GaryR, pretty much the feather burner is just for shaping the fletching on your arrows. In short, you would tie or glue on a full size feather cut to your predetermined length, then place the shaft in the notch on the burner, turn on the burner and when the wire glows red you would slowly rotate the shaft and the wire will shape your feathers just like the ones you buy.
Check out you tube and search for feather burners and there are some good videos that shows the process. Hope that was as clear as mud! Lol Patrick