The Rachis

[redietz]

A couple of things that help me, especially when I'm tying 18's and 20's with delicate feathers like starling:

1) I use the smallest, lightest hackle pliers I can find, That way dropping the pliers (even a little) doesn't break the stem.

2) Leave enough empty stem to make a complete turn around the hook. Only after that turn should you start stroking fibers back.

(I may have to charge my camera to illustrate what I mean.)