Wet Feathers

[Kimall]

Ok you trad shooters I got all my feathers wet on my longbow arras today do I just let them dry natural and they go back to their right shape or do I need to do somthing.Also what other things do I need to considre with the bow in the rain.The compound just gets a wipe down and it is right so its a bit new for me.
Cheers KIM

[humphrey]

you can get some stuff called feather-dry which you put in a bag, then stick the end of your arrow in, seal the bag and shake. it works pretty well. but you use it before you take the feathers in the wet and they act as a water repellent. if they are already wet and you let them dry naturally they tend to go all weird and stiff.

[Kimall]

Thats just great news to hear AFTER you get home with wet gear.
I know with feathers when flyfishing that when dry you can sort of fluff them up again.We will see what happens.
KIM

[Luke]

try steaming them over a boiling kettle nozzle...they should stand up (mostly) to new again...dont get them too wet though as it kinda defeats the purpose ;)

Luke :D

[Axe]

Before you go out, as Humphry said or lightly spray 'em with scotch guard, takes a little while to dry, but doesn't hurt the feather,

If your bow is one piece wipe it like your compound, if t/d (I) pull it apart
so I can dry where limb meets riser, & any fittings get dried & dry lubed with teflon spray. That's me, but I'm pedantic.

Depending on what your bow is finished with when it's dry you might like to use some sort of wax on the timber.

[Kimall]

Good news is now there dry they have come back to good as new with a bit of preening but I think I will take the machine next time instead when it is wet.
Cheers KIM

[outback preditor]

ya right there luke, steam wil even resirect blood soaked feathers

[valhalla]

Yeah ive used the scotch guard method before.......works good :D

[pete w]

I just tried some stuff called "wet N protect".
It is a tire spray that makes tires look shiney.
This stuf seems to work very well.
After spraying the fletches and drying them I ran them under the tap and they shed the water like a duck.
I hope it lasts.

[brian]

nice one pete - thanks for the tip. :D