I use the feathers from the birds we harvest to make my own arrow fletchings. I make the c0ck feathers from the wings of turkeys that I harvest. I am a traditional archer and bowhunter and I make all my own equipment.



I like to use whole uncut white feathers for the two hen feathers and a homemade c0ck feather. I found 7 good looking specimens (one is a spare)



Next I split them to get rid of the side that I won�t need.



Then I find the best section in the middle of the length and cut off the ends. These are longer than I need but I will trim them later



Because the split base is way to thick I need to thin them down.



I use a belt sander with a fine grit belt because the bases are pretty soft. I finish them with a sanding block



The thined feather is a lot less beefy.

[img]http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/newcedars999.jpg[/img]

Next I cut them to their finished length.

[img]http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/newcedars9991.jpg[/img]

After fletching, I use a feather burner to give them their shape.

[img]http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/newcedars9994.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/newcedars9996.jpg[/img]

Nice work!!

Yup, that. Nice traditional arrows are thing of beauty.

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Very nice.
I do the same thing only I bought a cutter from three rivers archery. I think its called Little Chopper.
I get 10 or so good fletches off the right wing every year.
Just fetched a dozen with one natural barred and two white feathers on a solid white wrap.
They will be in south Africa in five weeks.