DIY Feather Burner Traditional Archery

Feather burners are the most versatile method of shaping feathers for arrow fletching. A commercial feather burner will cost in the neighborhood of $150 new, but old transformers can be used to pull an appropriate amount of power out of the wall to make your own burner. Train transformers work great, and old models are all over the used market. I prefer using Nichrome 80 as a resistance wire; this is the wire that will get red hot and cut through the feather. There are certainly more ways to create a feather burner, but this design is very straightforward and has stood the test of time for plenty of DIY traditional archers.

[uqiocvd]

I remember using one over 50 years ago, brings back memories.

[mozartpaiva]

I was able to replicate this device. Works perfectly!

And I almost bought one for $$$.

Thanks a bunch!

[michpatriot]

As an added bonus your wife will love the fresh smell wafting through the house!

[rupertbezuidenhout]

Just built a feather burner on your design proposal. Thanks. Many turkey feathers waiting to be Fletched. Hhiiihaaa!

[BowyerToBe]

I'm definitely doing this!! Thank you!

[GregDaGoblin]

Holy cow. I have a power supply that I got for hot wire cutting foam core airplane wings with. All I need is some heavier wire to hold a shape and a few odds and ends and I'm in business. Just never crossed my old brain haha

[powellc]

thanks for the vid. I'll probably be building one of these. Hope you get one with your trad gear this year.

[josephtufts]

FS discount archery sells the young feather burner for around $120

[darkinertia]

lol wow who knew all my vaping wire would come in handy

[Bowfella]

Honestly I just trace and cut my fletching with scissors. If you cut against the grain then it's pretty easy to get them consistent, not that it's really important for them to be super consistent anyways. I just don't see it being worth the fire hazard to shave off a couple minutes off my arrow building time.

[ivanbrown]

What's your measurement for nock hole from base and distance from bolt side?
Also interested to hear a comment on last comment about snapping/wire not getting hot
Thanks for your consideration

[laurensadventures]

I have a question. I have some turkey feathers that look look you could get a fletch off either side of the quill, producing both a left and right wing feather off each one. Would that work or should I only use the stronger side of the feather. Idk, both sides look good to me.

[BananaBabys]

have you tried using a soldering Iron as the heat source?

[jaymackinnon]

Why burn cut the edges? Why not put tape and cut? What's the benefit?

[kimmccarl]

Would a Printer Transformer work with a Potentiometer Work?

[mediatote]

I built this to your specs and even got the same transformer. When I hook it up to the posts it still has full voltage yet but when I add the burn wire the transformer starts snapping and voltage drops to almost nothing and the wire only gets warm, do you happen to know what would be causing that?

[babiesfartingfire]

Could do this with an ecig in about 2 minutes