Red Ostrich feathers for crest that are color fast (rain?)

[AntonivsMarivsCongianocvs]

Salve,

I picked up a group of 25 Red Ostrich feathers on EBay but, as I went to add them to my helmet, two were placed on the little puddle next to a glass of water on my table. They immediately began running and permanently stained my wood table. (Yes, the red dye washes off the feathers with water but can permanently stain wood.) I rinsed them but they kept turning the water pink even after 30 minutes… they look like total garbage now.

The seller told me…

Item: 25 Red Ostrich Feathers 12-18" Dutch Auction

Hello
Sorry, most all feathers from suppliers state that they are not color fast, sorry.

Is this true or can anyone recommend a seller that has red ostrich feathers for sale that are color fast? If it is true that [i]“most all feathers… are not color fastâ€

[Marcus Hortensius Castus]

wow Antonivs, sounds like a rip... I'll keep my eye peeled.

EDIT: Have you looked at ostrich.com? May be worth a peek.

[caiusbeerquitius]

Try this:
www.hg-design.de/fund-80.htm
I am very happy with what I bought there.

[TITVS SABATINVS AQVILIVS]

Thank you Christian, just what I needed...

Vale,

[Marcus Mummius]

Great shop, thanks for the link!

[AntonivsMarivsCongianocvs]

Try this:
www.hg-design.de/fund-80.htm
I am very happy with what I bought there. Smile

Plures gratiae!!!

I contacted the guys at another site, [url:3i3efhfr]http://www.3RiversArchery.com[/url] and they said they've never heard of ostrich feathers that weren't color fast. They sold me some of their red dye for $4.00. Since I have so many white feathers too (previously purchased from a different EBay seller).. I'll take a crack at dying some.

I really have my mind set on a red & white plume for my crest.

If that doesn't work out... I'll pick up some from [url:3i3efhfr]http://www.hg-design.de/fund-80.htm[/url]

[AntonivsMarivsCongianocvs]

Augh! this is getting frustrating! LOL :roll:

Okay… I tried to dye 10 of my white ostrich feathers and while the dye from [url:32z0sycp]http://www.3RiversArchery.com[/url] dyed the feathers red, the feathers lost all of their fluffiness (fluffiness is important to Romans ya know!) anyways… the feathers look more like sticks now.

Augh again.

I wrote to the guys at [url:32z0sycp]http://www.hg-design.de/fund-80.htm[/url] but I’m not sure what the cost to ship to the US is.

Also, I wrote to several other EBay sellers and two other online places… all have told me if the feathers get wet they will run. :?

So, I have to ask… where is everyone with red feathers at RAT getting them from and do they run in the rain :?:

Seriously though, the most challenging aspect of making a Roman Officer’s Attic Helmet is turning out to be... purchasing red feathers! :wink:

[Terran Stewart]

I may have a suggestion for getting the "fluff" back. Albeit second-hand.
Renaissance costumers have been shaping and maintaining feathers for a while now and one of their techniques involves steaming and lightly combing the feathers. Either into a desired shape or back into "proper" shape.

I don't have any personal experience doing this, but a light steaming *ought* to result in an effect similar to that of humidity on curly hair. A bit of experimenting may get you your feathers back.

Hope this helps.

Terran

[Terran Stewart]

I will try to get ahold of the relevant passage and transcribe the process. It may take a few days, the book is 110 miles frome where I am...heh.