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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Stickbow on January 05, 2016, 07:21:00 AM
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I lucked into a PILE of turkey feathers. I have never messed with them before so I have a few questions.
I think they may be tough to see..I have always used bright colors. Anyone dye them? Do they look good when they are dyed?
( dumb question alert) Some of these feathers will sit for a long time, do they have mites or any other bug that will affect while stuffed in a tote? (Told you it was a dumb question.)
Thanks guys, Rob
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You can dye them with sugar free Kool aid, works really good and its easy. Lots of build alongs on the web to peruse for that. I don't worry about bugs in mine, but you can toss them in the freezer if you are worried.
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Freezing works well to kill the bugs but a handful of borax in the bag and shaken up kills them as well.
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I tend to use bright colors as well, but do have a few set ups with both natural and dyed turkey feathers. They are very hard to see in flight - even dyed ones. However, I use a bright nock, or even a lighted nock and have no trouble tracking my arrow even though I'm not seeing the fletching.
I used RIT dyes to dye some and the Great Northern powdered dyes. The GN dyes worked MUCH better and produced a much more vibrant color.
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(http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq136/bloodtrailer7/001-7.jpg)
These I dyed with Kool aid just like Easter eggs :readit:
1stwash feather in warm bath with 2 drops dawn dish soap 5mins (get the oil out of feathers).2nd rinse in warm water 2min(get soap out) 3rd warm a container with water 2 table spoons of white vinegar and color(Koolaid, food dye ryt what ever dye)not boiling but very warm place feathers in longer deeper color add more dye as needed to get your color(I use 3 packs of koolaid per dz) great project with kids (same reason their tongue :biglaugh: turn colors when drinking the stuff)
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When you shoot its hard to see the feathers no matter what color they are. I use mostly turkey feathers and sometimes put tracers behind the feathers for better visibility. I use mostly white "rabbit zonkers" from a fly tying shop for the tracers.
Here is one with white zonkers...
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/primitive%20archer/Artshillcanearrows006.jpg) (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/PatBNC/media/primitive%20archer/Artshillcanearrows006.jpg.html)
...and with yellow. I still think give the best visibility in most light conditions...
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/primitive%20archer/spinetester008.jpg) (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/PatBNC/media/primitive%20archer/spinetester008.jpg.html)
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I lik'em plain. If you make a good shot you'll see red on them anyway. :laughing:
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Zonkers are great for seeing them fly and bright feathers are nice for finding them after they land.
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You can use almost any dye for feathers. You just need to set the dye with a t-spoon of vinegar. I use cake frosting dye and it works great.
I worry about mites as they can ruin a feather. When I get feathers I freeze them in a 2 1/2 gallon zip lock for about a week, pull them out for a few days and toss them back in the freezer for a few days. I do this 3 or 4 times. Not hard work and easy to do. It allows any eggs to hatch and then you can kill any mites that may hatch.
Wild turkey feathers are a valuable commodity for an arrow maker.
As mentioned, do a youtube search and you will get all kinds of ideas for dyeing feathers.
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Thanks for the input guys
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I use fur tracers like Pat B, they work really well.