waterproofing feathers

[PAPA BEAR]

whats the best method you have found for waterproofing feathers? i used some really light white stuff last year,it worked great until it started raining.        anybody have a secret spray on that works? scotchguard?

[Orion]

I've used Bohning Dri-Tite for years.  It's put on with a small brush.  Works good for me.

[cacciatore]

I don't like very much the waterproofing staffs on my hunting feathers because they remain too stiff and i had bad arrow flight.I try to protect them with small plastic bags,like the ones that contain the bow strings.I keep them on place using a small rubber band,when I need it I just slip the bag towards the nock.Then I put all together in a shopping bag,covered by a fleeced camo fleching bag!!This is for heavy extended rains,otherwise the plastic bags alone work good.

[xtrema312]

I have found nothing that works, but what God did.  I am a goose hunter so I have started saving feathers.

I use a plastic bag over my feathers in my bow quiver and hang the quiver feathers up on the tree when I can.  I use a arrow master with a hood also.  For the one on the bow I just try to keep it under cover with my coat, hands, plastic wrap and change out for a dry one if needed.

[hydrasport205]

I use hair spray and let it dry for a day.. dont worry about the smell in the woods  if they can smell that  then they can smell you!

[snag]

Goose feather fletching...works for them, why not me?!       I've also noticed that by making fletchings out of turkey feathers people have given me there seems to be natural oils that "processed" fletchings don't.

[Jerry Jeffer]

I have had great luck with goose feathers. Rather amazing actually. Wild turkey feathers are better then the processed ones. I have had little to no luck with the commercial water proofing stuff. I started using one of those tree umbrellas during heavy rains, and that has helped keep my fletch and me dry quite a bit.

[ozy clint]

good tuning helps. i once shot a buffalo with soaking wet feathers.

[hayslope]

Commercial fletching has been heavily processed...I guess they are pretty ratty when they get them in.  I would venture to guess that what oils were originally in them are long gone by the time they are turned into fletching.

The best stuff I've ever used is the liquid waterproofing that is made for pre-treating flies (fishing).  I do a lot of tying in the winter and I treat all the trout flies that I tie with the stuff.  Once dried, they go in boxes and rarely, if ever, have to be re-treated when they are fished. It really seems to last.

There are different brands available.....they all seem to work.  The only problem is they are usually only available in smaller plastic bottles.  I keep plenty around, so some is always dedicated to fletching.

[PAPA BEAR]

thanks hayslope.great idea,i fly fished for a long long time you'd think i would have thought of that.

[harvestmoon]

Great idea Hayslope...thks a bunch

[lpcjon2]

100% food grade silicone.I have it on all my feathers and it works great.I have an arrow for an antenna on my truck and I use it on those feathers and they have been @70mph in a nor-easter and they still look great and repel water like a duck.And it has no smell.It has to be food grade.

[lpcjon2]

Hey Larry did you ever get that good luck charm I sent you?

[Longspur77]

Where do you get food grade silicone?

[xtrema312]

Originally posted by Longspur77:
Where do you get food grade silicone?

[Steve H.]

I'd ask someone that has lived and hunted in SE Alaska a lot to see what they use!

[Steve H.]

I lightly spray mine with Helmsman Spar urethane in a can.  Not too much or you will have plastic vanes!

[levibear]

Scotchguard  

[Bill Sant]

Food grade silicone can be bought in most scuba shops.  It's what we spray on our silicone dive products to help preserve them.  That said, goose fletching is by far and away the best thing I've ever run across.

[Stone Knife]

good tuning helps. i once shot a buffalo with soaking wet feathers.