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Is white Kydex Dye-able?

Posted: Mon May 15, 2017 2:59 pm
by lmw94002
Simple question... anyone know if white kydex is dye-able?

Re: Is white Kydex Dye-able?

Posted: Mon May 15, 2017 4:27 pm
by jwscab
don't believe so.....black is readily available

Re: Is white Kydex Dye-able?

Posted: Mon May 15, 2017 5:22 pm
by 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.

Re: Is white Kydex Dye-able?

Posted: Mon May 15, 2017 6:26 pm
by 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.

Re: Is white Kydex Dye-able?

Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 6:26 am
by 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.

Re: Is white Kydex Dye-able?

Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 8:25 am
by lmw94002
aconsola wrote: Tue May 16, 2017 6:26 am 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.

Re: Is white Kydex Dye-able?

Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 11:03 am
by Coelacanth
aconsola wrote: Tue May 16, 2017 6:26 am 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... :oops:

Re: Is white Kydex Dye-able?

Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2017 8:54 am
by 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.
DyedWheels.JPG