Barring feathers and teaching pigs to sing

[the rifleman]

I would have posted this in the DIY forum, but the way I did it belongs in the DDIY (don't do it yourself) category.  I've been dealing with sticker shock when it comes time to buy feathers---especially barred ones.  I had an idea last night and borrowed some ink from my wife's stamping supplies---applied with a sponge brush--wow it looked so good I did three arrows and two full length feathers.  The good looking job quickly turned into one big mess as the ink bled throughout the feathers---worse yet it stayed wet to the touch.  Okay I'm impatient so I gave them a day to dry---after getting ink all over my hands a day later I spent the rest of the evening removing wraps and feathers and re-fletching arrows.  I have tried sharpies, but they have not worked for me either.  I'm about to give up on this idea unless someone else out there has found something that works.
I did have great luck dying flo yellow feathers with KoolAid---Red turned them orange and Blue turned them green.  Better colors than the ones I've found elsewhere.
The whole teaching a pig to sing just resulted in a frustrated pig--one more fruitless endeavor...  

[Jakeemt]

I have not had success with the sharpie method either. they held ok but didn't look very good. I am going to try rit dye next I will let you know how it works.

[Pat B]

A guy on PA dyed Canada goose feathers black with Fiebings leather dye without any bleeding. Give that a try.

[PeteA]

I've tried a light coat of black spray paint sprayed through a stencil. This also sounded good but the end product did not look very good.

[Alexander Traditional]

I've often thought of stuff like this also. I've thought about an inexpensive air brush set.

[wingnut]

leather dye will work if you can keep it where you want it.  Very powerful stuff.

I've used it on everything including wood.

Mike

[SELFBOW19953]

Canada goose primaries are black.

[Pat B]

Canada goose primaries are dark gray. The black dye showed the difference in the colors.

[SELFBOW19953]

Sorry, I should have said snow goose primaries are black.

[superrman77]

I have had good luck with a Sharpie.  I make sure I have a sheet of paper under the feather.  A wider tip makes a big difference.

[Zradix]

I "paint" mine with a special mix of thinned Beechem layout fluid. (dychem doesn't work..too thick and can't be thinned easily)
I use a small artist brush with about 1/2 the hairs pulled out.

The dye likes to flow with the barbs a bit...depending on how wet your brush is.

It doesn't like to do the underside of the feather near as well as the top.

Stuff goes on easy.
Smell goes away completely after a few hours...doesn't smell all that much to begin with.
Seems to stay on the feather very well. I've been doing it for years..wet feathers..lots of shots..whatever..just stays on.

I've done different designs over the years...don't have many pics of em actually but here's a few..I've done some with colors other than black that have turned out kinda cool too..My fav was a grey feather with black and green...just no pics of it.

 

 

 

 

[Orion]

Just find some folks who shoot wild turkeys and ask them to save the primaries for you.  Or check out the classifieds here.  Get a real barred turkey feather and dye it any color you want.

[the rifleman]

Zradix that's a great idea.  Those arrows look great.  Really like the design in the red and greens.  Will have to look for beechums.  That bow you have there isn't a whip by any chance is it?

Orion also good idea-- I have been keeping my wild turkey feathers and have grinded my own.  Don't like to dye them though as it could affect their natural oils that make them more water repellent for hunting.  I have had great luck dying feathers with KoolAid and may try this on a few turkey feathers down the road...

[Zradix]

Thank you.
Yeppers...a Whip it is.

[Orion]

rifleman:  I've been dying natural barred feathers for years.  Doesn't affect their durability or water repellency.  Good luck.

[the rifleman]

Zradix I also shoot a whip.  Mine has a bacote riser kind of looks like yours.  What poundage is yours.  Mine is 50@28 but runs about 42 at my 26" draw.  I found mine to like really weak arrows. Gt 1535 s or beman mfx 600s w 200 grs up front and full length.
Orion. I found a deal on some white barred feathers and will be getting out the KoolAid to do a little dying.
Thanks for all the suggestions.

[Zradix]

 ...I sold my whip.
it was 45#@28
Shot 55-60 spine with 190 grain tips...can't remember the length, but they were a little longer than needed.