I demonstrate the common fletching method using three feathers split along the rachis. This can be used on any natural dart shaft material, and can be adapted to arrows as well.
Trimming a feather is about like trimming finger nails with a pocket knife, so your blade needs to be sharp. You also need scissors, linen thread, hide glue, and shellac to coat the bindings. This method produces solid attachments that won't slip and are resilient to wear, but also organic (see note below) so you don't have to worry about littering the forest with lost projectiles.
You are bound to ruin some feathers as you learn the method. Keep trying. I'm using goose wing feathers collected in an area where they gather in large groups and shed them.
Check back for videos on straightening mainshafts and attaching foreshafts.
Note: For convenience I'm using Titebond hide glue (not to be confused with Titebond wood glues, which are synthetic resins). This has two additives, cyanoguanidine and ammonium thiocyanate. The first is an organic compound that occurs in soil and the second is an inorganic salt. The former operates as a curing agent and the latter as a gel depressant to allow the glue to remain liquid in the bottle. If that bothers you try Old Brown Glue or pure granular hide glue. Or find a fresh animal skin and make your own! My primary concern is with not using artificial sinew. It is a synthetic nylon thread that is strong but frays with abrasion and the wax coating doesn't allow glue to soak in.
27 авг 2024
