Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: Bevan R. on January 31, 2011, 11:06:51 pm

Title: Cleaning Feathers
Post by: Bevan R. on January 31, 2011, 11:06:51 pm
Finally got around to getting the feathers off some wing I have been given this winter. Turkey & Goose. Anyone have a formula for something to wash them in to get the blood off?
Title: Re: Cleaning Feathers
Post by: sailordad on January 31, 2011, 11:55:13 pm
i never worry about that
i just sort and split and throw them in the freezer
but thats just me  ;)
Title: Re: Cleaning Feathers
Post by: CherokeeKC on February 01, 2011, 12:05:28 am
why the freezer sailordad?
Title: Re: Cleaning Feathers
Post by: JW_Halverson on February 01, 2011, 12:06:22 am
I used to worry about the blood, too.  But I never got around to cleaning any feathers and just used them as is.  I went back and looked at the arrows fletched with bloody feathers and counldt tell which ones had needed cleaning.  I think the crud just wore off.
Title: Re: Cleaning Feathers
Post by: sailordad on February 01, 2011, 12:11:24 am
why the freezer sailordad?

cause i have one for me and my hobbies
so i put things like feathers,whole wings,unprocessed and undried sinew etc in there.
out of sight is out of mind  ;D
Title: Re: Cleaning Feathers
Post by: HoBow on February 01, 2011, 03:07:45 am
Now that's lucky Tim!  I still hear about when my wife found a beaver tail in the freezer ;D
Title: Re: Cleaning Feathers
Post by: Stoker on February 01, 2011, 10:46:42 am
Babysitter I hired went to the freezer to get my two kids a freezypop and found a rattlesnake >:D
That cost me a few extra bucks
thanks Leroy
Title: Re: Cleaning Feathers
Post by: El Destructo on February 01, 2011, 12:44:25 pm
why the freezer sailordad?

We use the freezers in the Southern States to keep the Mites and bugs from eating the Feathers...they love them to pieces.... ;D
Title: Re: Cleaning Feathers
Post by: Grunt on February 01, 2011, 06:42:42 pm
I sprinkle a few moth balls or some pieces of cut up flea collars in the plastic boxes with my feathers. No bugs in my fancy fly tying capes for the past twenty years.
Title: Re: Cleaning Feathers
Post by: sailordad on February 01, 2011, 07:33:15 pm
I sprinkle a few moth balls or some pieces of cut up flea collars in the plastic boxes with my feathers. No bugs in my fancy fly tying capes for the past twenty years.


how do you get the moths to hold still long enough to collect them  ;D
Title: Re: Cleaning Feathers
Post by: CherokeeKC on February 01, 2011, 08:25:28 pm
I just have my feathers out in the shed right now.  I am in Virginia.  Maybe I better look into some protection from the mites and bugs before its too late!
Title: Re: Cleaning Feathers
Post by: Bevan R. on February 01, 2011, 08:31:18 pm
Thanks for the info guys. Getting some moth balls tomorrow and put in tubs.  O:)
Sound like a good plan.
Title: Re: Cleaning Feathers
Post by: JW_Halverson on February 01, 2011, 09:10:13 pm
In the Northern climates the same bugs will destroy feathers.  Mice also will get into them as well. 

The moth balls I get in the store are like .62 caliber, gotta be from them big tropical moths!
Title: Re: Cleaning Feathers
Post by: sailordad on February 01, 2011, 09:29:05 pm
In the Northern climates the same bugs will destroy feathers.  Mice also will get into them as well. 

The moth balls I get in the store are like .62 caliber, gotta be from them big tropical moths!

 ;D :D :D ;D

i bet they put up a pretty good fight to keep them too  :D
Title: Re: Cleaning Feathers
Post by: Grunt on February 01, 2011, 09:29:17 pm
I sprinkle a few moth balls or some pieces of cut up flea collars in the plastic boxes with my feathers. No bugs in my fancy fly tying capes for the past twenty years.


how do you get the moths to hold still long enough to collect them  ;D

I use thumbtacks to hold the moths in place. A couple of snips with fly tying scissors and the moths are singing soprano.
Title: Re: Cleaning Feathers
Post by: sailordad on February 01, 2011, 09:32:56 pm
 ;D :D :D :D :D ;D
Title: Re: Cleaning Feathers
Post by: Stoker on February 02, 2011, 12:45:08 pm
When I used to tie flies they used to say put the feathers in a zippy bag and sprinkle with borax to keep the critters away.
Thanks leroy
Title: Re: Cleaning Feathers
Post by: JackCrafty on February 02, 2011, 05:32:51 pm
Blood is hard to remove sometimes, so I usually don't use the feathers with blood on them.  If I want to remove the blood, I wash the feather in warm water with dish soap, rinse with VERY clean water, and dry with a blow drier.  I don't like to let them sit and dry by themselves because they usually have to be steamed to get them back into shape... and that takes a lot of time.
Title: Re: Cleaning Feathers
Post by: Bevan R. on February 02, 2011, 10:50:05 pm
Sounds like a plan except for one issue, no hair - no hair drier ;D
Title: Re: Cleaning Feathers
Post by: crooketarrow on February 03, 2011, 12:26:13 pm
   Mites only eat holes in molted feathers mosty. They feed off the live bird untill there food scorce is gone then there left with only the feathers to eat. Thats what a goose guide told me along time ago. Seams TO BE RIGHT. But I use the frezzer anyway.
Title: Re: Cleaning Feathers
Post by: sailordad on February 03, 2011, 08:16:00 pm
   Mites only eat holes in molted feathers mosty. They feed off the live bird untill there food scorce is gone then there left with only the feathers to eat. Thats what a goose guide told me along time ago. Seams TO BE RIGHT. But I use the frezzer anyway.


im gonna have to diagree with that BEING RIGHT

i have many many many feathers i have collected that are molted feathers
i find them near roost sites etc
i rarely ever use these feathers for more than display
they go into a clay pot that was made by indians up near Mile Lacs lake here in Minnesota
ive had them on display for many many years,not one feather has been eaten yet

Title: Re: Cleaning Feathers
Post by: Postman on February 03, 2011, 10:00:29 pm
Babysitter I hired went to the freezer to get my two kids a freezypop and found a rattlesnake >:D
That cost me a few extra bucks
thanks Leroy
hahahaha.... my wife has made amazing progress in her freezerphobia over the years.
Title: Re: Cleaning Feathers
Post by: Stoker on February 04, 2011, 03:46:26 pm
Try dabbing on hydrogen peroxide it'll clean a wound..Or hydrogen peroxide and vinager 50/50 dabbed on and pressed to dry will take red wine out of a tablecloth.
Postman somehow that led to my getting my own garage freezer  O:)
Thanks Leroy