Plastic feather fletches

[alanesq]

I know most commercial feather fletchings come from an American "turkey processing plant" so I would assume the plant get money for the feathers and I don't want to give any of my money to them
But even so I just wouldn't like the idea of where the feathers had come from

I use self nocks on my arrows so I am half way to a green arrow ;-)

I would imagine it would be possible to mass produce hard wood nocks which are very similar to the plastic ones?
Its a great idea, there is a gap in the market there !

Biodegradable plastics exist which could be used (although I dont know if they would start degrading whilst you are still using them ?)

[Windknot]

Bi-Delta Vanes & Archery Products Vane Model Page,Bi-Delta 2.5" Shark's Tooth,Bi-Delta 4" Rain Vane Feather-Like,Bi-Delta 4" Shark's Tooth,Bi-Delta 4" Jet 35,Bi-Delta 3" Hyper Delta,Bi-Delta 4" Hunter 3-D,Bi-Delta 5.3" Mangnum Bee.

Scroll down.

Looks like you can order direct.

Jakes,

who recognizes brilliant solutions to non-existant problems.

[Macbow]

Originally Posted by alanesq

Thats my problem, I dont tend to take great care of my arrows and they get a lot of abuse and now I have got used to plastic fletches and not having to worry about them I find real feather a real pain.
.....:-(

One last comment and I'll stop picking on you Alan
You have to take care of your arrows - a bow is a useless stick without arrows (although my flatbows for some reason both tune to a perfect G when strung so at least I could play a monotonous song). The bow doesn't score points or bring home the bacon. My carbons get left in my quiver or dumped in the back of the landy but my woodies are treated with care and respect, stored safely in an arrow box away from damp, cold, heat etc. Even leaving them leaning against the wall can cause them to bend slightly. I know how much time I put into making them so keeping them flying straight is paramount.

[alanesq]

I seem to break arrows so often that I never have an arrow for long anyway
or if I dont break them I lose them at field archery ;-)

Now I have my 10cm piles I am not breaking them anything like I used to but I still get through 1 or 2 a week !

although, to be fair, its mostly my fault now as it tends to be when I hit the wood of the stand from being too optimistic on the distance I shoot ;-)

[NoWay]

It is a common misconception that plastic lasts for ever, archaeologists are actually quite concerned that there will be very little evidence of our culture in the distant future because platic degrades so fast.

[John Carter]

I've resently bought some Bio Delta rain vanes for hunting use.
They do fly well from my longbow,though I think that having a fairly high nocking point probably helps.
I've been told by a State side friend that they fly better the longer you shoot them,as they wear in,"or something like that.
I don't usualy worry "too much" about getting my feathers wet because my arrows fly well out to about 30 yards without feathers anyway,but put a broad head on and things change fast.
The only real complaint I have about them is,"the're flamin' ugly.
In nobodys life time are they ever going to look as good as a matched set of barred feathers,,,but then their illegal for almost all longbow competition in the country anyway,so nobody ever has to see them.
Cheers.