bleeding dyes

[Big Tuna]

Most of the materials that I purchase locally are from Fish Hunter. I have had a terrible time w/ the dyes bleeding. I thought it was just the marabou, but recently found that even the dyed guinea bled out. The end result is that flies are ruined in a relatively short period of time. They get wet a couple of times and the colors bleed together. Is anyone having better luck w/ materials from another company?

[halcyon]

I have found the dyed materials from Water West Fly Shop, John Shewey, and FeathersMC, as well as Whiting products, all to be excellent materials with superb dyeing jobs and no bleeding.

Regards,

[traditionalist]

If dyes bleed out, it is because the materials have not been properly dyed.

A quick fix for this is to soak the materials in very very hot water, almost boiling, with several tablespoons of vinegar.

After the materials have been in the bath for a few minutes, remove, and rinse very thoroughly under cold running water.

This problem is usually the result of using too much dye, the dye not taking properly, ( dye bath temperature too low), and not being properly rinsed.

Of course you may end up with rather paler colours using the above trick, but that is still better than having them bleed out.

For more info;
http://www.mike-connor.homepage.t-online.de/Materials/Dyeing/dyeing.html

It is of course better to obtain properly dyed materials in the first place.

[Jergens]

Waters West dies a ton of there own stuff and it is top notch. i ue alot of spirit river stuff and havent noticed this problem.

[Big Tuna]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Sounds like I have a few other options now.