Author Topic: Cleaning Feathers  (Read 6239 times)

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Offline Bevan R.

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Cleaning Feathers
« 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?
Bowmakers are a little bent, but knappers are just plain flaky.

Offline sailordad

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Re: Cleaning Feathers
« Reply #1 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  ;)
i always wanted a harley,untill it became the "thing to ride"
i ride because i love to,not to be part of the crowd

Offline CherokeeKC

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Re: Cleaning Feathers
« Reply #2 on: February 01, 2011, 12:05:28 am »
why the freezer sailordad?
Aim Small...Hit Small

Offline JW_Halverson

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Re: Cleaning Feathers
« Reply #3 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.
Guns have triggers. Bicycles have wheels. Trees and bows have wooden limbs.

Offline sailordad

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Re: Cleaning Feathers
« Reply #4 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
i always wanted a harley,untill it became the "thing to ride"
i ride because i love to,not to be part of the crowd

Offline HoBow

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Re: Cleaning Feathers
« Reply #5 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
Jeff Utley- Atlanta GA

Offline Stoker

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Re: Cleaning Feathers
« Reply #6 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
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Offline El Destructo

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Re: Cleaning Feathers
« Reply #7 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
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Grunt

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Re: Cleaning Feathers
« Reply #8 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.

Offline sailordad

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Re: Cleaning Feathers
« Reply #9 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
i always wanted a harley,untill it became the "thing to ride"
i ride because i love to,not to be part of the crowd

Offline CherokeeKC

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Re: Cleaning Feathers
« Reply #10 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!
Aim Small...Hit Small

Offline Bevan R.

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Re: Cleaning Feathers
« Reply #11 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.
Bowmakers are a little bent, but knappers are just plain flaky.

Offline JW_Halverson

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Re: Cleaning Feathers
« Reply #12 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!
Guns have triggers. Bicycles have wheels. Trees and bows have wooden limbs.

Offline sailordad

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Re: Cleaning Feathers
« Reply #13 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
i always wanted a harley,untill it became the "thing to ride"
i ride because i love to,not to be part of the crowd

Grunt

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Re: Cleaning Feathers
« Reply #14 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.