"Larry" wrote in message
...
Cut away the excess fibers (cut close to quill) so there is less to
remove.

While they're
soaking, prepare a stop-bath of baking soda (3 Tbsp) and cold water (4
cups) to douse them in to stop the bleach's action which should keep the
quills from getting unduly brittle.

Good info here. I've bought too many "burned spey hackles" that the stem was
so brittle, trying to strip the hackle was impossible because the stem would
break too easily.

On this note, does anybody know exactly which goose feather is used for
"burned spey hackles?"