I was looking at some of the great photos of the feather inlays you guys have done. Some of them are just beautiful! I was wondering if you had any tips on how to "smooth out" the epoxy over the feathers. Mine look more bumpy. I have typically used a base coat of CP and then another layer of CP over the inlay before coating with normal Flex Coat. I would love to get mine to look as nice as what I am seeing here.

Thanks

Ross,

Your e-mail address is hidden so I can't e-mail you

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

I have the best results when I use lots of very thin coats building up until all of the feather tip are completely covered then one last thin finishing coat.

Sorry just joined up. email is andersen@jhmi.edu. Thanks

What I do, which works well for me, is to apply the feathers how you want them w/ CP. Let dry for an hour or two. Then I wrap over the feathers with flat waxed nylon fly tying thread, then let dry for another few hours and then unwrap. Flattens the feathers right down to the blank, and the thread doesn't ever stick to the feathers. It does leave wrap marks on the dried feathers, but they will completely dissapear when finish is applied.

Hope this helps,
Ray

I've not done many feather inlays, but on the ones I have there has been no special technique used. Applying epoxy over the feathers should be the same as applying epoxy over a decal or your thread wraps. Things don't have to be perfectly flush to come out smooth. Take heavy offshore rods for instnace. You have an unverwrap followed by two over wraps. By the time you're done everything looks smooth and you shouldn't be able to see the transition from one layer of thread to the next. Feather inlays should be the same. Apply your epoxy, allow it to level, get rid of the excess...apply another coat later if need be.

Good luck.

Jay

Ross,

Check your e-mail

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!