This must have come up before but I can't find anything in the forum search.
Has anyone had any success dyeing a hammock? I've just gotten a Grand Trunk Ultralight and it was only available in 3 colors, none of which I was particularly fond of. I'm wondering if I could use some RIT dye (maybe + vinegar?) or some other dye and go from the current forest green to black.
I've seen some results that were promising. From what I saw, the dye didn't take over 100%, but did a pretty good job.
http://www.ritdye.com/dyeing-techniques/tips-success
says it will dye nylon... I say Go for it!
Just make sure you do a good washing before laying in it...
"Do or do not, there is no try." -- Yoda
Hide the color with a full length underquilt.
I'd be worried the dye would rub off on my gear or my clothes.
I might do just that, though I've heard RIT dye tends to bleed pretty bad. If no one has a better suggestion, I may just try a bunch of black RIT and some fixative to hopefully keep it from bleeding all over the place.
I've got some other gear I want to dye black too, might try it on that first and see how it goes. It probably sounds like I'm obsessed with black, but I just have some old gear that needs some rejuvenating and black is a pretty hard color to screw up
Yeah, Rit doesn't always work well on synthetics. It doesn't really penetrate deeply so it doesn't leave the full color...and can rub/fade on some materials.
It can't hurt to try though! Make the mix strong, and let it soak long!
Here's a thought... I could try dyeing the stuff sack first, it's the same color/material as far as i can tell. If it really doesn't take then worst case I've only ruined a stuff sack and I can replace it with a cuben one or one of my WM drybags instead.
Sounds to me like a good plan. Given that liquid RIT is less than $6... worth a shot. I'd buy the liquid so you can use a partial bottle for your stuffsack...
"Do or do not, there is no try." -- Yoda
RIT is a HOT WATER dye. It has to be hot for it to take. Nylon can dye very nicely in it. However.. be aware that dyes are transparent media. As such you need to go from a lighter color to the darker color. Otherwise you will not get the results you want.
Also know that black is an extremely difficult color to dye. It is a very complex color in dyes. Meaning since black is the presence of all pigments there is a lot going on. My wife has always found that a very dark navy blue is a better color to aim for.
Dye depends on three things to work right. Temperature (cold water dyes are problematic), Concentration of dye (yes you can have too much for the amount of water you use) and duration in the dye bath. Follow the directions on the container very carefully.
If you have your own washer it is very easy to dye. However two things are of critical importance. You MUST wait for your wife to be gone for a couple of hours. She will absolutely freak. Second, you MUST run the washer through a couple full cycles of bleach to kill the color left. Full tub hot water bleach bath with a load of very old very nasty towels that nobody cares about.. DO NOT under any circumstances forget this step if you are using your own washer. Your wife will not like her unmentionables coming out a different color than they in. Most laundromats do not allow you to dye fabrics in their machine.
In lieu of the washer use a good sized galvanized wash tub. You need to allow plenty of room for the fabric to swish or you will get uneven coverage. Plus you have to heat all the water and keep it hot. Some people like to use the bathtub. But again, you need to rinse the tub with bleach very well. Otherwise you could be looking at some colored butt cheeks for a while. Not a happy thought.
I may be slow... But I sure am gimpy.
"Bless you child, when you set out to thread a needle don't hold the thread still and fetch the needle up to it; hold the needle still and poke the thread at it; that's the way a woman most always does, but a man always does t'other way."
Mrs. Loftus to Huck Finn
We Don't Sew... We Make Gear! video series
Important thread injector guidelines especially for Newbies
Bobbin Tension - A Personal Viewpoint
Google it or contact rit directly. They will respond quickly.
There are several sites dealing with dyeing nylon.
Ambulo tua ambulo.
Got to Dharma Trading and see what they have for dyes.
RIT is junk. It is not what you want if you want deeper color that lasts and holds up.
Dharma has dyes for all sorts of materials and if you call or email them they can usually help you make the right choices.
Plenty of online "How-To" guides as well on the website.
http://www.dharmatrading.com
DKPerdue
(Who makes his own Tie-Dye stuff all the time!)
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