Hey everyone! I'm trying to dye my new M12 gear and I ran into some issues. I attempted to dye my compact magnetic tape measure using Rit black dye, but it didn't turn out well. I followed instructions I found online where I used about a whole bottle of dye in a stainless steel pot with water heated to around 160-170°F (level 6-7 on my stove). I cleaned the tool with doshshop first, rinsed it, and then let it soak in the dye for about 25 minutes while stirring occasionally. Unfortunately, after 25 minutes, the tool didn't change color at all and ended up warping instead. I'm worried I might be making mistakes. Is it just that the tape measure is a different type of plastic than my drills? I really want to avoid damaging my M12 gear! Any tips or advice would be awesome. Thanks!
3 Answers
Also, make sure you're using the right type of dye for your tool materials. If the plastic is synthetic, there's a specific Rit dye for that. You could also check the markings on the plastic to understand its type better. Confirming the compatibility of the dye with your plastic's temperature tolerance (known as the glass transition temperature) is key to avoid warping.
You should definitely use Rit Dye More if you’re working with synthetic materials; it makes a big difference!
Here are a few tips that might help you out:
- First, make sure you’re dyeing at a lower temperature. Try keeping it around 145-155°F max. That should help prevent warping.
- Also, for every gallon of water, use about six bottles of dye. You can save the dye bath and add more water as needed since some will evaporate. Just be careful about any solids that might form on the sides of the pot.
- Remember that not all plastics can be dyed. For example, M12 batteries probably won’t take the dye well—they often come out only a little darker even after long soaking. If the plastic has a glossy finish, it likely won’t dye properly.
- Lastly, you might want to soak the tools for longer. Many tools need about an hour, flipping them every 10 minutes for even coloring. Make sure to fully submerge them, and if they're on a rack, that's fine as long as they stay covered in dye.
Thanks for the advice! So sticking to 145 is key. Do you think I should use mostly dye instead of water to ensure it soaks in better? And flipping them every ten minutes makes sense, it avoids overheating on one side. I had a wire rack in there to keep them off the bottom—was that a good choice?
Using straight dye can yield better results, but it’s also more wasteful. I personally like mixing it to save some dye for future use. And yes, flipping is crucial to avoid hot spots!
I didn’t even think of that! I’ll definitely check the plastic type and see if I can find a compatible dye. Thanks for the insight!