I have some bags of inexpensive strung hackle in which the feathers are quite twisted. Is there a technique to straighten/flatten these feathers?
Steve
Take a couple and try steam. Then press them in a book or under some kind of weight. Might work:confused:
It takes a bit of time, but this works:
‘Unstring it all’.
Put some HOT water and dish soap in the sink and dump the feathers into it.
Swish it about to get everything well wetted.
Let it soak. While it’s soaking get out a couple of big towels, a trash bag, and some books (paperbacks are fine. These are for weight, and it doesn’t take much). You need enough books to cover the feathers and press them down.
Lay out one towel on the kitchen counter (or anywhere a little wet won’t hurt).
Now take your washed and soaked feathers and place them into a colander. Rinse them with hot water until you get all the soap out. While you are doing this, let the soapy water drain. (ALL the soap. Rinse them again.)
Refill the sink with HOT water. Place the rinsed feathers into the water.
Now the fun part. Take each feather out of the hot water (I use tweezers to protect my hands from the hot water) and place them onto the towel. Lay them out straight. The water should have soaked into them well to make them pliable. Any part of the stem that won’t lay straight, you need to cut off.
Carefully lay the second towel over the feathers so you don’t unstraighten them.
Unfold the trash bag but don’t open it. Lay it flat over the towel to protect the books from gettng wet. Lay the books onto the plastic covered towel covering the whole surface that has feathers under it.
Let them dry. Takes several hours at least.
If this doesn’t straighten the feathers, you already have the trash bag handy, which is the next step…
Buddy
I thank both of you for your suggestions.
Steve