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  1. #1
    Senior Member ShadowAlpha's Avatar
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    Recycling down & feather bed. (added pics)

    So I went out to my barn earlier to get a ladder. There is an upstairs loft room where I have a day bed. On that day bed a down/feather bed has been laying there for a few yrs.



    I grabbed the feather bed & brought it in the house. The tag says the quilted part is down & the bed part is waterfowl feathers.

    Are the waterfowl feathers any good for a top quilt or under quilt?
    Do they have any warmth factor when used outside?
    I know it was always nice & warm when I threw it on a floor in a cold room

    I did not rip it open yet but here's what it looks like.
    I can feel the feathers in the bed part & nice light weight down in the quilted part.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by ShadowAlpha; 07-16-2010 at 16:52.

  2. #2
    Senior Member Niloc's Avatar
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    I think I have read some other post around here recently stating that down found in those type of blankets isn't as high quality and will have more quills which in the long run will puncture through your UQ and expose the down.

  3. #3
    Senior Member Niloc's Avatar
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    Here is one example thread that may help.

    http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=19164

  4. #4
    Senior Member ShadowAlpha's Avatar
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    Ah - makes sense. thought the waterfowl feathers would be too heavy & prob does not generate enough heat.

    Tho with a little investigation the quilted top down part might be good. We'll see if it has quills than no go.

    thanks!

  5. #5
    Senior Member KerMegan's Avatar
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    if you are into weight saving- the down will make a lighter zone of loft than the feathers.

    if you are into car camping; the bag o' feathers will keep you insulated from the cold/ground better than the down;
    ( i.e. more structure, less crushable)
    if you are into frugality, either or both will keep the warmth in, but will be heavy-compared to pure top quality down;
    So,in this instance I would say "Warm, light, cheap- pick any 2!"
    KM

  6. #6
    Senior Member ShadowAlpha's Avatar
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    more pics added

    so I've done a little demo!

    Detached the down quilted side of the feather bed.
    it measures 62x 41 - I might convert it to a UQ.

    then I opened the bed part

    See attached pics.

    #1 is the bed part showing the feathers.
    the ratio of quills are very low
    my garage is molting!

    #2 is a big ziploc baggie full of the feathers from the bottom bed part - weighs about 2oz (including the baggie)

    #3 is the quilted part that is all down. I cut a small hole to check for quills - none. then sewed it back up. I do not plan to attempt to extract the down & put in light weight material. unless someone has a fool proof trick without wearing it all over my garage?

    I'm thinking the loose stuff from the bottom bed part might become a TQ using lightweight ripstop. not sure what material I should use?

    I see another project in my future - waiting on a zipper & bug net to finish a hammock.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  7. #7
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    any luck with that underquilt, i have a similar idea, how did your s turn out??whats the lowest temp you were out in?

  8. #8
    Senior Member JohnSawyer's Avatar
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    I cleaned out my Shop-vac and used it to extract from a "down" comforter. It wasn't the highest quality down... I just cut open a section and sucked it all out. Just be careful, it gets really fluffy in the shop-vac! I overflowed the bin, and ended up spilling a lot when I tried to move it to a ripstop pillowcase.

    After washing, it was quite fluffy, but a bit heavy for the volume due to feather content. If I had to do it again, I'd either use it as-is, or buy good down.
    "Do or do not, there is no try." -- Yoda


  9. #9
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    Method of down retrieval

    We used a shop vac (cleaned well)to gather and store the down. Then we sewed the squares leaving a small hole for the nozzle to fit through in each section. We then slowly filled each section and sewed it up before moving to each section thereafter. Slow process, but very tidy. And excellent outcome.

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