bleaching and coloring feathers

[Kevin Brooker]

Hello,
I was unable to find info on the site about bleaching and coloring feathers. I have a few turkey wings worth of feathers and would like some colors besides "natural."  Coloring feathers is nice but I'd like brighter color to help find arrows in the woods and fields. The coloring part I'm okay with it is removing the bars which is giving me fits.

I've tried bleach and this doesn't work. Wondering if peroxide for bleaching hair will work since the feathers and hair are essentially the same materials.

Thanks fir any help,

Kevin

[fujimo]

look up kool aid feather dyeing- haven't done it yet, but want to real soon, for this up coming seasons hunting!
 

[Kevin Brooker]

I've seen several of the Kool-Aid and I have used RIT fabric dye.  Every feather coloring video I have sen works with white feathers. Do you know of how to bleach the natural bars out so I can dye them with more vivid colors?

[halfseminole]

Most are albino turkey feathers.  Peroxide should be possible, but I'm not sure how it would affect the stiffness of the fletching.

[fujimo]

I am sure I have seen the barred feathers dyed with the kool aid
cheers
wayne

[fujimo]

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=30311.0

here is a quick link.

[rockkiller]

Here's some I dyed with flydye

[fujimo]

so whats fly dye?

[rockkiller]

http://www.organicdye.com/industries/fly-fishing-dyeshttp://www.organicdye.com/industries/fly-fishing-dyes

[Kevin Brooker]

Thanks for the replies and information

[scrub-buster]

I use koolaid dye on feathers all the time.  The cheap packs for $0.20 are what I use.  No sugar.  Just mix it with water and soak over night.  Alternate the feathers so they don't stick together and prevent the dye from getting to them.  You have to keep them submeged to.

 

 

 

[fujimo]

so heres a trad gang link to a tutorial!
  http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000020

[rockkiller]

The koolaid dyed arrows look great and the price is alot better.But how do they hold up?Does water wash them out?

[fujimo]

Clint, very cool. do you find the colors are colorfast- (dont run when they get wet)- as  all the other tutorials seem to use hot water and then vinegar to fix the dye afterwards.
if yours is good, then its way easier to just soak overnight   :D

[fujimo]

sorry Rocky- we must have been typing at the same time  

[rockkiller]

No problem Wayne,you worded it better anyway.

[Kevin Brooker]

The KoolAid worked very well. No luck bleaching the feathers but the colors over the bars looks pretty good.

While shopping the other day I saw an egg coloring kit at the register and tried those dyes for feathers. Worked great. I made up the dye solutions as per the directions in mason jars and by laying them on the side the feathers were fully covered. After tomorrow the kits will be on super sale I'll have to snag a few.

[Trux Turning]

I use kool aid to dye mine- I soak the feathers first in warm water with a little dawn and then rinse them. I bring some water to a boil (about an inch deep) in a pan on the stove and add the kool aid and a cap full of vinegar. Then add the feathers and stir them around until they are dark enough for you- rinse with cold water and let them dry on a paper towel. The vinegar helps set the colors- lime green come out nice.

[scrub-buster]

I just soak in kool-aid water over night.  I don't boil or use vinegar.  I haven't noticed the colors fading or washing off in water.  I have some arrows that are 3 years old that are still the same cherry red color as the day I dyed them.  

When I take the feathers out of the kool-aid I rinse them in water before laying them out to dry.  The color doesn't wash out.

[Kevin Brooker]

Thanks for all of the help and suggestions. I just began writing a blog about bowhunting for turkeys. Right now I'm using my wheelie bow but in one post there is a quick photo essay of taking the feathers from bird to fletched. Here is the link if anyone is interested:  http://themiddlefeather.blogspot.com/