Some time back there was a thread about using osage leaves, bark, and wood as a dye to color things. I mentioned then that I would have to give it a try sometime. Well, I finally got around to it. The first 2 pics shows a natural barred turkey feather after soaking in osage wood chips from a chain saw. I used 3 cups of wood chips, 1 cup of boiling water, and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and left it soak for about an hour. The next 2 pics show a completed black walnut arrow with a fletch dyed with a mixture of fresh cut leaves, twigs, and a cup of wood chips. This batch had about the same amount of water and vinegar and soaked for the same time.
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g433/DanLandis/100_3476.jpg)
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g433/DanLandis/100_3477.jpg)
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g433/DanLandis/100_3478_edited-1.jpg)
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g433/DanLandis/100_3479_edited-1.jpg)
As you can see the wood chips turned out much darker, I don't think the leaves and twigs would have done much at all without the wood chips. i wanted to try some bark from a green tree, but do not have any available at this time. I'm thinking the bark and sap wood would turn out a darker yellow, maybe even orange, just guessing.....Dan
well now that is very cool
Osage is a great source for making dye. A buddy of mine has a wool blanket that is dyed in osage and it is awsome. The wool blanket get's darker all the time the same as a bow that is exposed to light. I suspect the feathers will do the same.
Looks cool and a great idea. Thanks for sharing.
Stiks
I have used the water left in my steaming pot to dye things and it works great. I never noticed the sun factor on dye, just wood, but that is awesome to knoe. Thanks for sharing.
I dyed some cedar shafts with osage water left after steaming and it made them a real nice yellow color. I haven't set them outside in the sun to see if they would turn orange, but I might do that now and see what happens?
I'll put the feather in the first pic in the sun for a few days and then take another pic to see how much it changes......Dan
I wonder if you would get a brighter color from the roots?