What am I doing wrong?  I boiled up some Rite dye last nite and dunked dozen turkey feathers in it for a bit.  Pulled them out dabbed them with a paper towel, blow dryed, them they're still all stuck together.  Should I chop them first, I would just hate to crest the arrows and the feathers never open up.

I dye my feathers.  I got the powder from 3 Rivers.  It is really good stuff.  I wouln't mess with the Rite Dye.  A little envelope of the 3 Rivers dye makes a whole gallon of mix.
I fill an old broiler pan with the mix and heat to nearly boiling.  Put in about 6-8 feathers and use something to keep them seperated ( fork-knife, etc).  It only takes about 1 minute in the pan.  Remove and place on paper towels to dry.  Keep them seperated while drying.  Let them sit for a day before starting the splitting of the quill, etc.

lay them separtatly when you dry them I just let mine air dry.

Acolobowhunter, do you "set" the color with vinegar? Or is that even necessary with that dye? I have only used Rite dye and I set it by dipping it in vinegar.

I have used the Great Northern dye for feathers with great results.

There is a good tutorial in the How-To section:
 Feather Dyeing  

Guy

I have used the "dye along" that was in TBM some time ago. Used Rit dye and white vinegar and always has worked great. Must be really hot water, allow them to soak long enough, and I lay mine out individually one by one on paper towels to air dry.

I will say that I haven't used "unchopped" feathers only pre-chopped but I can't imagine this would impact it.

Hope this helps.

What about using a highlight marker?

I have had good results using Rit dye.Use vinegar and a little salt.I put them in a pickle jar and put them in the sun for a day or so then take them out and spread them out on a paper towel and let dry.I like to dye them first and then grind and chop them.It also helps if you dampen them slighty with soapy water before you dye them.

I have used RIT dye in tap water, a little white vinegar, and a touch of liquid diswhwashing detergent (Dawn).  I kept the water at just below boiling and placed the feathers in the solution for several minutes.  I then air dried the feathers by laying them out on cardboard, separated from each other.  Worked great!

I do the same thing as 'jcar105 only in place of Rit dye I just use food coloring.Works good.

I used the one in the How to that Greg suggested and they came out perfect.Just follow it and let them dry on a paper towel over night.They will curl a little,you can put them in your clamp and trim and they will come together nicely.

I'd just wait until they are completely dead to do anything with the feathers.

I'm sorry, I've fought with myself all day long ever since I read the thread title to not say that. Guess I had a really weak moment here late at night.

My mind works differently. I see word pictures and what I saw was dying turkeys..lol

I'll just take the demerits.........

God bless,Mudd