How to Dye Feathers Sunburst with Davie McPhail.

[babyblueagle1]

would you send me the link for where you get the dyes as well please? also, where do you get your feathers? thanks for the vid!

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi babyblueagle1,

I tried to send you a link but your channel page is set up in a way that I can't send you a PM as youtube don't allow you to put a link on this page..The dyes come from a wholesale company called Veniards they do have a website..the feathers also come from them as well....All the best Davie

[MrMoghal]

Thanks for your response Davie,

Do you mix these in any specific proportions to get the Rhode Island Red colour or is just a question of trial and error. I was thinking of using a Jacquard acid dye in the colour "vermillion" - any thoughts on that? Thanks again for your great videos and helpful advice.

Alexander

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Alexander,

I dye materials only for myself and like you said it's at time trial and error as I can mostly find a use for the feathers or whatever I'm dying..I would recommend though trying the Jacquard dyes on a small piece of fur or feathers that you are dying just to see what happens and if happy then carry on with the rest...I wish you lots of luck and a happy Christmas...

All the best Davie

[MrMoghal]

Hello Davie

Have you by any chance tried to dye Rhode Island Red? If so, what colour/make have you been successful with? Thanks.

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi MrMoghal,

I like to dye a natural red like Rhode Island, scarlet, claret, sunburst yellow and even olive, with these colours I tye a lot of Irish and Scottish pattern but with the olive and the yellow I'll use it in certain dries for the river...

All the best Davie 

[sbrnakiss]

Hi Davie,

Can u bleach the feathers white? If so, would you use hair bleach?

Best Regards,

Sabrina

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi sbrnakiss,

I have never tried to bleach feathers as I rather buy them all ready done, I do beleive that you can bleach feathers which paroxide which is used to bleach hair...I'm sorry I can't be of anymore help..

All the best Davie

[tinalouise143]

I really like your video could you please advise what dye you use? Thanks :)

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi tinalouise143,

I'll send you a link to the dyes that I used in the video...ATB Davie

[phily132k]

hi davie

i have heard some rumours that people have gotten in to bad health when they dyed thier own materials so i was wondering if veniards dyes can cause health problems or if these rumours were false because i wud like to dye my own feathers.

thank you

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi phily132k,

It is true that you have to be careful about using all dyes and follow the instruction given, I only ever dye for myself and in small amounts but if I was doing this every day then I would be more careful...

All the best Davie

[MICtheGUITARIST96]

hi davie,

just wondering where did u get the yellow dye

thanks

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi MICtheGUITARIST96,

The dyes I used in the video are Veniard ones I'll send you a link to them...ATB Davie

[CommissarNorval]

Hi Davie,

I was just wondering what's the difference between strung hackles and capes. And also, can you dye other materials eg. deer hair in the same way. I love your video and find them very helpful. Thank you,

David

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi David, (CommissarNorval)

The reason they are called strung hackles is simply that the hackles have been sewn together with string and they come in different lengths. I found a lot on ebay but as far as I believe the fashion trade are buying a lot of them now for hair extensions..Yes you can dye deer hair in the same...

All the best Davie

[stacireich]

HELLO, GREAT VIDEO! WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE DYE THAT YOU USE?

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi stacireich,

I'm gald you liked the video, the dyes I use are Veniards which are a wholesaler here in the U.K they supply most tackle shops and I'm sure they even supply certains shops over the pond..ATB Davie

[fokus20071]

where can I find dye

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi fokus20071,

I have sent you a link to the dyes that I use....ATB Davie

[wishful1234]

I have a quick question! I have some plan white feathers, and I would like to put a striped/grizzly pattern on theml how should I go about doing this? Also, can I bleach grey/ginger feathers white, and then dye them? thank you!

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi wishful1234,

I'm sorry I couldn't tell you how to put stripes on them it would be easier to buy grizzle hackles and dye them, I would rather keep the grey/ginger and then over dye them either yellow which would give you a nice light olive or a medium olive which gives you a nice brown olive, there's a few other colours that you could try but these are the ones I like..

All the best Davie

[richieguy99]

Hi Davie

I have been tying flies for about 4 years now and i want to start dying my own feathers, i want to dye a grizzle cock cape olive is this the same process as in the video? Also i would like to thank you for all your videos they have helped me loads with patterns and techniques. Especially the bug bond its great stuff!.

Cheers Richie, Newcastle

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Richie,

I do dye all my materials much as in the video, after dying my capes I lay weights on top of them to flatten them just as you will see in the capes you buy in the shops..I'm glad my videos have helped you in your tying..

All the best Davie

[rockstarrfam]

Hi David

I can tell you are a true pro . I was wondering if you have any websites to refer for rooster feathers 15-25cm, Im looking to use for hair extensions and they seem to bee sold out everywhere. The ones I need is the very slim long.

itusa@msn.com

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi rockstarrfam,

Unfortunately due the the demand for the feathers that you are looking for the fashion world has made it very hard to find them, even in the fly tying world. This has also pushed the price of them up to silly prices..you could have bought a saddle for £30 but now you are paying £100 as I have saw on ebay it is a shame for both industries..

All the best Davie

[rightfieldjihad]

@rockstarrfam for those feathers, hairwisp.com

[ashley102497]

Would kool-aid work ??? ha :]

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi ashley102497,

I have heard of tyers using kool-aid which they say works well but I haven't used it myself...

All the best Davie

[Savannahg87]

Davie Im just curious what kind of dye are you using? Is it something that we can get or can you advise something that would work

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Savannahg87,

I use Veniard dyes which you should be able to find on the internet as veniards supply a lot of shops with their materials as they are a wholesaler..There are other dyes out there but veniard dyes work for me..

All the best Davie

[ashley102497]

HI! I was wondering i can dye Grizzly Rooster Fetahers? if so how? and If I dye it will the black bars still show? thanks !! :]

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi ashley102497,

Yes you can dye these feathers and just like I did in the video, you will still see the black bar in most colours but obviously the darker you dye it the less you will see them...

All the best Davie

[dbizz072011]

hi davie i am just wondering if u have some advice i tryed to dye some grizzly feathers purple and the feathers dont look the best now they look like they lost some fluff at the ends and also i cant see the black bars anymore what could have happened

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi dbizz072011,

It sounds like you have dyed them really dark, the best thing to do is tye with them as this will let you see the colour and markings better they may be alright. When you;re dying materials you have to watch them very closely as you can get the wrong colour quite easily..

All the best Davie

[Mathonkevin]

hi davie I wonder if I can pale yellow articfox and then dye it to some other color

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Mathonkevin,

I have tried this myself but the colour was not as strong as I would have liked as you really need a strong yellow to get the sunburst, but I would never say no as I have been suprised sometimes when dying materials..Let me know how you get on?

All the best Davie

[Goblinzes]

Hi David! Great video thanks for helping me with how to dye, I'm trying to dye some feathers for masks I'm making,but I have a question before I get started, what kind of dyes are you using? Are you using acid based dyes, like I could get to dye fabrics? I'm assuming it should be alright as it can leave colour on wool etc, but I wanted to ask first before I thew some money at this.

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Goblinzes,

I use Veniards dyes which are made to dye feathers and set by an acid (vinegar),, to be really honest with you I'm no professional when it comes to dying these materials. I would say that it would be OK to do this but I would wash them well before you make your masks so that they don't smell of vinegar.

All the best Davie

[Mcianq07]

David it seems to me you are very good at this. Would you pleaseeeeee explaing how to dye peacock feathers. Actually I like to bleach them to Ivory color...How to do that.

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Mcianq07,

I would dye the peacock just as I did in the video with the strung hackles I find they take the dye o.k. but .I have never bleached anything before so I wouldn't know how to do this.

All the best Davie

[TotallyFlyTying]

Davie,

Im currently Dying an old rubbish white cape Highlander Green but it seems to have got to a point then stopped colouring. I washed them in a Washing Powder and used brown vinigar, does this make a difference? Im scared to move onto the Artic Runner fur that i want to dye later as im using the cape as an experiment.

I noticed that you said it may take DAYS?!?

I've got no chance of being allowed to keep the gas cooker on for days!

Can you offer any assistance?

Thanks,

~David

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi David,

I wouldn't be allowed to keep the gas on for days either...just do everything in the video I did then keep the hair in the pot with the dye and set it aside until the dye sets but just keep checking the hair until you're happy with the colour.........:-)))) and as I said you may have to keep it in the dye for a wee while..

All the best Davie

[TotallyFlyTying]

Cheers Davie!

I'll give that a go. One thing, i bought Artic Fox dyed Green highlander but its more of a bluish green. Looks nothing like the one in your video of the Highlander, can you dye feathers like this that are already dyed? I've got it steeping in Fairy Liquid at the moment and ill go ahead with the dying if you say it would be ok.

Best Regards and thank you!

~David

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi David,

What colour are the feathers as green comes from yellow and blue...

Davie

[TotallyFlyTying]

Hi Davie,

They are a very weak green with a blue tinge. Very much like a weak turqoise.

~David

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi David,

With a mix of colour like you have in this cape I would find it hard to get a good colour from it but if this was all I had then I would dye it blue then add yellow to the dye and you may be lucky and get a nice green highlander..

Good luck..

All the best Davie

[TotallyFlyTying]

Hi Davie,

I'm just using the Green Highlander dye from Veniard. Also its the Artic Fox that im dying that is already coloured, probably taken out the bath too soon. Im pleased to say that my experimental cape came out perfect! Thank you!

Best Regards,

~David

[txflytier]

Hi Davie

Great video I was wondering how to do it. I will have to get some dies and try it out. On some cheap feathers first and then work my way up to the better feathers.

Do you dy all your feathers and hair?

Thanks for the Great Videos

Chance

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Chance,

The Strung Hackles are ideal for practising on and they're cheap, I do like to dye an odd bit of hair and especially capes as I do tye a lot of patterns which need a brighter colour. By dying your own materials it will give you a colour that you may not be able to buy so you can experiment and even come up with a new fly...

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year..

All the best Davie

[bkee2804]

Great video Davie you are an inspiration. What mixed would you use for green highlander

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi bkee2804,

Follow the dying process as above but first add Kingfisher Blue then add a Yellow which will give you a nice Green Highlander...If you are dying hair you have to keep the hair soaking in the dye until you get the colour you want, some take longer than others, which can be a couple of days just keep checking it, you've just just got to be patient but feathers are easy..

All the best Davie

[bkee2804]

@DavieMcPhail Thanks Davie Happy New Year to You

[Ayrtraveller]

bet you make a mean pot of soup pal.... have a great christmas

Alec

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Alec,

If it doesn't taste good it will certainly look colourful...Merry Christmas....

All the best Davie

[jimthetelemech1977]

Davie,

If I'm going to dye whole capes or hairs and furs on the skin would you lay them out on some kitchen roll and allow them to dry naturally or just get in about them with the wife's hairdryer and hope she doesn't kill me when she finds out?

tight lines bud,

Jim.

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Jim,

After I've dyed a cape and rinsed it I take as much water out of it as I can by using old towels, then I staple the cape to heavy card, it's the card they use in picture frames, this will help to keep it flat, you can also blow dry the feathers to speed up the process. The other thing I do is that I put weights on top of the cape which will press it flat...Hair I allow it to dry natuarlly but I use a dog comb to brush the hair which takes out the curls..

All the best Davie

[yourmotherFer]

Merry Christmas Davie.

Thank you for the color lesson.

John

[9200Fabregas]

Hi Davie

Where do you get your dies and could you do this with golden pheasent??

Merry Christmas

Fabregas9200

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi 9200Fabregas,

I do dye GP Crest Sunburst and many other colours, you will find them very easy to dye.. I bought mine from the Glasgow Angling Centre but any company that stock Veniards materials will be able to get them for you..

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year..

All the best Davie

[scolemans]

Hi Davie

Many thanks for this vid.i have been dyeing my own feathers for a while now and from your video i have been getting some processes wrong so big thank you for this.And would like to thank you for all your help in fly tying over the past year and wish you and your family a merry xmas.

best fishes s.c

[Hellbeastrock]

works very well, I just died some ostrich plumes this way, thanks Davie!

[TheDarzea]

Thanks Davie, Now to go annoy the mother until I'm allowed full acess to the sink. Wait till she smells the vinegar! I pretty much talked myself into salmon fishing next year from tying the your salmon flies as they looked liked a challenge! Cant wait for the 1st Feb, the start of the Irish Salmon season! The Munster Blackwater is a 2min walk from the back door. Thanks for the video, I'm sure I'll have another request for you by next week! Darragh

[jimthetelemech1977]

smashin Davie, I've not had the confidence to give this a try yet but in the new year I'll be giving this a bash with the old stand by pot that hasn't seen teh light of day for years.

If your up in the Glasgow Angling center between Christmas and the new year I'll see you there.

Hope you and the family have a fantastic Chrismas and a brilliant new year.

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi jimthetelemech1977,

I'll probably not be in the GAC over the next couple of weeks..

Have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family...

All the best Davie

[aadieteamscotland]

Hi davie dose GAC or Angling center stirling stock the dye ? cheers aaronadie

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi aadieteamscotland,

Both should have the Veniard dyes I use and if they don't I'm sure they will be able to help you out...

Merry Christmas....

All the best Davie

[mrflyfishingak]

Hi Davie,

Thanks for th video, it really helped. I am guessing you can do it with most capes and furs so now I can add my own colours and hopefuly make better flys.

happy holidays, Adam

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi mrflyfishingak,

With capes just do as I did in the video and you should be fine, dying hair I keep it in the dye a lot longer just do as before but don't rinse straight away leave it to steep overnight and then rinse and allow it to dry naturally, you've just got to be patient with it...

All the best Davie

[1968drum]

Hi davie, is the liquid all vinegar, or is it mixed with water.

peace love fish,Daniel

[molley3268]

@1968drum

Daniel......the liquid in the pot is water ..the Vinegar is added ( from the bottle) at the end to set the dye 

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Daniel,

It's about a pint and a half of water then as you can see a couple of glugs of vinegar to set the dye...

All the best Davie

[Vyccia]

Davie man of his word, he said he's going to show how to do that, ad he kept the promise. Very helpful video. Thank you

[shanksi105]

Do you use a particular make of dye Davie?

Thanks for posting the videos been interested in the ones using Bug Bond.

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi shanksi105,

The dyes I use are from Veniards which are the only ones that I have ever used..

All the best Davie

[OldGuyFaeRez]

Never tried dyeing for myself, but once again, you make it look easy. Love how there's no nonsense, it's straight from the hip, right bang in your home stuff, which just adds to the atmosphere of "we can do that!"

You have been inspirational to the average guy with your laid back, but extremely informative narratives, and your, at times out the blue, witty quips which have us all peein' ourselves all the way to our vices. LOL

Many thanks for posting and may your talent reward you.

J

[grayduster100]

Interesting video. I take it you do this when"the boss" is out!

[tonysurface1]

Great video Davie. I would like to see more like this. I would love to see your home fly tying desk too. Perhaps some information on the tools and materials you use. Thanks again for posting your videos. I check YouTube daily for your videos.

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi tonysurface1,

I may do this next year, but I have nothing really special, glad you enjoyed the video..

Have a wonderful Christmas..

All the best Davie

[Kendo2007]

EXCELLENT, Thanks Davie will be giving this a go later going to get the dyes in the now lol the sunburst looks amazing would you do this process for fox, goat aswel?

thanks

Kenny

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Kenny,

Hair can be a lot harder for the colour to set just do everything that I did then take the pot off the heat and put it somewhere out the way overnight, then rinse in cold water taking out the excess dye and allow it to dry naturally, Sometimes you may have to keep it in longer to get the correct colour you want, you just have to take your time and be patient..

All the best Davie

[harrylfc]

great video davie, only died fritz so far myself and was able to get some nice shades of sunburst the same way you done it, by mixing the two colours

[enfginho]

Thanks again Davie.

[GreyBuzzer]

Great Video! I am going to guess that the good lady makes sure you have your own pot. :) and you did not make a mess, good man.

If you want to continue the dying series, the Irish & Orkney shades would be good examples.

Many thanks for doing this, my coworkers are also now watching you.

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi GreyBuzzer,

I'm glad you enjoyed the video, and believe it or not but I have had that pot for more than 20 years it's a part of the family, but the kids hate it as they can't stand the smell of the boiling vinegar that's the main reason I'm always home alone when I dye materials..

Have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year when it comes..

All the best Davie

[tjmfishing]

I am so glad you made this videoe because I was wondering how to do this.