From http://www.denzilwraight.com/quillbasic.htm : If an untreated 
bird quill which gives a hard pluck is liberally oiled on the 
underside with Ballistol and left to soak in for 45 minutes, it will 
be found that the plectrum may have regained fully its prior plucking 
strength.

I have just tested this with the Universal type of Ballisol.  I had 
five stiff quills -- but some unforgotten reason, one of them turned 
out to be made out of heretical inauthentic celcon (which I replaced 
with quill before anyone else found out).   AND, mirabile dictu, the 
treatment has worked!  (It took me less than two minutes to make a 
new quill to substitute for the celcon.)

However, is it really necessary to soak new quill for three months in 
oil before cutting?  (Olive oil has been mentioned in this 
connection, but other sources say that it goes sticky and the claims 
made for Ballistol infer that this would not happen.)

David

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