Guides & Tutorials
A Little Feather Education
A great performance starts with the right tools. From choosing your perfect fan to understanding the craftsmanship behind every stave, we're sharing our knowledge to help you make informed decisions, get creative, and make the most of your fans.
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Choosing Your Fan
Find your perfect fit by exploring the different fan styles, sizes, and options to suit your performance.
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Stave Kits
Discover the backbone of every great fan and find the right staves to bring your vision to life.
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Colors
Explore your color options and discover how to create a look that's uniquely yours.
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Assembly
Learn the tips and techniques for assembling your feather fans with confidence.
Choosing Your Fan
Stave Kits
Stave kits are designed for makers who already have experience building feather fans. They are best suited for those who are comfortable sourcing their own materials, working with fine wire and small hardware, and who enjoy the trial-and-error nature of DIY projects.
If you're new to fan building, we recommend starting with one of my complete fan packages instead. Other than the videos, we do not provide build training or support. One of the joys—and challenges—of working with feathers is that they are natural materials. Every batch has its own unique characteristics, and those nuances are often discovered during the build process.
All stave sizes are now kept in stock for faster fulfillment! Please allow 2 weeks from the date of your order for your staves to be powder coated before shipping.
- Staves in your selected size and quantity, professionally powder coated in your chosen color
- Wrenches
- Bolts
- Locking nuts
- Washers
- Lacing thread (black or white, selected to complement
- the stave color)
For plume or pheasant staves:
- Needle-nose pliers with integrated wire cutter
- OOK 24-gauge attachment wire
For boa staves:
- Flush-cut tool
- Mini zip ties
We now have over RAL 300 colors!
Select the Color Match option and, after purchase, we'll send you our mailing address so you can send a feather sample or paint chip. Unfortunately, digital photos are not accurate enough for reliable color matching.
If you're trying to match a standard Fancy Feather color, I can recommend the powder coat color we typically use. Please note the color you're matching in the comments at checkout.
These staves have been thoroughly tested for strength and durability when used with feather fans. Under normal use, they are highly resistant to cracking or breaking.
However, they are not designed to be intentionally bent or reshaped. Avoid curving them for special effects or allowing them to become folded or creased (for example, by being stepped on).
If you're planning to build with materials other than feathers, please reach out before ordering. I can recommend alternative stave densities that may be better suited to your project.
Not sure which stave color to choose? Watch this quick guide to explore your options and find the finish that best complements your feathers and overall fan design.
Colors
Picking Stave Colors
Choosing the right stave colors doesn't have to be complicated. In this quick video, you'll see two sets of fans with the same feather color just on different stave colors. Use this resource to help you decide between a color pop or color blend for your fan staves.
Fans Featuring Gold
What's hot? Gold! Check out Gold staves used with Biscuit, Wheat and Gold Coin ostrich feathers.
Assembly
Boa Fan Assembly
From start to finish, this video demonstrates how to assemble your fans featuring ostrich boas. Called boa fans, tribute fans or waterfall fans, you'll find a special name for your set once done!