Dying Rabbit Strips

[TerryPhillips]

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone on here has had any success dying rabbit zonker strips, with bright colours. I've had a few cracks at it without success, if I dye in a hot solution of veniard or sparton dye the colour takes but the rabbit strips curl up as the skin turns into elastic which when dries is stiff and brittle, if I try the same at warm or even cold the colour isn't taking.

I've not had any problem with synthetics or feather, but this rabbit fur is proving a little more tricky.

Am I better off trying a whole pelt then cutting it once it's dyed?

Regards,
Terry

[roll cast]

I've never dyed any materials but what about doing what you have to vellum when working with it.
You must keep vellum taut the whole time when writing on it and then once its dry you must release it and then keep it flat.

Pre haps if you use one of those double hoop things that people use for working with cloth to keep it tight?


AL

[arkle]

Whilst this is a temperature critical exercise the material you start with may have some bearing on it.

Are your skins tanned, by the way ?

When you immerse them in hot water/acid dye you will lose some of the natural oils, these might be able to be replaced with some conditioner/tanning oil or similar which is rubbed into the skin before drying.

[dabhoy]

Im sure I read somewhere not to let your dye bath go above 60 C.
I dont know if this will affect how well the dye takes though.

[TerryPhillips]

Thanks for the replies, the rabbit strips are tanned and very soft, is that part of the problem?

Regards,
Terry

[dabhoy]

them being tanned and soft is all the better if you want to tie zonkers.

[articwolf]

here this should help you out...AW

YouTube - Dyeing Rabbit Hair Part 1

YouTube - Dyeing Rabbit Hair Part 1

YouTube - Dyeing Rabbit Hair Part 2

YouTube - Dyeing Rabbit Hair Part 2

[midlander]

You might want to give this a go Terry. You'll want Procion MX dyes.

Not tried it myself I'm afraid as I normally dye on air dried skins and put up with the stiffness (ooh be-have). After a few minutes in the water it softens up and becomes perfectly mobile. I'll have to give it a go some time but for now, I've got a stack of acid dyes and little need to dye tanned stuff.

[steveparton]

Mr P says - unless that skin has been specifically Chromic Acid treated - it will go brittle !

Dyeing fur isn't that simple and especially rabbit - do what I do - buy them in dyed off of real furrier's suppliers !

Best wishes

Steve P

[TerryPhillips]

Well after a few weeks of trying, a fortune on different dyes and several failed attempts I think I've finally come up with the end result I was after.

A skin dyed Sunburst Yellow, with a genuine glow when the light hits it.



I tried the Procion dyes and a couple of others but couldn't get the final product right, It took a double dye of Rit and a final dye in a warm acid stain to do it.

Seems a shame to cut it up now! probably the most expensive rabbit skin in history.

Next the same in Orkney Peach......

Regards,
Terry