feather question

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carvingfarmer

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Joined
Jan 8, 2012
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3
Location
Lake Park, Ia
So I am getting all set up to try my hand at casting and making some pheasant feather blanks. They look like they are about the neatest things around judging by the pictures I have seen. I am having trouble getting the feathers to lay down tight against the brass tube. I dont want them to stick up and through the resin when I do get to the turning part. Should I use a little ca glue to stick them down to the tube? Any other suggestions? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Jared
 
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In my one try at a feather blank my attempt with feathers and CA ended with feathers glued to my fingers.
I now buy or trade for feathered blanks.
Sorry I don't have better advice.
 
I put a several drops of fly head cement (NOT the water biased stuff) on the back of the feather, soak it pretty good. I then use a small dowel rod to roll the feather flat to the tube.

I use the painted white tubes or the black nickel tubes (on the dark feathers).

I coat the feathers with several drops of thin CA after gluing them to the tube and let that sit overnight.

I use a small set of clamps (helping hands?) from HF to hold a small dowel rod. Slide the tube over the dowel to hold the tubes while I drip the ca over the tube & while the ca sets overnight.


I used "Bubble Free Casting of Snake Skin Blanks" by Don Ward to get me started on the casting process.

Be patient, I messed up several (dozens really) before getting one worth turning

Good luck

Jeff
 
Feather inlays

Hi, I have been making feather inlays on bamboo rods for about 10 yrs. The method we use works well for pens. We us a color preservative a water based acrylic. First thing is to put your feather in hot slightly soaping water and let them soak for about a hour. This makes them more pliable. Remove and cut to the size needed. The next step is to take pick up your feather with tweezers and dip it in the color preservative. Wipe of excess on the lip or container then place on the blank. The feather is held in place with thread. Wrap the thread is loose wraps all the way up the blank to help flatten the feather on the blank. Allow to set for about 5 minutes then remove the thread. Repeat process until you have all the feathers on the blank. Don't worry about the ridges left by the preservative. Let dry for one hour and add one more coat. When using the preservative I like to dilute it with water at a 1:1 ratio. Let the blank dry for 24 hours before casting.
 
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