Aniline dyes for feathers

[Traditionalist]

As you may have noticed, the onion skins will produce some lovely colours for fly-dressing, so you don't actually need to buy acid or other dyes.  This is of course also a lot cheaper.

Other natural dyes also produce some first class results, often much better than various acid or other dyes. Density, lustre ( "Glow") and some other properties differ widely according to the dye and process used.

TL
MC

[Traditionalist]

Since it may be of particular interest;

http://livingfield.scri.ac.uk/science/5000years/plants/dyes

http://www.scottishfibres.co.uk/acatalog/Natural_dyes.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_dyes_of_the_Scottish_Highlands

there are very many tricks and special processes. It is impossible to list them all, even if I knew them all, which I don't. Some chemicals and also natural ingredients are dangerous and poisonous.

Using things like formic acid, picric acid, and one or two others works very well indeed for some things, but you MUST be aware of the dangers involved before you try it.

Information and preparation is EVERYTHING in dyeing. The actual dyeing process is not usually very difficult.

TL
MC

[Black-Don]

Again, thanks for all who have replied, I've read almost every post but not in as much detail as I'd like and haven't been able to fully digest the links yet so would be obliged if I could ask one last quick question before I go into this in further detail.

When using the Dylon dyes, I take it you use the standard fabric dyes and do these hold the colour after being used on a feather and then fished on a fly ? What I mean is will the Dylon dyes leech or bleed ?

I ask because I had a batch of marabou I got in a kit when I started back tying and it was terrible for washing out and leeching colours ( probably due to cheap dyes or shortcuts ) . Would this have been due to a particular dye or method just so's I can avoid it ?

[Traditionalist]

The dylon dyes are very washfast ( they retain the colour well), and if the dyeing is done properly they will not bleed or leach.  The dylon dyes are designed primarily for natural  materials and they work well on the majority of fly-dressing materials. For more specific information on the dylon dyes see here;  http://www.dyeproservices.com/cold-water-about.html

TL
MC