Has anyone successfully used a hair curler for curling the primaries on duck wings? If so, what was the technique? I tried the hot pin and didn't have a lot of success. Are there any other techniques out there? Thanks for the help.
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Van Dykes sells a feather curler for around $12 or so 2 pieces of plastic screwed together at 1 end........1 piece is flat the other is curved........if you get too much curve turn it over and use it again and it will straighten it out again.......can be used for up curl or down curl .....all you do is slide 1 feather in at a time squeeze slightly and pull the curler to the end of the feather....bought 1 a few yrs ago and it works great.......You can find it in the bird form section of the catalog........
I've heard of people using curling irons but I think that would be a lil dangerous if the iron was too hot......
Good Luck ,Jeff
I can't seem to get that curling tool from Van Dykes to work. Don't know what I'm doing wrong, seems simple enough but haven't had good luck with it. Didn't come with any directions so maybe there's a "trick" to using it that I haven't learned yet.
You can use a lightbulb about a 100watt should do fine. You can rub the shaft against the light bulb without distorting the feather. Also works well for straightening feathers (side curl)
I also bought one of the feather curlers from Van Dykes and I can't get it to worki either. When I did get it to curl the feather is really dented the quil along the top of the entire shaft.
I'll give the light bulb a try. Thanks for the help.
i use a curling iron quite regularly. i prefer the ones with a larger barrel on them as opposed to those little skinny ones. aside from that, all you need is an oven mit.
place your hand under the primaries and support them while you draw the hot iron across the other side of the feathers. dont hold it in one place for a long time. just draw it across slowly and consistently, like you are slicing something with a knife. do this over and over until you get the effect you want.
good luck
Useing your modeling tool and running it along the feather shaft with your thumb on the other side.