Dyed some bunny and squirrel tails

[StumpHunter]

While the wife was at work I pulled out all my dyeing stuff, coved the counters and floor and got busy. Washed the bunny strips I cut from a white hide and a hand full of squirrel tails. I was trying for a green a little deeper color than chartreuse. It is hard to tell the color because while you are mixing it the dye looks way to dark but after it dried it is the color I was hoping for. Hope to pour some 1/16 shad-darts tomorrow and try a few of those prop jigs.
Here are a few pics while going through the dyeing process and the finished product.

 

[BucktailJiger]

Those came out good

 

[StumpHunter]

Thanks Crappiejgr.

 

[CrappieHappy]

Nicely done Ronnie!

 

[AtticaFish]

Must be honest...... I like the rabbit color better than the squirrel. :icon14: He!!, i'd BUY that color. Need to find you a population of albino squirrel and i bet the color on the tails would turn out better. Squirrel tail is some sweet action fur and would be nice to have some other odd-ball colors with it.

Can't wait to see the prop tied jigs that result!!!

 

[JUNGLEJIM1]

I like the rabbit color. Did the skin stay soft after dyeing or did it get stiff ? The rabbit strips I dyed the colors were great but the hide got stiff,couldn't wrap with it. If your's stayed soft I'd like to know what kind of dye you were using.

 

[StumpHunter]

Yes I like the color on the bunny also the best. Jim the bunny is like a board!! Not sure if I'll be able to use the hide, may have to cut the hair off to use. The squirrel tails have more color than is showing but a deeper color than the bunny. I hope to tie some jigs with the squirrel today and if so I'll post pics tonight.
I used the same color dyes as hunter used just a different mix. I forgot to time how long I let the hair set in the dye while heating it...

 

[SaltyBuckster]

Your color looks great.Seems to me like you have to make a clamp of some sort to keep the rabbit hide up out of the dye.All of the strips that I have gotten the skin was as white as could be.That'll be a trick for you to think up,lol.I'm thinking like a triangle of sheetmetal of sorts with legs that reach about an inch above the water line. Have some clips to grab the skin and keep it out of the dye as the hair hangs down into it.Looks like I should have taken engineering,Ha.

 

[Fatman]

Nice Stump!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I know who to send my stuff to so it gets done right!!!!!LOL It's something I want to try but don't want to mess up any materials!

 

[toadfrog]

You can use the same bleaching solution on the tails that the gals use to blonde their hair . I'll sneak into the wife's stuff and see if there has been any left from doing her friends hair . Pray I don't get caught or I'll never get a pic posted .

 

[StumpHunter]

You can use the same bleaching solution on the tails that the gals use to blonde their hair . I'll sneak into the wife's stuff and see if there has been any left from doing her friends hair . Pray I don't get caught or I'll never get a pic posted .

Sometimes you just have to go for it!!!!

 

[JUNGLEJIM1]

YEA, Go for it !!! I get away with a lot more crap with the wife now than I did 20 years ago. Guess after almost 34 years she's finally used to it. She don't even ask questions anymore,probably don't want to hear the answer.

 

[Pup]

I really like the rabbit too. Good job SH.

Some of today's leather softening products might help soften your dyed rabbit hides. Just might be worth looking into.