FlyDye™
Application Procedures
(Take
your time and read thoroughly)
Introduction Procedures Products/Pricing Photos
PREPARATION
Hair and fur usually do not need any
prior preparation before dyeing. However,
some duck skins, feathers, and gamecocks,
may contain a certain amount of natural
oil that should be removed to prevent
an uneven or streaky dye job.
A light scour with a mild household detergent
will do the job. Use warm water
(about 120° F) and agitate for about
5 to 10 minutes. A little ammonia/water
(1 oz/gallon) in addition to the soap
will improve the results. Rinse in lukewarm
water to remove all soap suds.
DYEING
In commercial applications, all dyestuffs
are weighed. Depth of shade is determined
on a percentage basis. Average shades
of red, yellow, blue and green would be
approximately 1% to 2% of the material
to be dyed. In other words, 100 lbs. of
fur or feathers would require 1 to 2 pounds
of dye.
Dark browns, olives, and blacks would
require approximately twice that amount
or 4% to 6% (4 to 6 lbs. / 100 lbs. of
hair, etc.).
Since you will probably not be dyeing
100 lbs. of hair, or feathers, but much
smaller amounts, you will have to do a
little experimenting until you get your
own formulas worked out.
A suggested trial approach would be as
follows:
| 1. |
Measure out ½ gallon
of warm water in a stainless steel
pot or any other suitable container(not
iron). |
| 2. |
In a Pyrex cup, paste
up approximately ¼ oz of dye by adding
4 ozs. of hot water and stir thoroughly. |
| 3. |
Enter dye paste into
dyeing bath and stir. |
| 4. |
Check strength of dye
bath by dipping in a strip of white
paper towel. |
| 5. |
If solution looks too
strong, add water; if too weak, add
more dye. |
| 6. |
If you desired shade
looks close to the paper strip, then
go ahead and enter your material to
be dyed. |
| 7. |
To get maximum value
from FlyDyes, the important factors
are;
A. time; B. temperature, and C. dyeing
agent(acid-household vinegar is suitable). |
| 8. |
Best results are usually
obtained at 190° F for 45 minutes
with 1 oz additions of vinegar(if
necessary). |
| 9. |
Since most of the dye
jobs will be with the feathers or
hair attached to skin, high temperatures
must be avoided to keep the skin from
falling apart. |
| 10. |
For feathers or hair
attached to skin best results seem
to be at
140° F for 15 to 30 minutes; 1- oz
additions of vinegar will help to
drive on the dyestuff. |
