old feathers

[sadiejane]

any suggestions for re-hydrating old dried out feathers.
the quills are pretty brittle. just had em so many years.
any ideas would be appreciated.
they may still be used as is.
with thread wrapping along the quill.
which i do for some arrows anyways.
or they can always just get tossed
(ha-i never throw anything that may have any possible use someday away...
why i already have boxes full of dried out feathers-some are 30+ yrs old)
if there's no way to make em supple enough to use.
thanks!

[Pat B]

Try placing them in a zip lock bag with a damp(not wet) paper towel in it for a few days. You might even place it is a sunny spot.

[JW_Halverson]

I put a tea kettle on the stove, get a good jet of steam outa the spout and run each feather thru front and back.  It straightens out the feathers nicely and hydrates them enough that hand stripping them works pretty good. 

Just don't run your hand thru the steam.  Don't ask me how I know.

[CraigMBeckett]

any suggestions for re-hydrating old dried out feathers.
the quills are pretty brittle. just had em so many years.

Why not just put them in some warm water, its what is done when dying feathers and it does not do them any harm. So put them in warm water, leave for as long as it takes for them to become pliable, take them out give them a shake and put to dry.

Craig.

[hillbilly61]

[/quote]

Why not just put them in some warm water, its what is done when dying feathers and it does not do them any harm. So put them in warm water, leave for as long as it takes for them to become pliable, take them out give them a shake and put to dry.

Craig.
[/quote]

 That's what I was thinking. No one ever accussed me of being slow to respond

[quote Just don't run your hand thru the steam.  Don't ask me how I know.
[/quote]

Sorry JW, I just about fell out of my chair

[stringstretcher]

Something that I was doing in my feather grinding was when I got matted feathers, especially primary, before splitting, take and put them in some warm water with just a drop or two of dawn dishwashing liquid.  Move them around to get them good and wet and clean.  Grab the feathers by the end of the quill and shake off what water you can, and then put them in the dryer.  I used high heat and in about 10 minutes they would be dry and stand up just like a new feather.  You just have to watch the feather quills getting into the vent hole of the dryer, but that has been minimal  at best for me.  Feathers come out looking like brand new and clean.

[WolfPupTee]

hm...how about using a hair dryer on high for ten minutes?

[stringstretcher]

If you like holding each feather for 10 minutes, that will work too