45 replies to this topic

[big builder145]

Okay, so i have been messing around with this idea for a wile and have finally found a way that works to dye Knex a different color.

Before


After



This is how i did it..
This works beast if you die from a light color to a dark color.
First go to Wall Mart or, any other craft store and find RIT dye. Pick a color or mix two to make a new one.

Then buy some acetone or a acetone based nail polish remover which i already happened to have.





fill a pot withe water (Try to use a pot or something stove safe that you wont get in trouble if it accidentally dyes the pot) so that it is able to cover the pieces you are dying.

Add about a teaspoon or two of acetone then tie some string to the pieces or have a way of getting out with out sticking your hand in. Add a healthy amount of dye until the water turned darker then you wont all the way threw.

Add the pieces. Then bring the water to a simmer (not a boil if it overflows it could be a disaster)

Let it simmer for about ten minuets or until you get the color you want and take them out and your done.

Comment

[Jogumpie]

I'd love to see that with others colours. Just to see if it works.

[big builder145]

After further investigation I think that the tubing actually shrinks a little so that it dose not fit in to the cross ties as well this is only for the tubing and has almost no effect on the rods or connectors but i will continue testing.

[~stεεlspectrum~]

It seems that doing that to your tubing would cause your trains to either lose or gain speed, more likely lose. Also, do you have to heat the water?

[Millcreek47]

The heat would make the plastic shrink...

[Old_Hag]

^ No, heat makes things expand, then when they cool off, they contract. Not sure how this would affect the knex though.

[big builder145]

^Steel I'm sure that you could find a way around heating them up bur for now I don't think that ill be looking for it any time soon it dosent realy matter to me and you can alrealy just buy difrent tubing if it is bleeched

Well i just did a batch of white rods and connectors and they turned out great. No more color sorting for me or at least that is what I'm going for.


I think that I will buy a gray dye next for the yellow connectors and rods .

[the_burrito_master]

That is, awesome. I need to make red cross ties!!!

So do you think you can die them 2 or more times?

EDIT: see if it affects the pieces strength.

[~stεεlspectrum~]

Let's say you dye your knex, but then you buy some more. How hard would it be to make the dye the exact same color?

[big builder145]

^Umm not too hard from my expeance today, All you have to do is check it often untill you get the desired color

^^I am trying to think up a test that i could do to test that and, once i have it I will tell you guys

[Pyro]

Wow... This looks like it works very well. I really want to try this. Great Job Man!

[Pyro]

Sorry for the DP but I think this need to be numbed. I just bought some dye too do this and I was wonder if it did dye the pot and if you have to heat the water?

[big builder145]

well this is what happened to my pot but this is after a couple of hours



I haven't noticed any difference in strength. I tried breaking both a regular rod and a dyed one and, they seemed to break at the same amount of force

And some advice try testing one or two pieces before you do your whole batch some times they trout differently like rr flexies turn blue and ss turn a dark green in navy blue and don't do tubing.

Also, rods and connectors take longer then ten minutes to die they usually take around 20 min . And others can take longer so if yours aren't taking on color right away just wait.

[Pyro]

But still do you have to heat it?

[big builder145]

Yeah you need the heat it doesn't work with out it you could just find a pot a a garage sale.

[larry marak]

Tell us how the experiment turns out. Also look into using vynal dye. It applies via spray paint and penetrates the plastic so it doesn't rub off or increase the size of the part.

[Pyro]

My mom is refusing to let me use her pots... And the ones at Target are $30 dollars...

[big builder145]

Okay theas are some of the color combination that i have achieved


I got the blue white rod and snowflake connector with navy blue and yellow 180 connector and yellow rod with black dye
Caution some rods can bend wile they are still hot and can misshapen but only if you aren't careful

[Rollerboaster]

That 180* connector looks sweet, but I think the white rods look even cooler.

[eliavlevy]

Woah, this is truly amazing!
Do you think that after dyeing it you can dye it again after a few months in a different color?
Think about the possibilities! You can make a truly color themed coaster with this!
Like everything red! EVERYTHING!
Wow, I gotta try this somehow.