Dying Bucktails

Hello Linkers..was wondeing if anyone dye their own bucktails. I have over 100 BIG natural white bucktails, that I like to get them dyed for tying my flies. Any recomendations, and whereI can get them? Or any tips or stories? Let me know. Thanks.

I used the kool aid recipe for dying hackles too. Worked great.

I dyed a couple of capes and bucktails using kool aid. I don't have it down to exact color match, but I was impressed with the results.

1 packet UNSWEETENED koolaid 6oz water 2oz vinegar

I mix that in a plastic bowl big enough to cover the tail or feathers in, heat in the microwave for 2min on 50% power, drop in the tail or feathers and heat for another 3min on 50% power. I wonder if the grape flavor of my Purple spey flies brings in the big Kings in the fall?

I was tying some bucktails and couldn't get the black to turn out black enough --checked Lake-link and sure enough there are the answers --thanks guys

I personally don't have AK Best book, but if it is anything like the rest of his books it is probably very good. He was in the commercial fly industry so I bet the book is full of great tips.

hmmm..maybe that's why....they were a bit oily. DAng, I just wasted 9 BIG tails! Oh well. Try it again. Trial and Error. Thanks for the tips linkers!

You need to get all of the oil out of the tail so that the dye will take. To do this put them in a solutoin of Borax and hot water for a couple of hours. Mix 1 cup Borax to one gallon of water. Let them dry before dyeing them. I used to do anywhere from 2200 to 3000 tails a year.

AK Best Book:

Page 40-41; Bucktails..

Dyeing and Bleaching Natural Fly-Tying Materials

http://www.amazon.com/Dyeing-Bleaching-Natural-Fly-Tying-Materials/dp/1558212140/ref=si3_rdr_bb_product/102-0882392-7547340

As mentioned here if you want brighter colors, strip them first with a mild bleach and water solution.

Also mix 1/4 cup of white vinegar per packet of Rit, it will help set the colors in the Bucktail.

Commercial folks use acid dyes, similar to mixing in vinegar (acetic acid).

I know the issue with the red and purple. Try bleaching them and then dying. It helps.

tried rit and it failed! treid some dye i bought from ebay and that failed! I think I'll continue buying store bucktails. the bucktails I tried dying don't turn out dark. like red/scarlet turned out pink! and purple turned out VERY light purple. Used as directed too.

as for burning the fur, I've never heard of that. Interesting.

i have heard you have to (burn) the tails before dying. what is this burning and is it needed?

cool...thanks...I'm gonna get some rit and try that! Thanks ya'll!

Black is the hardest color to dye.

I believe it was Dave Hughes who stated the best way to get a fantastic black is to first dye the hair the darkest brown possible. Then proceed to dye black.

Have done this and it works well with Rit.

To keep peace in the family, suggest you purchase a 1 1/2 quart or larger pan from either a garage sale or the Dollar Store.

Rit is all I have ever used!

Rit fabric dye is the way to go... Just watch where you do it, it stains.