How to Make a Quill Pen out of a Feather

Have you ever found a feather and felt you just had to make it in to a quill pen? If so, this article is for you!

 Steps

1. 1
   Find your feather. You can use just any feather that fits comfortably in your hand (i.e. like a pencil), but a long tail feather is best.
   
   
2. 2
   Shave off the fibers closest to where the fibers end. You may leave them if you prefer, but this makes it easier to work with and easier to hold.
   
   
3. 3
   [This step is optional] Leave your feather in water over night. This makes it soft and more easily bent, you will see why later.
   
   
4. 4
   Heat some sand to three-hundred fifty degrees and leave the feather in the sand, on a heat-proof surface, until cool. This hardens it and makes it so you don't have to resharpen it as often. (also optional)
   
   
5. 5
   Cut your feather at forty-five degrees then make a cut that is opposite the first one at about five degrees (Steepen if necessary). This cut should make two horns. Note: The following prioritizes step three if it isn't done yet!
   
   
6. 6
   Bend the two horns together. This should create a cracking sound and a pretty central slit at the horns.
   
   
7. 7
   Shave off the horns to a not-really-pointy-or-flat point so you don't splatter ink.
   
   
8. 8
   If you want to, you can dye the feather by mixing a hair dye in a clear plastic tub, repeatedly dipping the end of the feather into the dye and gently working through before washing.
   
   
9. 9
   Finished.
   
   

 Tips

• If you don't want to heat your feather just leave it in hot water.
• Don't forget to clean and wash the feather thoroughly if you got it outside.
• Instead of leaving the feather in room temp. water over night, dip it in hot water repeatedly until soft to save time
• The feather doesn't need to be perfect.
• Some feathers have a membrane that must be removed after the second cut.
• Cut the nib (the writing point) blunt(er) to make a calligraphy pen.

Warnings

• You will be using sharp and hot objects, adult supervision/help recommended.

 Things You'll Need

• A good feather
• A sharp pen-knife and/or hobby knife
• A cup
• Sand
• Water
• An oven
• A microwave (optional)

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