Dyed cdc ?

[r ian]

If cdc is natural in oils then how is it dyed and when dyed surely the natural oil has gone? If this is the case then would'nt it be best to just use natural wild cul de canard ?

[arkle]

The "oils" do not contribute much to it's ability to float, the structure of the barbs & its ability to hold air is what makes it float. So be it dyed of not it will float, you can always re-proof dyed & natural feathers with c.d.c oil if you think it will help. Gink type products don't work as they matt the fibres & prevent them from holding air.

[tk8456]

If you're that worried you can buy CDC oil from veniards
I have a little tub and it seems to help flies

I'm not sure why a ducks butt produces the oil. Some say it water proofs the ducks feathers?
But CDC feathers do trap air on their own and float that way plus mimic a real insect hatching well. CDC with oil is a winner combo I'd say

[Beacon Beige]

CDC oil is very good for all CDC flies , I use it all the time now I have discovered it.

You dont need a lot just a thin coating

Well worth it.

Col

[Wee Jimmy]

Originally Posted by arkle

Gink type products don't work as they matt the fibres & prevent them from holding air.

As you say Arkle,its the structure of the feather that is the key,the micro barbs are designed to load up with the birds preen gland oil.Gink works perfectly as long as you use just a tiny amount liquified on a fingertip,then just lightly brush the feather across it a couple of times.

[spidersplus]

r ian,

High quality coloured CDC is dyed in a cold bath - some of the colours take over a week to set - the cold water ensures that most of the natural oils stay in the feather.

Cheap coloured CDC is dyed in hot water - stripping out the oils - quicker to do hence the low cost but low quality.

The CDC that I am buying in from Switzerland is dyed in cold baths and left to dry in the air in the mountains - the colours are simply excellent and the feathers have not lost their floatability.

http://www.flytyingboutique.com/stor...136&category=6

However - as the other forum members have stated, it is not the oil so much as the actual feather structure that makes CDC float.

The difference between natural and quality dyed CDC in terms of oil content is minimal.

Kind regards

[Beacon Beige]

Originally Posted by Wee Jimmy

As you say Arkle,its the structure of the feather that is the key,the micro barbs are designed to load up with the birds preen gland oil.Gink works perfectly as long as you use just a tiny amount liquified on a fingertip,then just lightly brush the feather across it a couple of times.

I agree as I used gink before I got a hold of the oil , Gink in tiny amounts works just fine.

Col

[r ian]

Many thanks phil ! its not something that worries me, just something i wanted to know about , i already know cul de canard is french/swiss for ducks **** and it was first used on the french/swiss border but was not aware it was the structure that mostly makes it float, im pretty new to this fly tying so many thanks ian

[r ian]

Sorry meant to say thanks everyone, cheers ian

[teuchter]

Hi All
Just to chuck some 'oil' on the water. I asked the same question to Marc Petitjean over dinner this spring. His company prepares loads of the stuff for the fly tying market. He said that at first washing the feather loses about 20% of its natural oil..........in dying it loses about another 10%. So 30% gone from the natural if its washed and dyed. Marc recomends that some CDC oil is added to enhance the floating quality of the dyed feather.
In essence, stick to the natural if you want it to float without fiddling with it.
I disagree with the arguement that the fibrils are what keep the fly afloat.
Cheers
George Barron