Kitebuilder Online

Dennist3 · Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2004 11:28 am Post subject: Dying Rip stop nylon

I have heard you need some serious (as in hazardious) dyes to dye Ripstop anybody know where to get these? and maybe we should talk about the dangers of working with these chemicals....

any thoughts?

Dennis

dpb · Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2004 2:10 am Post subject:

It's not usually the dyes so much as the "resist" to hold the dyes, which are poisonous. My wife and I do lots of fabric painting kites (actually we both design them, Diane paints them and I make them into kites). Some of the resists are very toxic, but some are water soluable and quite safe.

By the way, you need uncoated Ripstop to do it.

Dave Butler

Dennist3 · Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2004 5:19 am Post subject:

Does steve carry uncoated Ripstop?

imagin · Joined: 22 Oct 2003 Posts: 199 Location: Moncton, NB Canada

I've experimented with dying some Ripstop I have on hand. I used a dye I've used in the past on wool. I got some very good results. Can't guarantee how well the dyes will stay when exposed to the sun. But it's given me some nice colours to work with. What I've used is "Rit"...don't know if you have the same brand in the US. Bill Wilson also gave it a try a few weeks ago. If you use just a hot water/laundry sink method, colours are pale...on the stove top in a pot you need to use small quantities of fabric because of the pot size, but the colours come out much stronger. The protective coat is ruined in the process so I'm expecting to spray scoth guard on my kite when done. Because of this coat being ruined it's next to impossible to hot tack the stuff.
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Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.

Kitesquid · Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2004 8:38 am Post subject:

You don't necessarily need uncoated Ripstop. You do need to experiment to find a chemistry that works for you.

I bought some 0.4 oz Contender Nylon from Steve that was coated and it took dyes quite well. EXPENSIVE as it was a special order. The manufacturer does not like to sell under a whole roll and my order cost me a cutting fee but I WANTED it......... It was turned into my Iris EDO...

If you want uncoated Ripstop you should order some Greige goods from Bonnie at Hang-Em-High Fabrics, I hope Steve does not mind me mentioning Bonnie's store as I only mention the other kite parts place as Steve does not carry this type of fabric. There is so few kite builders that want to experiment with dyes.

I used Acid dyes from Dharma Trading. Please get the MSDS before you order and read it. Understand the hazards of all the chemicals you plan on using, because I want you to have a long and heathy life.

Ty Billings related a story of one of his friends that lost his eye sight to dyes..... BE CAREFUL with your heath and the heath of your family.

I used a water based resist (I can’t remember the name right now).

Dharma also has free guide to building you own stove pipe steamer.

Another dye seller is Pro Chemical and Dye

Try replacing some, most or all of the water that you mix with the dye powder with alcohol to get it to wet out into the fabric.

DO NOT try to remove coatings from your fabrics with caustic or FLAMMABLE liquids. I read one procedure that scared even me!!!!!!!! I will NOT relate it here as I think it is UNSAFE. It wanted you to heat a flammable liquid and soak your fabric in it for a long time.... DANGEROUS!!!!!!!!!

I have been expermenting with dyeing Polyester fabrics (Icarex PC is my favorite) but they take a diffrent family of dyes and the dye carrier is kinda toxic. UGH....
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VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

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

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

Kitesquid · Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2004 8:48 am Post subject:

wdrwilson · Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2004 9:16 am Post subject:

Yes I too have dyed some fabric with good results (IMHO). On Imagin's advice I used the RIT dye found in the laundry isle. I found that if you used the launrdy sink method with hot tap water you get light colors, as Imagin said. However I boiled a few kettles and poured them in the sink and got some really nice shades of brown! (Finally some Brown Ripstop:)). I also experimented dyeing some Yellow in the brown dye at the same time. Wow If I ever want to applique some plant stems or seaweed I have the stuff. (wow what an ugly color).

Imagin, I haven't tried hottacking yet, it's disappointing that this happens. Oh well I guess it's time to try the spray adhesive method.

Thanks for the info squid, I for one will try more dyeing in the future and I would like to experiment with other dyes.

Cheers,
Bill

stevef · Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2004 9:25 am Post subject:

Harold, Did you get a chance to talk to Susan Lennon at Smithsonian? she had the painted/dyed Genki with horses. Turned out great.

I'll be posting pictures later today.

-Steve
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Steve Ferrel
Go Build a Kite!
Congratulations to Scott E Spencer for a job well done!

Kitesquid · Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2004 10:34 am Post subject:

stevef · Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2004 10:40 am Post subject:

While judging it, I was asking her questions about her technique and she got pretty technical on me and I couldnt follow everything. I probably could have listened for an hour but I didnt have the time. I will try to contact her to get more info.... or ask her to join the forum.

-S
_________________
Steve Ferrel
Go Build a Kite!
Congratulations to Scott E Spencer for a job well done!