Is white Kydex Dye-able?

[lmw94002]

Simple question... anyone know if white kydex is dye-able?

[jwscab]

don't believe so.....black is readily available

[Coelacanth]

Red, too...aftermarket Kydex bumpers were made for the Optima that were bright red. I subsequently sprayed mine with black Krylon Fusion for Plastic, which is more like a dye than a paint...but I believe SEM Trim Black would be even better.

As for dyeing white Kydex another color than black...might be worth a shot with RIT dye and see what happens. I don't think anybody here has tried that yet.

[NomadRacer]

I've never tried to dye Kydex, just buy in the color I want. Places that sell supplies for knife making are a very good source.

Here's one that I have bought it from...

https://www.knifekits.com/vcom/index.php?cPath=41&osCsid=5aum3nok9bq9f52m920qj8reb6

They also sell some pretty cool hardware!

If you don't see the color you want there, do the google thing for other sellers.

[aconsola]

I wouldn't try to rit dye kydex. Usually rit is used with hot or boiling water.
Kydex is thermoformable, if you boil it it will get soft and lose its bends. not necessarily a problem for flat parts if you expect it and prepare a flat drying/cooling spot, but things like bumpers that have bends in them will all lose shape.

[lmw94002]

I wouldn't try to rit dye kydex. Usually rit is used with hot or boiling water.
Kydex is thermoformable, if you boil it it will get soft and lose its bends. not necessarily a problem for flat parts if you expect it and prepare a flat drying/cooling spot, but things like bumpers that have bends in them will all lose shape.

I was wondering about that. I was wondering if I could dye it, then re-heat and form it. Or I guess I could dye it and then pull it out and put it right on the form to get the bends I want if boiling water will get it to the right temp.

[Coelacanth]

I wouldn't try to rit dye kydex. Usually rit is used with hot or boiling water.
Kydex is thermoformable, if you boil it it will get soft and lose its bends. not necessarily a problem for flat parts if you expect it and prepare a flat drying/cooling spot, but things like bumpers that have bends in them will all lose shape.

Very true, I forgot about that. Kydex would probably melt and deform in a pot of boiling water. Duh...

[lmw94002]

I tossed a small piece of white kydex in when I was dying my wheels black. It worked. Didn't see signs of any deformation, but it was a very small piece sitting in the bottom of the basket.