Dying peacock eyes
John Richardson
have found some patterns that call for dyed peacock eyes as ribbing. (Fly is
a Welsh fly called a Diawl Bach)
Has anyone ever dyed peacock eyes? If so, how did it go? Was it hard?
Is there any dye that you suggest to use?
Thanks
-John
Eric Larsen
months. Rit will work as a dye if you are going to do it for one time
application. Preferably the liquid version of Rit dye. Soak your feathers
in a dish detergent like Joy or Dawn (a couple of tablespoons of detergent)
for at least 30-45 minutes prior to putting the feathers in the dye bath.
Synthrapol is a better wetting agent but not required.
For your dye bath, you need a flat pan at least 2 inches deep preferably
stainless steel. I started with a cake pan I bought at the grocery store.
Don't use the pan for any kind of food preparation after you do the dyeing.
If you use a dye bath volume of about a gallon of water (16 cups), add 2-3
tablespoons of the liquid Rit dye for the dye bath and 1-2 tablespoons of
white vinegar. If you want a darker (or more color) use more dye and maybe
go to up to quarter cup of vinegar. Lighter use less dye and less vinegar.
A tablespoon vinegar would be the minimum that I would suggest. Add your
water, dye and vinegar to the dye bath path and start to heat on the stove.
You can buy a cheap candy thermometer to monitor the temperature of the dye
bath. Warm the dye bath on the stove to about 140-150 degrees F.
Rinse the dish soap out of the feathers in cool water before placing the
feathers in the dye bath. Don't wring the feathers, just let the water to
drain off the feathers. You want the feathers wet to go in the dye bath.
Use a few feathers to test to see if you get the desired result. If so, put
your feathers in the dye bath making sure that they float freely in the dye
bath. Move the feathers around to ensure the feathers are thoroughly
exposed to the dye. Avoid letting the feathers make contact with the bottom
of the pan especially around where the pan makes contact with the stove.
This part is hotter than the rest of the dye bath and could burn your
feathers. Keep stirring in the dye bath until the feathers attain the
desired color. This could take 30-60 minutes. If you are not getting the
desired effect (i.e. not dark enough), remove the feathers and add more dye
and vinegar. Stir well then put the feathers back in.
When the feathers are dyed to the desired color, remove them and rinse them
in cold water. Let water drain off the feathers and lay them on a paper
towel folded over a couple of times. Put another paper towel over the
feathers and gently press on the paper towel to remove some of the water.
Get a section of newspaper and a dry paper towel (folded over a few times)
and put the feathers between the folds. Fold over the newspaper over the
paper towel. Put something heavy on the newspaper (like a dictionary or
light tool box) to press the feathers. If you leave them in the newspaper
overnight, you can probably take them out the next day and let peacock
finish air drying. Don't put them in a sealed bag until you are sure they
are completely dry (or they will get moldy).
Dispose of your dye bath and don't reuse it. Also, good to avoid breathing
the fumes of the dye bath. This sounds like a lot of work but once you get
the hang of it goes pretty quick.
Good Luck.
Eric
P.S. Use rubber gloves while handling the dye and feathers.
"John Richardson" <jp...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:vvGra.47979$4P1.4...@newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net...
Eric Larsen
> > Has anyone ever dyed peacock eyes? If so, how did it go? Was it hard?
> >
herl. Yellow gives a gold type sheen to the herl. I'm not sure how the eye
itself would turn out.
Eric
Stephen Welsh
> I have a bunch of peacock eyes (got a great deal a few years ago) and
> now I have found some patterns that call for dyed peacock eyes as
> ribbing. (Fly is a Welsh fly called a Diawl Bach)
Good grief, there must be a gazillion variations to that "Little Devil"
Are the herls you require stripped? If so I found overheating removed
the fuzz.
>
> Has anyone ever dyed peacock eyes? If so, how did it go? Was it hard?
Yes. Well. No.
>
> Is there any dye that you suggest to use?
>
I've used dylon (black) sucessfully.
Steve
John Richardson
snip
> > I have a bunch of peacock eyes (got a great deal a few years ago) and
> > now I have found some patterns that call for dyed peacock eyes as
> > ribbing. (Fly is a Welsh fly called a Diawl Bach)
>
> Good grief, there must be a gazillion variations to that "Little Devil"
> Are the herls you require stripped? If so I found overheating removed
> the fuzz.
The patterns I found looked like the herls were not stripped. I think they
used the herl to give it a bit of movement.
snip
Thanks for the advice on dyes.
-john
Sandy
"John Richardson" <jp...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
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Have you seen this article?
http://www.flyfishing-and-flytying.co.uk/patterns/daiwlbach.html
No advice on dying but an excellent piece on tying and fishing the fly.
--
Don`t Worry, Be Happy
Sandy
--
E-Mail:- ne...@ftscotland.co.uk
Website:- http://www.ftscotland.co.uk
IRC:- Sandyb in #rabble uk3.arcnet.vapor.com Port:6667
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ICQ : 41266150
John Richardson
interested in dying peacock eyes.
FF&FT is a great magazine IMHO.
-John
"Sandy" <ne...@ftscotland.co.uk> wrote in message
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