Dye-ing feathers?

[flyfishingpastor]

Do any of you dye feathers? What do you use? I am curious about turning some white ostrich herl into olive, grey, dun & tan. Any ideas to get me started & an idea of how you would do it?

Thanks.

Pat

[krebsie]

www.jsflyfishing.com
$2.50 ea
Your welcome

[rstaight]

Pat,

I have used Kool-Aid and Rit Dye. My wife once in awhile dyes reed for baskets. So if she's dying a particular color I try to get ahold of white or cream hackles or bunny and dye some when she's finished. I haven't tried ostrich.

Here is the directions she uses (we do this on the grill after the water starts boiling).

Large enamel pot, 1 package of Rit Dye, 1/2 cup salt, rubber gloves (use the ones for paint stripping), 1 gal water, 1 squirt of dish detergent.

Dying materials is messy. Boil the water inside then take outside to finish.

Start by boiling 1 gallon of water. Use an enamel pot such as one used for canning. It as enough room to move your materials around.

While the water is heating clean your materials to remove any dirt or oils. Working with the materials wet will help them to accept the color.

After the water is boiling take it and put it on the grill. Add the dye and salt. If the dye "cooks" while all of the dye will dissolve.

Dip your material in the water and move it around to insure that all of the material is being dyed. Do this while wearing the rubber gloves and using something like a paint stirring stick or even and old 2 pronged carving fork.

When you have reached the desired color remove it from the pot. Let it cool to absorb as much dye as possible.

Rinse in cold water till the water is pretty clear. To further set the color you can do one more rinse in a gallon of cold water with one cup of vinegar.

Spread out to dry keeping the material out of the sun to prevent fading.

Hope this helps, The Dark Side just keeps getting darker. BWA HA Ha HA!!!!!

[flyfishingpastor]

Rick;

It does help. Thanks. And, um, you need to spend a little less time with our good friend Radio... the "bwa ha ha's" are getting a little weird.

Pat

[rstaight]

I know it' been awhile for this thread but I was looking at Flyanglersonline and guess what they have an article about.

Check it out.

www.flyanglersonline.com/features/readerscast/readerscast20090928.php