Acid dyeing materials how to?

[darwin]

Hello everyone,
Can someone point me to a good source on mixing dyes or dyeing methods? I have a small selection of Veniard dyes to be delivered and might try other acid dyes. What I am wanting to do is get my head around the creation of custom colours. I don't mind experimenting some, but I would hate to waste time and materials if at all possible. I have the book by AK Best and it helps, but I do not want to use the Rit dyes. I have found good bits and pieces on spey/salmon forums but feel I need to know more. I found a few links that look very promising but I can not get to them at work due to the firewall.

I am not after any family secrets, just want to do a nice respectful job.
Or should I just order more prepared dyes and stick with those colours?

Thank you for your time.

[emerger1981]

mixing the veniard dyes is a no no! there all made up of three different colour dyes already, there a nightmare to mix and never the same.
your better off buying the colours, there easy to use just add it says a 1/4 of a teaspoon per litre of water but i put a 1/4 or so of a teaspoon in 2 3rds of a litre and that will dye plenty of feathers,dubbing whatever....
you fix the dye with white vinegar after you simmer the materials, keep them moving and checking them. also iv noticed the dyes set at different rates sometimes you need to simmer them then leave to cool down in the dye bath.
but remeber to keep checking they can change richness in seconds
theres colours iv dyed that you cant get elsewhere so it is worth experimenting. what is it you want to dye?

[darwin]

I have a few Metz saddles, marabou, bleached deer & elk and what ever odd job I need to do. Just part of the learning process, and I have taken a strong liking to the rich colours used in the Irish and Scottish flies. Most of what I use here is more on the earthy drab shades.. Have you used Jacquard or other dyes? I was told those could be mixed...
Thanks for your advice.

[emerger1981]

dont put skins in boiling water. if you dont know, they shrink right up.
pluck the feathers then boil them
no mate i havnt tried them before, the veniards seem to do a good enough job when you get use to them.

[darwin]

I can hold my own behind a stove, so I think I will be ok there, but thanks!
I think I have 5 or 6 colours coming, the basic olives, claret, fiery brown and sunburst. I guess I will have to learn more about over dyeing to get the vibrant colors. Veniard does not publish a colour chart so I have no idea of what some of their colours look like... kinda weird but it's not my business. thanks

[emerger1981]

Originally Posted by darwin

I can hold my own behind a stove, so I think I will be ok there, but thanks!
I think I have 5 or 6 colours coming, the basic olives, claret, fiery brown and sunburst. I guess I will have to learn more about over dyeing to get the vibrant colors. Veniard does not publish a colour chart so I have no idea of what some of their colours look like... kinda weird but it's not my business. thanks

like i said there mixed between 3 dyes, so depending on how you dye them there will be differences in the colour shade, thats why theres no colour chart as such. over dying isnt always best as materials go darker when wet.
you'll see what i mean when you start, i suggest you get a cheap crappy hen and cock cape or saddles for trial.

good choice of colours by the way

[darwin]

I finally got to Midlander's SBS, damn firewalls. Very helpful, thank you sir!

Here is Midlander's very helpful SBS:

http://http://homepage.ntlworld.com/radbard88/

[darwin]

Originally Posted by emerger1981

i suggest you get a cheap crappy hen and cock cape or saddles for trial. good choice of colours by the way

Good idea, I saw some cheap India saddle patches at the store this morning, going back tomorrow to get a couple. Cock only, can not find hen hackles anywhere near by, had to order some in from Scottland Which other colors of theirs would you reccomend?
Thanks!

[Gander]

I am no expert, but I believe a lot of the more desirable colours are achieved by over-dyeing. For example, Veniards black dye has too much blue in it. To get a truer black, dye your material with the Veniards Black, fix the dye, wash off the excess dye then pop it into a dye bath of orange to neutralise the blue, remembering to fix that dye also. Alternatively, a true black can be obtained by using a different make of dye, such as Jacquard.

If you are wanting to experiment, over-dyeing is a good option.

[darwin]

Hi Gander,
I would never have thought of the orange over-dyeing, good tip Thanks. Jacquard seems to be very popular for the reason you stated. It also seems more mixing is required or allowed with that brand as it is not designed solely for fishing materials. That seems to be a strenght and weakness, depending upon your needs. The mixing part scares me a bit, but I will get some cheap materials and give it ago.
Thanks for your input!