Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: Postman on January 15, 2009, 04:29:53 pm

Title: coloring fletching?
Post by: Postman on January 15, 2009, 04:29:53 pm

A freind made me some nice arrows with all white commercial parabolics - how would y'all color the cock feather? I was thinking of making 1 or 2 stripes with a sharpie.....

Title: Re: coloring fletching?
Post by: wolfsire on January 15, 2009, 04:36:05 pm

I tried the sharpie.  It works, but I did not like the way it looked.  I color my whites by soaking them in a kool-aid solution, concentrated, hold the sugar, with a little vinegar for binding.  Red, Orange, Yellow, Blue, Purple.  Have not seen Green, but There might be.  Y+B=G?  Mixing all might get brown.  Will fade if left to weather.

(http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i264/wolfsirebella/vol3007-1.jpg)

Title: Re: coloring fletching?
Post by: Pat B on January 15, 2009, 04:39:14 pm

I don't distinguish the cock feather. All my feathers are the same.  Sometimes I use a commercial "indicator" nock and with self nocks I make an indicator with a drop of glue.
   You can use a sharpie or magic marker to add stripes to the cock feather.     Pat

Title: Re: coloring fletching?
Post by: Patterdale on January 15, 2009, 04:46:53 pm

Have you ever tried hair color?

Title: Re: coloring fletching?
Post by: brownhillboy on January 15, 2009, 10:53:30 pm

It won't help you with feathers that are already on a shaft, but you can put 1/2 package of Rit dye in 1qt. of steaming hot water, add 1/4 cup of white vinegar and stir until mixed well, then add feathers to be colored to mixture and let soak for 3 hours.  After that take them out and lay them out on newspaper to air dry.  Works quite well!  Good luck! :)

Title: Re: coloring fletching?
Post by: hawkbow on January 15, 2009, 11:36:45 pm

I use a dark walnut wood stain(minwax) and a small paint brush. You can paint them to look like eagle feathers or give the illusion of having spliced feathers quite easily... dries quick and won't stiffen the feathers, also waterproofs the feathers... Just my two cents worth brother But worth a try.... Hawk a/ho

Title: Re: coloring fletching?
Post by: Pat B on January 15, 2009, 11:41:29 pm

...or you could leave them as they are. ;D   I would have no problem shooting white feathers...especially if someone gave me the arrows.  ;)

Title: Re: coloring fletching?
Post by: sailordad on January 15, 2009, 11:54:16 pm

Quote from: Pat B on January 15, 2009, 11:41:29 pm

...or you could leave them as they are. ;D   I would have no problem shooting white feathers...especially if someone gave me the arrows.  ;)

cant argue with logic like that ;D ;)

Title: Re: coloring fletching?
Post by: Postman on January 17, 2009, 08:29:21 pm

good ideas, guys- never woulda guessed kool-aid! ;D Those are some nice arrows, wolfsire,  what are the shafts?
Thanks,
John

Title: Re: coloring fletching?
Post by: wolfsire on January 18, 2009, 01:18:32 am

Quote from: Postman on January 17, 2009, 08:29:21 pm

good ideas, guys- never woulda guessed kool-aid! ;D Those are some nice arrows, wolfsire,  what are the shafts?
Thanks,
John

Thanks, John, they are actually arrows on steroids - atlatl darts :D  About six feet long.  I just happened to have pics with the colored fletching.  The points are creosote, because it has a specific gravity over 1, and shafts are each a pair of scarfed arrowweeds.  The arrowweeds have checks splits all up and down the shafts, but it has not made a difference.  There is no reason they cannot be duplicated smaller.   ;)