Well, I did something that is very unusual for me. Generally when I have a tool that works, I'll stick with it, or at least borrow or try out a different one before I invest in it. However, after reading several positive posts and talking to Herb at Herb's Archery about the Vario, I bought one. Glad I did!

I went to TN to hunt with a good friend this past weekend (got there Thursday night, came home Sunday). Saturday we didn't go out--wind was blowing real hard, and hard rain most of the day. Anyhow........

We spent Saturday in the shop, and I chopped between 500 and 600 feathers with the Vario. I bought the 5" sheild, left and right wing blades, but only used the left wing.

It was a little aggravating at first--more because it was different that I was used to than anything else. Also started out with Gateway feathers, and the thick quill is a pain with any chopper. A little sanding took care of that.

I used a mallet for probably the first 100 feathers--the one I got did need "breaking in". One of the unique features of the Vario, the quill holder (what I call it anyhow), had to be cut through for the shape you are using. Probably didn't take near 100 cuts to do this, but I was in the habit of using a mallet and just kept with it. Finally decided to use my hand, and it worked great--even better than the mallet, I think.

The cuts are very precise and consistent--as good as any I have ever seen. After getting the feel for it, it was as quick or quicker than a little chopper. I didn't time myself on how long it took to cut 500-600 feathers, but it went by quick. The only bad cuts (very few) were my fault, generally from trying to squeek out an extra cut from not quite enough feather. I chopped Gateway, Truflight, and wild turkey feathers ground by Jan at Raven Arrows. The Gateways were the only ones that were any trouble, and this was due to the extra wide and thick base ends--not the chopper's fault. A few were due to me not having some screws tight on the base. (always being told I have a few screws loose, you'd think I'd have enough sense to check)

If it will hold out for the long haul (yet to be seen), this tool is well worth the money. I don't think I'd get more than 2-3 different blades per base, because each one has to cut through the rubber part that holds the quill, and chopping it into several small pieces might do too much damage for it to do it's job properly. That's just my thoughts, haven't tried it (obviously).

Basic run-down on how it works. First, if you are used to a Little Chopper, it will mess with your mind a little. The feather goes into the Vario in the opposite direction as it does in a Little Chopper. There are two small rubber strips at the base of the chopper, with a small gap in-between. This in where the quill goes, and keeps it in place (instead of your fingers) and kept it from rolling over (one thing that really aggravated me with the Little Chopper, and made the cuts look crappy when it happened). After a few cuts, it's easy to see just where you need to place the feather. Start the quill into the holder, run your finger down it to seat it. The clipper has a small rubber boot that keeps the blade off the feather until you smack it--kind of a spring-loaded type action. This gives you a bit of momentum and requires less force to make the cut. I seldom needed more that one whack to make the cut. I was set up on my buddy's work bench, and although solid it has crap piled up and stacked from one end to the other, so I couldn't hit it too hard without causing several things to fall over. When I took a feather out that wasn't cut completely, it wasn't a big deal to put it back in place to finish the cut.

These choppers aren't cheap, but unless they don't hold up (and they seem to be very solid--much more so than the LC's I've been using for years), they are worth it.

Chad