding broadheads. Did just pick up these Bearpaw Jager Broadheads. Out of the box they need a proper sharpening and I'm not completely thrilled with the steel but they fly well.

 

[Ray D]

I've not yet bowhunted. I much prefer my rifles but with the world losing it's mind and all things uncertain in the future, I'm keeping options open. Bow does add another season to the potential freezer filling so it's always a possibility but right now just trying to put together a proper kit and tune the skills.
My point of reference is pretty small regarding broadheads. Did just pick up these Bearpaw Jager Broadheads. Out of the box they need a proper sharpening and I'm not completely thrilled with the steel but they fly well.
View attachment 217099

I still shoot the 4 blade Muzzy’s but I’ll have to check this one out. How do they shoot compared to your field points?

 

[woodtickgreg]

I always shot thunder head 125's. They blow right through the rib bones and sting in the ground on the exit side. Blades came razor sharp and are replaceable. And they flew exactly the same as my practice tips. But I don't even know if they are still being made.

 

[Ray D]

I always shot thunder head 125's. They blow right through the rib bones and sting in the ground on the exit side. Blades came razor sharp and are replaceable. And they flew exactly the same as my practice tips. But I don't even know if they are still being made.

Flying the same as my field points is always my biggest concern with broadheads.

 

[woodtickgreg]

I just Google em, they still make em. 1 tough broadhead that hits hard and flies true.

 

[JerseyHighlander]

Limited use so far but no difference from the field points to me.

 

[El Guapo]

I took one with a muzzy last year… clean pass through. Decided to try out some other broadheads this year to see which flies closest to my field points. I’m trying out Rage hypodermics and Slick Trick magnums.