RIT dye problems?

[THE H.P FREAK]

HI!... As many of you know the most popular dye used for dying RC plastic parts is RIT dye. Does anyone know if they have changed the formula of it? I dyed a ton of Bigwig parts last year. Turned yellow and blue parts black. Been trying to do the same thing today and the parts are coming out of the dye totally untouched. They look just like they did before I put them in. Except some of the yellow parts turned army green. I used the same procedure I have always used for over 15 years. Never had this problem before. Same RIT part # ,bought it from the same store as I always do. Doesn't make sense. Some parts are vintage originals and others are re-re. Still the same problem. Possibly a bad mixture from the factory? Anyone else had this problem? Think I just ruined over $100 in vintage parts!

[GoMachV]

I personally havent seen an issue on my end, i had that experience when I tried Dylon (not the old Litespeed Dylon) tho. I use a small fry daddy and cycle the power to bring to about 3 separate boils but again thats just me and your methods have worked in the past.

[marlo]

Did all your parts turn out bad, or just the RE-RE parts? I have never had this problem myself. Worst case, you dye it all black. I know its not what you what, but at least you can get them to a respectable colour again.

[THE H.P FREAK]

HI!... That's the problem. I AM trying to dye them black! The parts, vintage and re-re won't take the dye at all. No effect on them at all. Even after sitting in the hot dye for 4 hours.

[Blacktiger355]

I would try a new batch. Maybe get it from another store to be safe. I just did a bunch of stuff black (old and new parts) and had no issues.

[orangemazda]

Do you guys buy new RIT dye every time you dye parts? I just dyed my re re black but it was the same dye that I've used several times and its also the same dye that the last time I used it, it was 7 years ago! I save it in a glass mayo jar in one of the drawers of my build table!

Is there a 1-800 number on the RIT box or an email where you could inquire about any product changes they have done?

[GoMachV]

I reuse mine as well

[THE H.P FREAK]

HI!... So I went to another store and bought two boxes. Tried again with no luck. All the light blue parts of the Bigwig just will not dye. Not even a little. They are totally immune to the black dye. I tried 4 sets of spares and none of them will take it. Yet I dyed two full sets of the exact same parts last year with no issues. Weird. This is totally screwing up my current project right now.

[marlo]

Try some Vinegar.

[THE H.P FREAK]

Try some Vinegar.

HI!... Care to elaborate...

[Coelacanth]

Maybe everyone's missing something, but aren't those yellow and blue parts ABS plastic? RIT dye is intended to dye nylon...ABS plastic isn't porous like nylon.

However, I might suggest Krylon Fusion for Plastic. It comes in a spray can and is supposed to bond to plastic, it's not just a spray-paint. I've used it on hard plastic parts in my Charger's interior, as well as vinyl. It doesn't require priming, just a good cleaning...and works great.

[GoMachV]

Maybe everyone's missing something.....

I have never tried dying plastic, lots of nylon tho. But.....it sounds like he has some experience doing it

I dyed a ton of Bigwig parts last year. Turned yellow and blue parts black.

I used the same procedure I have always used for over 15 years. Never had this problem before. Same RIT part # ,bought it from the same store as I always do.

.....Yet I dyed two full sets of the exact same parts last year with no issues.

[Coelacanth]

Maybe it's possible, but not following the normal directions for nylon. I saw this on YouTube, maybe it will be helpful:

[youtube]d272v6G28wQ[/youtube]

[GoMachV]

I tend to believe he has nothing to gain by lying about just having done it just months ago. Maybe he just forgot that he painted it or used a solvent?

HP, just for grins if you have an old part to try, knock the gloss off the part first and see if it acts any different. I know on jakes 6/6 arms they refuse to take dye well without knocking off the glossy part. Worth a shot

[Coelacanth]

Jeff, this has nothing to do with anybody lying, I never suggested I didn't believe H.P. Freak...I just pointed out why I thought it didn't work on ABS. At least I tried to be helpful by posting some alternatives that might work better.