I have a friend who just gave me a big bag full of guinea feathers and i'm looking forward to tying some jigs with them. i want to dye them different colors and i was wondering if RIT dye will work?
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I have a friend who just gave me a big bag full of guinea feathers and i'm looking forward to tying some jigs with them. i want to dye them different colors and i was wondering if RIT dye will work?
id give it a try...
I did it years ago. As i remeber I had to almost boil them to get the dye to hold. you can mix colors to get one that you like. Use a old aluminum kettle and do it outside because it is a mess. another thing if I remeber right we had to rinse the finished dyed material in a vinagar and water bath to fix the color. Do it hot and turn off the heat sorce. let it cool and watch to get the color you want if you want a darker shade. remember it should be a little darker wet than what it will be dry. hope this helps it is a science unto itself.
Redman
feather dye very fast compared to furs and if your using rit dye you can just follow the back on hwta it says to do but befor you start you need to wash them to get the oils off or will not turn out right
To be honest it would be more cost effective to buy the dyed feathers you want. Use the natural color to tie the jigs that you need. Rit Dye and a pot or kettel and what your time is worth will buy alot of dyed feathers. That is one reason that I buy my feathers dyed and I don't dye deertails any more. If I have to I will dye opposum.
Redman
thanks guys! i didnt know there was so much involved, i just figured i have free feathers and i really like the way the guinea feathers look when dyed. i have to place an order for materials soon so i'll just go ahead and buy them already dyed.
There are guys on this board that do a good bit of dying feathers, but I found that I had way enough to do so not only do I not die stuff, I don't pour heads either. Just didn't want to get into that part.
Just to show how much I don't want to do that, I had some dark green marabou that still had too much die left in it and would turn your fingers green every time I used them. So thought I would give them a bath and dry them again. I did it, but had to rinse them and let them soak in clean water like 5 times and then had to get the wife's hair dryer to dry and fluff them again.
If you want to do this though I suggest a search on the internet and see what comes up as there are lots of pages out there with plenty of help with dying, tanning skins and all kinds of things and ways to do them. Don't limit your self to just this board.
Skip
Skip I totally agree. You are a commercial tyier you have to produce in order to make a profit and keep the doors open. Me and most of the others on this board are in this as a hobby. We have fun doing this some of us have made the mistakes. My Dad told me along time ago " There are two ways to learn things, First to learn from others mistakes. The second to make the mistakes yourself. Which is easier??? ".
Guess that is what I am trying to do is to try to teach others thur my mistakes. I have made many and have learned much from others. Guess that is what this board is all about.
Redman
well like said all ready dyeing isnt allways worth the cost i dye alot and i enjoy doin it but im a broke @@@ from health probs and way things are now adays so i hit my friends up who hunt and i dont even think about dying stuff till i have 20 or more tails to dye and when im done with them i guess i have like 20 cent a tail in them hey cant beat it
now feathers are a pain and i rarly do them becouse i cant make them look as good as what i can buy and i dont mean colors only realy one time have i ever truely sat down to dye feathers a buddy orders 100 eggs to hach and let the rosters get 7 months and let me get the necks and sadles from the 14 he had and in the end i had a ton of nice lookin hackle but i worked my butt off to get it
Right Redman, this place should help a guy getting started tying and having a place to ask questions and get help when he needs it. Then after he learns hopefully he will stay around and help others with what he has learned.
I had to teach my self using fly tying boards and seeing how they tie different materials in. I think it would have helped to have a place like this then. I spent a lot of hours on line learning all I could. We have no fly shops near me or anything like that so on line was the only way for me to learn. I ask questions from other tiers and from message boards at fly tying places.
It's still a hobby to me and I really am not trying to make a real profit, but in place of that almost every penny I take in goes to more materials to try or replace what is low. I have so may things now that I still have hardly used it's crazy, but I love it. Now losing money is also what I am trying to not do, LOL!
Skip
Yes health issues, wow I think if I didn't have my health problems I wouldn't be doing this at all and would have never learned. I didn't have anything to do other than fish or watch TV after I quit trading stocks. I did well with that, but after my bypass surgery I just wouldn't do what I knew I had to to make money so after losing what ever I lost in the surgery I quit. It left a huge hole of time I spent each day studying and trading. Well I can't fish all day with my back and shoulders and I can't watch TV all day or would go crazy so I started tying to have something to do and that is why I really still do this.Quote:
Originally Posted by gabulldog
Hard to believe it has come to the point it's too much a lot of the time.
Skip
Skip: I quit commercial tying years ago but the thing I can't quit is buying like I still am. LOL. Well the only good part is that me and my friends will never run out of jigs. I have given away more jigs in the last year than what I would ever use in 5 years. But it is fun the hardest part is convincing the wife to let me spend MORE MONEY.
I keep telling her that it keeps me out of beer joints and bars. Not only that but I spend less money tying jigs. And it keeps me at home.
Redman
That is just too funny and I am the same way, I just can't seem to help my self not buy more and more. Heck I have 3 different brands of cactus chenille, LOL! I know that this is the only way to pay for my habit now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Redman
Now I don't think that I could convince my wife at this point that doing this is less money than just buying jigs, LOL! However now I have also got picky and there are a lot of jig out there that I just wouldn't want.
I feel we are all somewhat kindred spirits here.
Skip
Skip: Maybe a 12 step program " hi my name is Bill ". Flytiers Anonymous. Oh well as long as I am able to pay my bills I can think of a lot worse ways to spend money.
As I am a old geezer it keeps my mind sharp and my hands nimble. Was 9 years old when I tied my first fly. 10 when I did my first jig and its been down hill since then. Had alot of fun caught alot of fish and made alot of people happy. You know the feeling!!!!
Redman
its a good feeling
oh man if my wife didnt love me she would have been gone year ago now adays when a box shows up with my name on it she just says i dont want to know do i
and it comes with the same look that i got the first time she came home to find 20 buck tails and 10 tree rat tails hanging to dry in sun from that days dying on a line thro our yard lol
Well then like me you have a great wife! can't say much more than that, LOL!
Skip
Redman that is too funny, a 12 step program, but not sure it would work on this addiction.
Skip
As for a 12 step program,it definitely wouldn't work.Most 12 step programs the person wants to quit.With tying,no one does.
Exactly!Quote:
Originally Posted by JUNGLEJIMJIGS
I guess I got it pretty bad then!!! I have enough stuff to make Mepps style spinners for the rest of my life, I pour my own jigs and sinkers, I have my jig tying stuff and I also tie flies for fly fishing. Some of the capes of dry fly hackle cost as much as a few thousand jig hooks
Believe me I've snuck alot of fly tying stuff into the house when the wife was out grocery shopping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm just a sucker for materials and parts though.
Fatman
Yes I am afraid that a 12 step program wouldn't work for me eather. I will not quit untill I am not able to tie any more.
Fatman I know that some of those necks are spendy. I own a few Number one Metz grizzly capes. and yes the wife doesn't have a clue nor will she ever. She would kill me.
Redman
I've been married for 31 years and I love my wife,but if she ever and I know she wouldn't have me choose between her and my tying I would probably leave her.I'm lucky I won't have to make the choice. As for the necks,saddles,etc. I own more than some tying shops,easily over 100 necks and don't even want to know what I spent on them.I buy lot's of white and grizzly necks because I dye a lot of my own necks.Whenever I get low,like only three grizzly right now I start pricing a few more.Crazy isn't it.Fun?? Definitely!!!!!!!
JJJ Don't tie that many trout flies any more so don't have a great expence any more. But it seem like any time Flatfish46 gets something new in I just have to have it or I see a jig the really intrest me I got to tie up a dozen. BTW That is one reason that I hunt Ducks. Love to eat them and the feathers can be used to tie jigs. Love to get Wood Ducks as they are the best looking and eating of the lot. And I don't want to know what those feathers cost me eather. I might get rid of the Shotguns and the Dogs.
Redman
Are Ya gonna Use the Scatter gun on the Dog's? I need to give You a hollar this Year Red come go fish'in with Ya!
Redman you are right them darn Teal & Wood Ducks are great eating and I just love making a good gumbo with them. Dark geese also make for a great gumbo. Guess I like just about anything they make a gumbo out of. I make some good gumbo too so make a good many.
Skip
Flat: No you know I can't get rid of eather. Love my dogs and I am a big 2nd amendment avocate. Still keep buying guns because I have a fear that I won't be able to one day. And yes the boat is always ready to go would love to get you in to some of these Caddo Lake Slabs.
Skip: 6 years ago I had never tasted Gumbo. Then I meet my wife and she fixed it for me. Yep I was hooked. I like it with the larger Ducks. Cornfield mallards are the best. We like to roast Wood Ducks and I like cornbread dressing with them. A plate of steamed new potatoes and onions with butter sauce. Dang I can make myself hungry. I am not a goose hunter as I have seen very few geese here. I think they fly right over us to the ricefields farther south of us. Don't think they like all of our trees. BTW Caddo Lake is called the wood duck capital of Texas.
Redman
Well I use to guide Duck & Goose hunting for a while too. Most of that was over on the West side of Houston in the rice fields. I have been hunting all my life, but gave the Duck & Goose hunting when it got just too much work and hard to find good places. Did a lot of my early duck hunting over in Louisiana.Quote:
Originally Posted by Redman
On the Geese, if you ever get a Canadian or Speckle Belly, don't roast them as they are even a good bit drier than ducks. However they do make one fine gumbo. I don't mess with Snow or Blue Geese.
Also agree the Mallards are great birds and make a fine gumbo. I to like the teal and woodies roasted, but I still just like gumbo so much I will do them like that too.
Here on Toledo Bend we are just South of Caddo so we get a lot of Wood Ducks here too. You can hear that whistle all the time, even coming in right behind my house landing and roosting in the trees on the edge of the water.
BTW ever had any Etouffe (in Cajun sounds like A-to=fay)? Lot like gumbo, but much thicker. Great stuff.
Skip
you know skip next time im down there in tx <about 1 time a year> i might have to hit ya up for some duck gumbo anybody who talks about it that much must make a good one lol
I really do, but don't hardly get and ducks now days, but I do make a reall mean chicken & sausage gumbo. Normally I keep the carcass of any turkey we cook and then make a rich stock out of that. Then when I make that gumbo I use that turkey stock and no water. When it sits in the frig it will turn into like a gelatin until you heat it again.Quote:
Originally Posted by gabulldog
So give me some warning, LOL! This stuff doesn't happen over night and really need that stock, but you know now they sell pretty good chicken stock in the stores and even though it's not as rich as I make it's pretty darn good.
Skip
oh i know it dont happen over nite i am a cook myself i hate to even say it im turning into a foodie but mostly for good home cooking if i make it down ill bring a smoker and show ya how us ga boys do bbq and yes i know in tx bbq is a big deal but trust me i can hold my own
Hey I don't doubt it at all. Just a little side story, my son has a friend in Tampa where he lives and that guy has a friend that does the competition smoking thing. SO time before last we went to visit they fixed it up for us to go over to his friends home on the water and just across the street was the BBQ guy. He made us ribs and pulled pork to die for. He ask if I wanted to go over across teh street to see his cooking smaoker andn I have wanted one ever since. It come from Oklahoma and is pretty big. The cool part is he sets the temp he wants and uses little pellets made from 60/40 Oak/Hickory I think it was. That darn cooker has a place to put the pellets and it lets them down to the firs as needed to keep the temp right.
So just about trouble free cooking. And man I got to say his BBQ was pretty darn good. I think the people that make the smoker gave it to him because of his reputation and winning of these cook offs.
Darn thing is almost $4000.00 though and the wife looks at me with that you better not do that look, LOL! Still I want one.
Anyway long way to say I would sure try yours too as I just love good BBQ. We had a guy in my home town that was not a rich man at all, but had a BBQ place and way back in the 1960's or 70's Kraft offered him money for his sauce recipe, but he turned them down. best BBQ sauce I ever had to this day. Just sorry he's gone now and when I go home can't go see Charlie and get some of his ribs.
Lots of guys like brisket, but I am a rib/pulled pork kind of guy I guess. Also like the chipped Beef if it's without any fat cuz if I hit fat it's over and don't want another bite. So if you come and can bring your smoker just let me know and come on. I have an old heavy smoker pit type made from 20" pipe, but don't use it enough for my way of thinking. Has the fire box and all, but weighs like 600 pounds so not moving that thing.
Skip
the smoker your taking about was it green looked like a egg if so there nice but theres others that use the peltes to most of them are nice and cost a dang good bit
yea im glad to see someone from tx likes ribs and pulled pork i have yet to even see pulled pork in tx most is beef and brisket
Skip: This gaBulldog hasn't been to this part of texas were the real BBQ is done. Yes the pulled pork is my favorite and I can hold my own my brisket is very good. It just my sauce I like the sweet K.C. BBQ sauce and not the vinegar base Texas style. True Foodies say that BBQ should be eaten without sauce. I don't beleive that for a second.
Redman
a rub is the only way to go...vinegar base isnt a bbq thats for sure....let me clear up a rub is for a rib rack, but a sauce is for pulled meat
Hey I resemble that remark:D (see signature line below)Quote:
Originally Posted by Redman
I have never been a fan of brisket, but at time have had good brisket as long as it's not the most fat part as I just hate that. Charlies was not a vinegar base sauce, but more of a beef stock base sauce, very thick and was totally different than any I have ever tried. His would gell up like my gumbo does when I use that turkey stock I make as the fluid. We use to go buy that stuff by the gallon and sometimes would just eat it with bread.Quote:
Originally Posted by gabulldog
Ribs have always been my favorite and of course baby backs are the easiest to get right, but regular ribs can also come out great at least on the short end, LOL!
The smoker was no green or that shape, but rather a big box looking stainless steel thing. Starting on the left was the smaller box with the pellets in there and then the main box with a small fire in the bottom and the wood pellets would get added to keep the temp like he set it.
I think it was a lot like this one, but not sure his was not a little wider??
Fast Eddy's by Cookshack Model FEC100
Anyway you can get the idea of what he was using that I want, LOL! Maybe a few more oil wells come in good and I will get me one.
We have a BBQ place here in Hemphill that does turkey all the time and that is probably what I get most from them and it's probably some of the best turkey available and I have been eating turkey and other tings for the New Braunfels smoke house (famous place) for years. I get their ribs as well from time to time, but just love making sandwiches out of that turkey they cook.
Skip
your right i aint a true foodie but ill say your right when i cook ribs i dont put sauce on them hell dont need it and when it comes to sauce dont mater what base as long as it goodQuote:
Originally Posted by Redman
for many years we have used fabric dye you will get a lighter color make sure when you are dye your feathers that you use white vinegar this will set the dye for you. We do not recommend fabric dye for hair.
You are right snakeriver. If you read some of my early post I told about having to almost boil the material and then using a vinegar bath. Most of the big boys that dye there own large lots of feathers and hair use Vernier Dye. This dye is very expensive and very permanate. Its like they are tring to tell you don't try this at home. Herter's did sell a use at home dye that was good but they are long out of business. They had alot of good products. Too bad that they weren't able to stay in business. They had a large operation and visit with my dad on several differen occations. And when you went to Herters it was a OCCATION. Talk about a kid in a candy store. Well They put Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's to shame. Just a TON of everything on hand for sale today. Glad I had the experiance.
Redman