how to dye plastic

[master_of_faster]

i recently dyed all of the grey parts on my rustler and i thought i'd show everyone how. i didn't get any progress pics but i have end pics.

materials:

clothing dye
plastic parts
pliers
fishing wire
some sort of rod
pot


Procedure:


1. fill a pot of water with enough water to cover all the parts
2. boil water.
3. add dye to water.
4. tie up all parts on to a rod with fishing wire and dip them into the dye.
5. continue to check on them and remove them once they have reached the color you wished. (this should take about 15-20 minutes)


if you have any questions feel free to ask

[NHRCA_Revo]

if i find a extra chassis for cheap, and get another vxl, im gonna do dark red chassis with black other parts if it dosent work i'll try a dark prple or something cool with black and wire up some led's.... did you keep the water boiling or did you turn it down once you put the parts in? seems like they would get deformed?

[roadrunnr43]

did you keep the water boiling or did you turn it down once you put the parts in? seems like they would get deformed?

boiling water is nothing. you can put nylon-containing parts in, and they wont get messed up. they get softer, but thats the reason you put them in. and the water wont last 15-20 minutes under its own heat, so I'm assuming you leave it on.

[OldSchoolRC]

Nylon and composites can for the most part handle boiling water no problem. Plain jane ABS though has some issues. I dyed some Tamiya wheels and chassis and the boiling water warped them pretty good, though some were ok. I've also dyed acrylic and poly (cutting board) successfully as well though the poly needs to be in there forever.

dyed parts: check the mosnter mo thread, all of that chassis (both versions) was colored using dye, as well as my revo rockers, WK wheels and other odds and ends.

Basic rule of thumb: if it's shiny plastic - watch the heat, otherwise boil away!

[master_of_faster]

I heated it up and then had it so it was just under a rolling boil. this took longer but allowed me to dye smaller parts. i have pictures of it under electric trucks labelled custom black rustler.

[NHRCA_Revo]

boiling water is nothing. you can put nylon-containing parts in, and they wont get messed up. they get softer, but thats the reason you put them in. and the water wont last 15-20 minutes under its own heat, so I'm assuming you leave it on.

i meant like turn the heat down not off

[Philderbeast]

Maybe I will try this on my CC wheels rather than doing a real paint job on them. I have a few other thing I could try this on also. Also, if you want to make them a little shiney after words, can you use a poly coat or a gloss coat???

[Ron Olson]

Use a pot that you're not going to use again, pick one up at a garage sale if you have to. My wife wasn't too happy when I dyed parts a long time ago. Take it outside when done to remove the parts, Rit dye stains do not simply wipe up off the linoleum or carpeting.
This from the Department of Don't Ask Me How I Know.