Utilikiltarians- Anybody DYED one before?

[robotland]

Finally, the world will see my corrugated shins....but I'll have to dye a "natural white" Workman's model, to get the shade of green that I desire.....Uncle Otto at UK HQ is getting me a test swatch, bless his heart, but meanwhile has anyone dyed theirs? My intent is to go with the Rit Dye Stovetop Method.

[Rian Jackson]

i know it's possible - just don't know the method.

but i bet if you ask Guin real nicely she might be able to dig up some pointers.

[geekster]

If I recell, those things are made from canvas or something of about that consistancy, correct?

[Rian Jackson]

it depends on the model you get.

[ronski]

Some good quick and dirty advice here, from a goth:

http://www.darkwave.org.uk/~bob/dye.html

I used the method described here to dye an ammo belt and fatigues once. And yep, it even dyed the plastic buttons.

[Rian Jackson]

ammo belt and fatigues

we really must meet.

[ronski]

Oh, and a couple of other points:

a) particularly on thick fabric like canvas it will take a good deal of time before all the excess dye leaches out, so wash and rinse the kilt separate from anything else until you're really really sure it's okay.

b) the dye will get into that big boiling pot that you use too, no matter how many times you wash it. So get a cheapie from the thrift store. I found that corn on the cob looks really unappetizing with a black sheen.

[Isotopia]

has anyone dyed theirs?

Did just the opposite. I had a black workman's kilt that I gre tired of almost immediately. I intentionally washed mine with a ggod amount of belach and it ended up turning this very nice nut/woody brown.

Looks very cool.

[RingO'Fire]

My intent is to go with the Rit Dye Stovetop Method.

Assuming that it's made of 100% cotton, you'll get better results using Procion MX Fiber-Reactive dyes. They're the industry standard for dying plant fiber (cellulose) clothing. If it appears to have some sort of starch or sizing on it, you'll want to wash it in Synthrapol detergent first, to remove the starch/sizing before dying it.

I've done tie-dye for 11 years now, and have always had great results with Procion dyes. Procion dye works art room temperature and is considered a "cold" dying method, thus eliminating the need to simmer the fabric in a dye bath.

I buy my dyes, synthrapol, etc. from Dharma Trading Company here: http://www.dharmatrading.com. They have over 50 different colors and even have dying instructions on their web site. You can buy urea and soda ash (essential dying ingredients) at your local farmer's co-op way cheaper than you can get them at Dharma, but you'll have to buy a whole lot more at the co-op than you need to do just one kilt.

Important tip: Double the amount of dye in the dye bath, as recommended by Dharma, to really get the full, deep saturated color for whatever color you end up using.

[AntiM]

Wear a plastic apron and rubber gloves.

Oh, and while dyeing too...

[theCryptofishist]

Vent? I mean: How's breathing the stuff?

[RingO'Fire]

Good point, Fishie.

Yeah, you will probably want some kind of ventilation or respiratory protection. Some colors, like turquoise, are kinda moist n' clumpy and you won't need a respirator. However, a bunch of colors, like lavender, seafoam, baby blue, etc. are real dry, light, and powdery - like playa dust.

The dyes are chlorinated hydrocarbons, but not the really nasty carcinogenic kind. Still, it's best not to breath them in if you can avoid it.

If you're really interested in the chemistry of the dying process, Paula Burch has an excellent web page that explains everything: http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/FAQ/structure.shtml

[theCryptofishist]

I've been around enough art supplies to automatically regaurd them as poisenous until further notice.

[dragonfly Jafe]

like fritted lead...I accompanied a friend who was an artist to the art lab kiln (his piece req'd 2 persons to move). I freaked out at what people where blithely using for glazes. No masks, no gloves, no ventilator. I never went back...

...Imagine what one of these would look like in UV flourescent dye?

[theCryptofishist]

Dang, dang, dang. I've been careless with the poisens too and I'm likely to be cavalier if I'm just doing a little bit, but a whole cavern of people breathing that stuff.


Once again, Dori Seda.

[robotland]

I'm into heavy metal, myself....I used to make neon signs (lots 'o' mercury) and now make radiation shielding (lead with a cadmium chaser).....And in my off-hours I play with aluminum, although the Alzheimer's claims are so far unfounded.
Where's my tapioca? Which one of you's the mailman?