Post by Ron Kulas on Jul 10, 2015 12:03:11 GMT -6
I enjoy making my own arrows. Ive been making them for about 35 years. While I enjoy compounds and recurves,, I also make my own longbows and my own broadheads to hunt with. Likewise I make my own cedar arrows. I took a few pictures of the last batch I am working on. This not the ONLY way to make arrows. Its just one way. There is more than one way to skin a cat and while I love cats, I can’t eat a whole one by myself but I digress.
We save the wings from the birds we kill so we can make them fly again.
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/newcedars991.jpg)
I like to use the primary feathers but I also use the secondary feathers if they seem fitting for the purpose.
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/newcedars992.jpg)
I trim away both ends that are less than useful.
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch1_zpssoxazcd4.jpg)
Turkeys are dirty, smelly, oily birds so the feathers need a bath in warm soapy water
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch2_zpsfwvhplcc.jpg)
Even though this turkey died once, Its gonna get dyed again. This time red but sometimes green or yellow, etc. I use RIT dye, really hot water and a little vinegar.
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch3_zpstdgqz1ck.jpg)
After a rinse and air drying.
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch5_zpsgwasv3l3.jpg)
Lots of folks use a razor knife to split their feathers and I have done it that way for years but I find a 14 tooth very thin bandsaw blade offers more control and is a bit easier/safer.
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch6_zps0usgg4c0.jpg)
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch7_zps7cy7mwos.jpg)
I fabricated a holder that allows me to grind/sand the base and sides of the feathers. Nothing fancy but it works.
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch8_zps66ooxlmy.jpg)
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch9_zpsavi4u6hb.jpg)
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch91_zps2iqulyhn.jpg)
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch92_zpstesivbfc.jpg)
Then a trip on the drill press against a sanding drum with a wood spacer slightly larger in Diameter than the drum to allow for consistent spacing.
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch93_zpsmmpf1k4r.jpg)
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch94_zpstw5eoltn.jpg)
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch95_zpsrqnybaun.jpg)
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch96_zpsl0erbezb.jpg)
I don’t chop my feather although that is a perfectly fine method to employ. I tend to burn my feathers either in advance of fletching using a simple clamp I made from office supplies and a red hot wire.
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch97_zpsoz7inlak.jpg)
Or I burn them after fletching (also using a hot wire)
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/newcedars9994.jpg)
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch98_zpsjzzajyyy.jpg)
I like to dip and crest my cedars in colors that match the feathers.
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch99_zpsekyv0jx3.jpg)
I have a few fletching jigs that date back pretty far but for a bit more helical I use this newer Bohning jig.
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch991_zpslrhahoww.jpg)
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch992_zps5srudrw3.jpg)
Here is another batch.
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/newcedars9996.jpg)
Couple that with a homemade broadhead and it makes for one very satisfying way to pass the time and a way to increase the level of satisfaction and accomplishment when you take game with a homemade bow and homemade arrows.
We save the wings from the birds we kill so we can make them fly again.
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/newcedars991.jpg)
I like to use the primary feathers but I also use the secondary feathers if they seem fitting for the purpose.
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/newcedars992.jpg)
I trim away both ends that are less than useful.
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch1_zpssoxazcd4.jpg)
Turkeys are dirty, smelly, oily birds so the feathers need a bath in warm soapy water
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch2_zpsfwvhplcc.jpg)
Even though this turkey died once, Its gonna get dyed again. This time red but sometimes green or yellow, etc. I use RIT dye, really hot water and a little vinegar.
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch3_zpstdgqz1ck.jpg)
After a rinse and air drying.
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch5_zpsgwasv3l3.jpg)
Lots of folks use a razor knife to split their feathers and I have done it that way for years but I find a 14 tooth very thin bandsaw blade offers more control and is a bit easier/safer.
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch6_zps0usgg4c0.jpg)
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch7_zps7cy7mwos.jpg)
I fabricated a holder that allows me to grind/sand the base and sides of the feathers. Nothing fancy but it works.
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch8_zps66ooxlmy.jpg)
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch9_zpsavi4u6hb.jpg)
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch91_zps2iqulyhn.jpg)
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch92_zpstesivbfc.jpg)
Then a trip on the drill press against a sanding drum with a wood spacer slightly larger in Diameter than the drum to allow for consistent spacing.
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch93_zpsmmpf1k4r.jpg)
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch94_zpstw5eoltn.jpg)
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch95_zpsrqnybaun.jpg)
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch96_zpsl0erbezb.jpg)
I don’t chop my feather although that is a perfectly fine method to employ. I tend to burn my feathers either in advance of fletching using a simple clamp I made from office supplies and a red hot wire.
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch97_zpsoz7inlak.jpg)
Or I burn them after fletching (also using a hot wire)
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/newcedars9994.jpg)
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch98_zpsjzzajyyy.jpg)
I like to dip and crest my cedars in colors that match the feathers.
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch99_zpsekyv0jx3.jpg)
I have a few fletching jigs that date back pretty far but for a bit more helical I use this newer Bohning jig.
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch991_zpslrhahoww.jpg)
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/fletch992_zps5srudrw3.jpg)
Here is another batch.
![](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/newcedars9996.jpg)
Couple that with a homemade broadhead and it makes for one very satisfying way to pass the time and a way to increase the level of satisfaction and accomplishment when you take game with a homemade bow and homemade arrows.