Ordered a couple of G Code holsters in grey. They arrived and they are much brighter grey and glossy than they appeared in the pictures. I want to darken them up a bit. Would I be better suited spray painting them or soaking them in some dark grey or black Rit dye?
———————————————— The world's not perfect, but it's not that bad. If we got each other, and that's all we have. I will be your brother, and I'll hold your hand. You should know I'll be there for you!
November 18, 2022, 06:20 PM
ARman
Dye will most likely be permanent, spray paint will scratch, chip guaranteed.
ARman
November 18, 2022, 06:29 PM
P220 Smudge
If you’re up for it, cordura wrapping is perhaps preferable to either option if they’re OWB.
______________________________________________ Endeavoring to master the subtle art of the grapefruit spoon.
November 18, 2022, 08:07 PM
Beancooker
Clothing dye won’t dye plastic like Kydex.
I’d sand it with 400 then 600 then 800 grit. It’ll take the shine off.
quote:
Originally posted by sigmonkey: I'd fly to Turks and Caicos with live ammo falling out of my pockets before getting within spitting distance of NJ with a firearm.
November 18, 2022, 08:15 PM
Black92LX
quote:
Originally posted by Beancooker: Clothing dye won’t dye plastic like Kydex.
I’d sand it with 400 then 600 then 800 grit. It’ll take the shine off.
Rit makes a synthetics/plastic specific dye.
That Cordura looks neat but seems like a lot of work.
———————————————— The world's not perfect, but it's not that bad. If we got each other, and that's all we have. I will be your brother, and I'll hold your hand. You should know I'll be there for you!
November 18, 2022, 08:18 PM
Beancooker
I’m old school I guess. I’d just sand them down. Lol
quote:
Originally posted by sigmonkey: I'd fly to Turks and Caicos with live ammo falling out of my pockets before getting within spitting distance of NJ with a firearm.
November 19, 2022, 06:25 AM
Black92LX
quote:
Originally posted by Beancooker: I’m old school I guess. I’d just sand them down. Lol
If the sheen were the only problem that would likely work. However they grey is a very bright grey almost silver like. Looked much deeper grey on my screen.
———————————————— The world's not perfect, but it's not that bad. If we got each other, and that's all we have. I will be your brother, and I'll hold your hand. You should know I'll be there for you!
November 19, 2022, 07:29 AM
Aglifter
I’m not sure how a plastic dye would work, unless it’s in a molten state, like casting fishing lures.
Mixing it with the proper adhesive would let it bond to the plastic, as the right adhesives melt the plastic, but that’s still going to be very shallow.
November 19, 2022, 08:37 AM
Black92LX
quote:
Originally posted by Aglifter: I’m not sure how a plastic dye would work, unless it’s in a molten state, like casting fishing lures.
Mixing it with the proper adhesive would let it bond to the plastic, as the right adhesives melt the plastic, but that’s still going to be very shallow.
Apparently you use an acetone, water, dye mix heated to 200 degrees and it opens the pores of the plastic to help accept the dye.
My only concern with this would be is 200 degrees enough to effect the molding/shape of the holster?
———————————————— The world's not perfect, but it's not that bad. If we got each other, and that's all we have. I will be your brother, and I'll hold your hand. You should know I'll be there for you!
November 19, 2022, 09:13 AM
ffips
quote:
Apparently you use an acetone, water, dye mix heated to 200 degrees and it opens the pores of the plastic to help accept the dye.
Please be careful. Acetone has a low flashpoint so heating it could be tricky even when mixed with water.
November 19, 2022, 09:18 AM
Black92LX
quote:
Originally posted by ffips:
quote:
Apparently you use an acetone, water, dye mix heated to 200 degrees and it opens the pores of the plastic to help accept the dye.
Please be careful. Acetone has a low flashpoint so heating it could be tricky even when mixed with water.
Most certainly an outdoor project well ventilated and only mix everything when it is cool.
———————————————— The world's not perfect, but it's not that bad. If we got each other, and that's all we have. I will be your brother, and I'll hold your hand. You should know I'll be there for you!
November 19, 2022, 02:17 PM
Aglifter
Does plastic have pores? I think Kydex needs to be at 320 to mold. Not sure if it softens at 200.
Acetone boils at 132.8F…
November 19, 2022, 11:00 PM
P220 Smudge
People dye Pmags all the time with just RIT dye. Probably can work.
The cordura wrap isn't bad, honestly. The worst part of it is you're dealing with a lot of adhesive and if you're not careful, you get it on the outside of the wrap, and it looks like butt. I did a Safariland and it came out great on the first shot. Did the UBL as a practice run first. A can of 3M 700 spray adhesive, a fresh utility knife blade, a Sharpie for pushing the fabric into crevices, a lighter to seal the edges once you trim it, and a yard of this will do both holsters quite handily. You're not into it for much more than you would be the RIT dye.
You could try the dye first and if that doesn't get you where you want to be, this is easy. I promise you, it's less work and less risk than boiling anything mixed with acetone:
______________________________________________ Endeavoring to master the subtle art of the grapefruit spoon.
November 20, 2022, 09:30 AM
cas
They also make "spray paint" for vinyl car interior, I would assume that would work well, able to stick and flex.
_____________________________________________________ Sliced bread, the greatest thing since the 1911.
November 20, 2022, 01:44 PM
sjames
I’ve used Rit dye to make a tan Sig 365XL module a deeper brown. Only used heated water, just under boiling, and the dye. Took a few tries but got it the way I wanted. Start slow…30 seconds each side… and I’d bet you could darken it easily. No issues with the polymer being heated.
November 20, 2022, 01:54 PM
6guns
Unless you're in love with them...and it sounds like you're not, you could return them and get a different color. Basic black?
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November 20, 2022, 02:58 PM
Black92LX
quote:
Originally posted by 6guns: Unless you're in love with them...and it sounds like you're not, you could return them and get a different color. Basic black?
Then I would pay return shipping and likely a restocking fee for a color I want even less than I have
———————————————— The world's not perfect, but it's not that bad. If we got each other, and that's all we have. I will be your brother, and I'll hold your hand. You should know I'll be there for you!
November 21, 2022, 06:52 PM
Black92LX
quote:
Originally posted by P220 Smudge: People dye Pmags all the time with just RIT dye. Probably can work.
The cordura wrap isn't bad, honestly. The worst part of it is you're dealing with a lot of adhesive and if you're not careful, you get it on the outside of the wrap, and it looks like butt. I did a Safariland and it came out great on the first shot. Did the UBL as a practice run first. A can of 3M 700 spray adhesive, a fresh utility knife blade, a Sharpie for pushing the fabric into crevices, a lighter to seal the edges once you trim it, and a yard of this will do both holsters quite handily. You're not into it for much more than you would be the RIT dye.
You could try the dye first and if that doesn't get you where you want to be, this is easy. I promise you, it's less work and less risk than boiling anything mixed with acetone:
Guess I’ll give it a try. Going to hit up the local fabric shop tomorrow to see if they have any before I order online.
———————————————— The world's not perfect, but it's not that bad. If we got each other, and that's all we have. I will be your brother, and I'll hold your hand. You should know I'll be there for you!
November 22, 2022, 03:29 PM
10X-Shooter
I have successfully used the plastic version of RIT dye on plastics like kydex and been successful. I learned the hard way that the longer the exposure, the darker effect you’ll get, even with the grey dye. Apparently plastic still has some pores because there is supposed to be a drying process as well or you can end up with your plastic/kydex freezing and cracking (if in freezing environment) due to water presence still in pores. I used hot water but not boiling water. I’ve dyed holsters, knife scales, cordura, etc. Here is an example using the grey plastic RIT dye with exposure too long. Ended up more flat black.
November 22, 2022, 04:10 PM
HRK
Might see if there is a local business that does hydro dipping, pick any color or maybe a grey camo., skulls, carbon fiber, all kinds of options.
As for the paint getting dings, scratches etc, that's just character...
IIRC you are in the Bluegrass state, goo gal found one in E-Town - Bluegrass Hydro-Dipping, and Lawrenceburg.
