What’s the best way to protect iridescent feathers for inlays, like a Gray's peacock or oscillated turkey? I've found that Gudebrod CP really washes out the color, turns a bright green to a golden brown. I've also tried Flex Coat CP, and I'm not crazy about it because the milky color makes it really hard to see what you’re doing.

Any suggestions, before I just buy every CP out there?

I've used U-40 CP many times. It's a milky white, but dries quickly, and disappears under Flex Coat or LS Supreme.

Dave

I've been using Gudebrod CP and have the same problems. Before I trim the feather, I've been lightly dust coating the Grey's with Krylon clear. It takes several dust coats, then inlay with the CP and the color is holding for me. Give it a try; I've done it with two dust coats (on each side of the feather) and it turned out so-so. Then, I tried 4 dust coats and it was really good.

Let me know if you try it; I'd go even seven quick coats just to be sure that you don't miss a spot. Be sure and just 'dust' it; don't 'wet' it or the Krylon turns it brown, too.

Putter
Williston, ND



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/20/2005 03:35PM by Randy Parpart (Putter).

G'day Daniel,

I have been using the U40 and find it does a really good job. I thin mine down 50/50 with distilled water. It is enought to get rid of the air bubbles and yet still hold the feather in place. With all metalic type feathers there is a certain amount of colour loss although it shouldn't be much. I have used Empyen feathers which are highly metalic and all but the very dark green/black have come out spectacularly well, particularly the red and blue. Because the CP has been thinned it is easier to see through when touching the feather into place. For me, I have found it a lot easier to wet the area you intend laying the feather with CP and then gently laying the feather down onto that spot. If done properly, the CP soaks straight through the feather and there is very little need to move th individual barbs into place. I always use a coat or two of full strength CP once I'm satisfied with the effect I'm after. I posted a few photos recently of feather inlays and this was the technique I used in all of them.

Best of luck
Mark Fisher