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Steve D · Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 684 Location: USA GA Newnan

Anyone here have any experience dying tyvek? Will it take dye readily. Are the colors even or sorta mottled? What kinds of dyes work well?

Kitesquid · Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2003 11:38 am Post subject:

I haven’t tried dying Tyvek, but it should be possible...

When looking for a dye, check to see if it dyes Olefin fibers, because that is what Tyvek is....

I recommend you call the people at Pro Dye and Chemical to see what they recommend.

http://www.prochemical.com/

READ AND UNDERSTAND THE MSDS FOR ALL CHEMICALS YOU PLAN ON USING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. Yet another post by the Squid..... Shocked

Doesent he ever shut up???

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

Dennist3 · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 6:37 am Post subject:

knotronda · Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 8:52 pm Post subject:

Dennist3

Have you done any experimentation on dying Tyvek? Haven't seen anything on this site for a while.

KR

Stan · Joined: 18 Nov 2003 Posts: 545 Location: San Diego

I've used a paper towel to apply acrylic to tyvek, and it resembles pastel colored mulberry paper, with fibers hightlighted. A damp towel smooths the paint and removes excess.

Barbara · Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2004 10:30 am Post subject:

I tried mixing Rit dye (the cheap supermarket stuff) with denatured alcohol and then immersing tyvek. It worked! I haven't tried painting it on the tyvek. The time spent immersed seemed to make a difference on color saturation, longer-darker. Use in well ventalated area.
Barbara
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wdrwilson · Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2004 10:41 am Post subject:

Barbara,

Did you use any water at all? or just alcohol?

--Bill

Barbara · Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 9:08 am Post subject:

I just used alcohol. Although I used denatured, regular rubbing alcohol would probably work too. I had mixed it up to dye vinyl tubing, works great on that! Hey, just think, tubing connectors to match your sail instead of just clear.
Rit Dye is a mixture of chemicals that each work on a different substance, so basically it is already diluted. But, the price is cheap and readily available.
In Canada, you have Dylon dyes. Use their hot water version. With Dylon you can even tye die Ripstop. There you just follow the package directions. with water, not alcohol. Save the solution and use again, of course colors will be lighter the next time.
Have fun
Barbara
_________________
Chair, AKA Kitemakers' Competition Committee
Coordinator, Midwest Area Kitemakers Retreat
Join us for the next MAKR, March 11-13 2005, contact me for more information!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MAKR/

Kitesquid · Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 9:39 am Post subject:

BTW you can use RIT to dye nylon but you have to bring it up to a boil and it will only dye to a pastel shade.

Rit is a mixture of Fiber Reactive Dyes that dye Cotton and Acid Dyes that dye nylon at high tempatures.

The half that does not work on the fibers you are dyeing goes down the drain.

If you want dyes in quanity and more afordabley try Dharma Trading Co. or Pro Chemical & Dye in the US or G&S Dye in Canada...

Read and UNDERSTAND the MSDS for all Dyes, auxilaries and chemicals you plan on using in your process. Protect your health and the heath of your family!!!!!!
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. Yet another post by the Squid..... Shocked

Doesent he ever shut up???

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

wdrwilson · Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 11:21 am Post subject:

Thanks Barbara,

The tip about using the dye on vinyl tubing is very very cool Smile

I have used the RIT dye on RIP stop with great success. I have been able to get very rich colors, not just pastels. I used it in a laundry tub with some really hot water (about 150 F) and it worked very well...

--Bill