Permanently Dye a White Silicone Sleeve?

[UncLeJunkLe]

I think I've been successful in the past by boiling some water with high concentrate RIT die (i.e. the whole box) - turning off the burner and the popping in the parts for an hour or two. The result isn't a heavy color though, and mostly a dark tint of color.

I think that's my next experiment. For this one, I think I'm gonna soak it cold one more time, maybe another time, and then use it for a while to see how it wears/ages. The deeper the color the more preferable for me, however even a medium grey is good. I'm not a bright or vivid colors kinda person.

I think that using Rit diluted for silicone isn't worth trying unless you want an extremely light tint. that's why I decided on full "strength"

I have 3 more white ones to dye plus about 8 light grey ones I can test on. I also have a yellow one.

 

[Aerodan]

Here's that same suggestion without a lot of punctuation and in a 1993 digitized voice:





Seriously though, the other experiment I've thought about in the past was using the same method with actual silicon pigment:

https://shop.smooth-on.com/silc-pig-pigments

...never was brave enough to give a go.

 

[UncLeJunkLe]

Here's that same suggestion without a lot of punctuation and in a 1993 digitized voice:





Seriously though, the other experiment I've thought about in the past was using the same method with actual silicon pigment:

https://shop.smooth-on.com/silc-pig-pigments

...never was brave enough to give a go.

@0:48 "This method works for all rubber types, except silicone".

Well, I'm proving that wrong and without the heat.

Seriously though, the other experiment I've thought about in the past was using the same method with actual silicon pigment: https://shop.smooth-on.com/silc-pig-pigments

Seems like that silicone pigment is for uncured silicone (but I might be wrong). Might work on cured silicone I guess. But 4oz for $19. Might be worth a try for someone, though. But if Rit proves to not last, my next substance to test is probably hair dye.

 

[Aerodan]

Does not have to stay all super soft and rubbery like silicon, or would a wacky idea be to apply that rubber plasti-dip spray to it and just coat the sucker? Spitballing.

 

[Myrany]

Does not have to stay all super soft and rubbery like silicon, or would a wacky idea be to apply that rubber plasti-dip spray to it and just coat the sucker? Spitballing.

I was wondering something similar though the stuff that came to mind was flex seal spray which comes in Black.

 

[UncLeJunkLe]

OK, so I forgot about this. lol. This time I left it in for 2 weeks, totally submerged in the non-dilluted black Rit dye.

Unfortunately, I didn't remember about it until after the sunlight went away. So I had to take this shot with artificial lighting as I wasn't sure if I'd get to it tomorrow.

Looks to be roughly twice as dark as 2 weeks ago and much better consistency. Any inconsistency you see here in the pic is actually not very noticeable in real life. In fact, I didn't notice it until after I saw the picture.

Also, the lighter part at the top that was created by not submerging it totally teh second time seems to have gone away pretty much.

At this point, I'm happy with the shade & consistency however I think I'm gonna put it back in in for another 2 weeks. My goal was never to get it black as that just isn't possible.

Today (total of 4 weeks submerged)...

2 weeks ago (total of 3 weeks submerged)...

3 weeks ago (8 days submerged)...

 

[Territoo]

Do you thing an additional 2 weeks will make it any darker? After a while, you reach maximum amount of dyeing possible. The most recent one isn't much darker than 2 weeks ago, just more consistent.

 

[UncLeJunkLe]

Do you thing an additional 2 weeks will make it any darker? After a while, you reach maximum amount of dyeing possible.

I have no idea how much more dye it'll take. Won't know until I reach the point where it stops getting darker.

I put it back in and we'll see what the result is after another 2 weeks. I think maybe I'll just keep doing it until it appears to not get any darker.

I like it how it is, but I think it's best to find out just how dark a grey I can get it. Black is not going to happen. But the darker the better.

 

[UncLeJunkLe]

OK, so 2 more week in the Rit dye and this is what I have. I'm going to stop here becuase not only has it not gotten any darker, but it's starting to take on a slight purple tint and I'm not big on purple (this isn't noticeable in the pic). It's mostly grey now and I want to keep it this way.

My next experiment is going to be warming the dye (using a new white sleeve) to compare the results but I'm not sure when that's going to be.

Today at 6 weeks submerged...

2 weeks ago at 4 weeks submerged (pic was taken with no daylight so it looks a bit darker than it really was)...

4 weeks ago at 3 weeks submerged...

5 weeks ago at 8 days submerged...

 

[Mordacai]

@UncleJunkle, had a look around for you and came across this.

How To: Dying Silicone - Spearfishing World forum

Don't know if it's of any use, but results that folks were getting were interesting.

 

[UncLeJunkLe]

@UncleJunkle, had a look around for you and came across this.

How To: Dying Silicone - Spearfishing World forum

Don't know if it's of any use, but results that folks were getting were interesting.

Thanks, I'll take a look and possibly use that method for the next sleeve.

 

[Aerodan]

Another fun project could be to make a silicon sleeve. Fusion 360, a 3D printer and a mold could be made. Then you could have a bunch of colors! Kinda sounds fun... hmmm.....

 

[SlowTalker]

Have you tried Rit Dyemore? It's designed for dying synthetic fibers like nylon and polyester: How to Use Rit DyeMore for Synthetic Fibers — Rit Dye

 

[UncLeJunkLe]

Have you tried Rit Dyemore? It's designed for dying synthetic fibers like nylon and polyester:

No I haven't and the only reason I even used Rit clothing Dye is because I just so happened to have it and I don't even know why. I was a brand new bottle.

 

[OcalaFlGuy]

The inconsistent spots may be due to finger prints (oils). You may want to try cleaning first wearing gloves. I'm not sure what you could clean with to remove hand oils, etc. that would not mess with the dye.

Rubbing alcohol removes finger oils.
Bruce in Ocala, Fl

 

[UncLeJunkLe]

Well as I stated in this thread before, using Rit to dye the sleeve for some reason gave the sleeve a rubber smell. It never went away & last night I just couldn't take it anymore. So last night I decided to soak in white vinegar thinking maybe it would get rid of the rubber smell.

Well this morning I went to check on it and found that the vinegar actually takes some of the dye out of the silicone. The vinegar was a light purple color and now the sleeve is about half as dark as it was initially after my last soak in the dye. But that's OK, it's still a lot better than white.

The good news is that it does seem to have gotten rid of the rubbery smell, but now it smells very lightly of vinegar , even though I washed it with soap a bajillion times. But it's not that bad and I think it will go away with time. Maybe. Or not. We'll see. It's better than the rubbery smell, which was a lot stronger.

I haven't tried anymore dye jobs, I just haven't had the motivation yet.

 

[Territoo]

Can't you find the sleeve in another color than white (or purple)?

 

[UncLeJunkLe]

Can't you find the sleeve in another color than white (or purple)?

FT discontinued every color and had a couple white left. No one else sells these particular ones as far as i can see. Silicone sleeves aren't as popular as they used to be.

Light grey is good enough for me, even though it does have a tint of purple in certain light. Better than white becuase white and translucent silicone sleeves look nasty after a while. they They start to yellow and it can't be washed out, not even with bleach.

I have a yellow one for another mod that I think I'm going to do next. Black should help to turn it more of an olive green.

 

[Territoo]

See if this helps.

How to Dye Silicone (Start/Select Buttons) (Page 1) - Tutorials, Mods & How-To's - Forums - ChipMusic.org

 

[UncLeJunkLe]

See if this helps.

How to Dye Silicone (Start/Select Buttons) (Page 1) - Tutorials, Mods & How-To's - Forums - ChipMusic.org

Yeah, hair color is one of the things I will try in one of my next dye jobs. Only used the Rit fabric dye because I happened to have it.