Repairing Jungle Cock nails has been around for a long time due to the costly nature of the feathers. The generally accepted method to repair a feather is to use a clear lacquer or clear fingernail polish. Both methods work well but when fished they can/will separate with time. Recently, I have started to use thin Clear UV resin. It has been easier to apply and cure, with the repair holding much longer.
Split Jungle Cock Nail
Repaired Jungle Cock Nail
You can still see the split but it will not separate easily!
To repair the Jungle Cock Nail is extremely simple. Using thin UV resin, very sparsely apply a thin coat of resin to the top side of the feather and cure it with a UV light source. It just takes 2-3 seconds. Once cured, apply another thin coat to the back side of the feather and cure it again. That is all to it.
A couple “learned Lessons”
- Use Thin UV resin and do not over apply, this can add weight to the feather and it will not hold its’ position on the fly.
- Use a non tacky resin, or you will have to apply a thin layer of lacquer/fingernail polish
- Be careful in applying the UV resin as not to touch the feather fibers on the nail