DIY feather burner?

[Scottski]

Ok guys I have looked and not found what I was looking for. Any one have any plans or know how to make a feather burner from a soldering gun? I tried the train transformer but my transformer was not powerful enough to het up a wire. New ideas! I do have a soldering gun, or if you have a burner you are will to get rid of? Thanks for any help you may have.

[osage outlaw]

Here is one I made from some scraps I had in the garage.  I used a battery charger for the power source.  One time I used jumper cables and a car battery.  I unhook the power in between arrows and brush the element off.  I gave this one away when I got a Young feather burner.  I wish I would have kept my home made version.  I like using it better.  You can just hook each lead from the soldering gun to each post I think.  I never found an old soldering gun to use.

[Del the cat]

I made a hot wire feather burner, it was a pain in the butt. As the wire gets hot it expands and unless it is under tension it won't hold shape. If it is tensioned it can only cut a straight line.
Far simpler and more effective is to simply cut out the shape you want from a sheet of brass or copper (a bit of pipe opened out flat will do)
Heat it up held in grips and then touch it over the roughly trimmed feather. Cheap simple easy effective!
http://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/curved-profile-feather-shaper.html
For comparison here's the post about the hot wire cutter:-
http://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/hot-wire-feather-cutter.html
I think you can see which is simpler
Del

[osage outlaw]

Del, the flat ribbon that 3rivers sells doesn't lose its shape when heated. 

[Pat B]

An electric soldering gun will work as your power source. I think a battery charger will also but that I'm not sure of.

[Aaron H]

I've heard a toy train transformer also works as a power supply

[Scottski]

Well I have the base built so I guess I will try and hook the leads from the soldering gun to it. I didn't think about trying that thank you Osage Outlaw. I will try that as soon as I can get out to my shop.

[osage outlaw]

Here are some pictures I found in an old thread.

[Del the cat]

Del, the flat ribbon that 3rivers sells doesn't lose its shape when heated.

Cheers...
Del

[Scottski]

If that whole wire heats up it will cut the entire fletching off. Or am I missing something?

[osage outlaw]

I don't how he used that burner.  He hasn't been active for years.  I agree with you.  It looks like it would be a feather remover.  If I was going to make another burner I'd make one just like the one of mine I posted but with the soldering gun as the power source.  Please post some pictures of whatever you make. 

[Pat B]

You could do a set up like Clint's and use the soldering gun as the power source. Just connect with wire.
 I also could not figure that last one either.

[lebhuntfish]

Here is what I made.  It didn't take very long to throw together.  It was simple and easy to make.  Made the whole thing out of scrap minus the 3 dollar guitar string. 

I tried the train transformer but I didn't have any luck.  So I used an older style battery charger.  I don't think the new ones will work because of a safety they have in them.








It takes a few minutes to get set up, but once you do, you can do a dozen arrows in no time. As long as you make sure your cutting wire is red hot.  First set of kids arrows!


A buddy and I have been using this for about 3 years.  I bought 2 pack of guitar strings and have only used one!

Patrick

[Aaron H]

I successfully made one several months ago, very similar to Patrick's.  I used a 6v battery charger like Clint suggested.  For the burn wire I am using .045" stainless steel Mig welding wire, haven't had one burn up or lose its shape yet.

[osage outlaw]

Nice job Patrick.  I liked my home made burner better than the Young burner I traded for.