smoothing vanes

[Pat B]

I don't use an arrow shelf so a floppy rest really goes a long way at preventing hand damage from the fletchings.

[Tom Leemans]

Ferret's Floppy Arrarest (TM) is the way to go for sure!

[NTD]

Thanks all for the replies.  The moleskin sounds like a good idea!!

Nate Danforth

[recurve shooter]

i always use a buffing wheele or sanding drum on a dremel tool. preferably the buffing wheele because it will "sand" down the vane without damageing your shaft. i had to shoot my frined's composite bow for a shoot a while back. still have a scar. 

[Scowler]

I use scissors to cut a 1/2" lengh of feather material from the quill.  I then use a Dremel sanding disc or 150 grit sandpaper to sand down/smooth the exposed 1/2" of the quill.  You should have an angled, smooth transition from shaft to quill.  I then wrap the front of the quill with artificial sinew.  I continue the wrap for about 1/2" to 3/4"  onto the shaft.  I tie off the beginning and end of the wrapping.  I then apply a coat of Barge cement to the wrapping and allow it to set overnight.  Good luck.   

[gutpile]

you can always strip the feathers from the quill...I don't have a quill on my feathers and never have the above problem...I lay down some glue on shaft then wrap with sinew...feathers will not come off and are as stiff as before..gut

[kiwijim]

scar tissue on your knuckle fixes the problem