tail fan handle help

bulljunes2003 · 01-23-2004, 02:49 PM

I am making a tail fan and i need help on the handle part. I wanted to connect the feathers to dowels and then to the handle. I am very stumped on how to do this. If i can get an example I will post it. Any and all help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks all.

I attached a file of what i am talking about. Never mind the thread work or beadwork. I only need to know how to attach the dowels.

**spottedeagle** · 01-25-2004, 11:58 AM

I sent you a pm, but I think from the picture that is the wooden spoon method.

Blackbear · 01-25-2004, 08:15 PM

wish I could help you.. I have'nt made a fan using dowels yet. And the last fan I made was only 5 inches long LOL.. but it was described to me by someone, that you put the dowl up the shaft of the feather and glue it in, then you either drill holes into your handle where you want the dowels to go.. or you glue them to inside of a woooden spoon with epoxy or fill it in with jb bond or wood filler.. and then sand it all down a good shape.

bulljunes2003 · 01-27-2004, 04:57 PM

I kind of get the idea of the spoon method but how is the part where the dowels and handle meet so thin? I can work with bondo pretty well but, I need some pictures or drawings or whatever to help me out.

storm · 01-29-2004, 01:26 PM

Bamboo scewers are better than dowels. tougher, stronger and thinner. and you can buy them in large bunches cheap.

bulljunes2003 · 02-05-2004, 01:34 PM

Does anyone know how to make one of those screw on handles?

storm · 02-05-2004, 01:40 PM

yes, almost all the old loose fans (and most new ones) are made from wooden shot gun cleaning rods. you can buy super cheap wooden rods or even the threaded male and female sections ferrules,from Crazy crow pge 34 i think or even Wood working shops. I guess some people are making threaded flat fan handles but that is very recent (and kind of goofy in my opinion no old fans are made that way I know of.)
Do you need details?

Tibiki Kinew · 07-20-2004, 09:02 PM

Kwe kwe!!! My fan handles are cedar, I cut the lenght needed and then with the band saw I cut out a u shape so I can insert the tail completely into the handle and then just glue it into place. As well I can use complete wings this way too. I am in the process of getting a bunch ready for the upcoming powwow in Golden Lake this year. I will post pics once I get the camera hooked up! As well I am using antler and bones! And as of last week I am also using deer leg bones with the fur still on them!

sookout sh'nob · 07-29-2004, 01:29 AM

I typically will use a deer shoulder (cleaned , bone only) for a tail fan handle. Works slick and the natural contours provide a real nice shape for the fan. There is just the one ridge on the shoulder that needs to be shaved down - everything else is perfect as is.

Makes a shape very similar to the one in your picture - but not exactly the same.

For tail fans with dowls, I make the handle from it's own peice of wood. I then plug this into a wheel shaped peice of wood. On the other side of this wheel, I plug in my fan dowels. Think of tinkertoys and you have the right idea. Fill in the empty spaces with whatever you want and cover. Voila.

Im going to try that spoon technique though -sounds interesting. Thanks for the info folks.

Tibiki Kinew · 07-29-2004, 05:16 PM

Hey everyone I posted a picture of my new fan, deer leg handle!! Tell me what you think of my road kill recycling!

01-25-2004, 11:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
spottedeagle FANMAKR Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Soaring over you Posts: 4,474	I sent you a pm, but I think from the picture that is the wooden spoon method. __________________ The things you are doing today are the traditions of twenty-five years from now. -Daryl Baldwin: Miami

01-25-2004, 08:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
Blackbear Space Cowboy Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Alaska Posts: 9,618	wish I could help you.. I have'nt made a fan using dowels yet. And the last fan I made was only 5 inches long LOL.. but it was described to me by someone, that you put the dowl up the shaft of the feather and glue it in, then you either drill holes into your handle where you want the dowels to go.. or you glue them to inside of a woooden spoon with epoxy or fill it in with jb bond or wood filler.. and then sand it all down a good shape. __________________ Don't worry that it's not good enough for anyone else to hear... just sing, sing a song.

01-27-2004, 04:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
bulljunes2003 Pow Wow Visitor Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: matrix world Posts: 13	spoon method I kind of get the idea of the spoon method but how is the part where the dowels and handle meet so thin? I can work with bondo pretty well but, I need some pictures or drawings or whatever to help me out.

01-29-2004, 01:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
storm Teen Dancer Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 424	Bamboo scewers are better than dowels. tougher, stronger and thinner. and you can buy them in large bunches cheap. __________________ My bark is worse than my bite

02-05-2004, 01:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
storm Teen Dancer Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 424	yes, almost all the old loose fans (and most new ones) are made from wooden shot gun cleaning rods. you can buy super cheap wooden rods or even the threaded male and female sections ferrules,from Crazy crow pge 34 i think or even Wood working shops. I guess some people are making threaded flat fan handles but that is very recent (and kind of goofy in my opinion no old fans are made that way I know of.) Do you need details? __________________ My bark is worse than my bite Last edited by storm; 02-05-2004 at 02:32 PM.

02-05-2004, 01:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
bulljunes2003 Pow Wow Visitor Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: matrix world Posts: 13	Does anyone know how to make one of those screw on handles?

07-20-2004, 09:02 PM	#8 (permalink)
Tibiki Kinew Listen to my heart! Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Pikwakanagan, Yes Golden Lake Ontario Posts: 718	Kwe kwe!!! My fan handles are cedar, I cut the lenght needed and then with the band saw I cut out a u shape so I can insert the tail completely into the handle and then just glue it into place. As well I can use complete wings this way too. I am in the process of getting a bunch ready for the upcoming powwow in Golden Lake this year. I will post pics once I get the camera hooked up! As well I am using antler and bones! And as of last week I am also using deer leg bones with the fur still on them! __________________ Listen to my heart, not just my mouth! The most powerfull thing we can do is,,,share,,, if we don't it dies with us. The Children are our Future, without them we leave nothing behind but our silence... Listen to the wind,,, it has so many secrets.... especially never assume who I am, you may get a surprize you are not ready for! Remember being Heyoka doesn't mean I am crazy, just having fun!!! Born in Winnipeg raised in the Pikwakanagan, Deutschland was never home!

07-29-2004, 01:29 AM	#9 (permalink)
sookout sh'nob Boogie Monster Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 534	I typically will use a deer shoulder (cleaned , bone only) for a tail fan handle. Works slick and the natural contours provide a real nice shape for the fan. There is just the one ridge on the shoulder that needs to be shaved down - everything else is perfect as is. Makes a shape very similar to the one in your picture - but not exactly the same. For tail fans with dowls, I make the handle from it's own peice of wood. I then plug this into a wheel shaped peice of wood. On the other side of this wheel, I plug in my fan dowels. Think of tinkertoys and you have the right idea. Fill in the empty spaces with whatever you want and cover. Voila. Im going to try that spoon technique though -sounds interesting. Thanks for the info folks.

07-29-2004, 05:16 PM	#10 (permalink)
Tibiki Kinew Listen to my heart! Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Pikwakanagan, Yes Golden Lake Ontario Posts: 718	Hey everyone I posted a picture of my new fan, deer leg handle!! Tell me what you think of my road kill recycling! __________________ Listen to my heart, not just my mouth! The most powerfull thing we can do is,,,share,,, if we don't it dies with us. The Children are our Future, without them we leave nothing behind but our silence... Listen to the wind,,, it has so many secrets.... especially never assume who I am, you may get a surprize you are not ready for! Remember being Heyoka doesn't mean I am crazy, just having fun!!! Born in Winnipeg raised in the Pikwakanagan, Deutschland was never home!

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