I wanted to try dyeing a mask, and my Profiler seemed like a great test subject.
iDye suggests outdoor use due to the fumes. Their formula requires a rolling boil, but their video shows plastic sunglasses, wigs, and wiffle balls being dyed without problems.
Process I followed:
Before dyeing:
15 min in the dye:
After 90 min in the dye and final rinse:
After completely drying, a few hours later:
- Mask with light-colored rubber and/or plastic (I used a Profiler “Shark”).
- Synthetic fabric dye (Rit Dye More, iDye Poly Synthetic, or equivalent). Buy online or at a craft store like Michael’s or Joanne’s Fabrics.
- Sacrificial pot, long salad tongs, cookie sheet, and cookie drying rack from 2nd hand store (DON’T use them for food ever again)
- long rubber gloves
- Instructions: https://www.ritdye.com/instructions/...thetic-fibers/
- Video: https://youtu.be/7cOUXmg_Ovg
iDye suggests outdoor use due to the fumes. Their formula requires a rolling boil, but their video shows plastic sunglasses, wigs, and wiffle balls being dyed without problems.
- Instructions: https://www.jacquardproducts.com/s/i...tions-gsne.pdf
- Video: https://vimeo.com/412534242?embedded...owner=18159888
Process I followed:
- Clean the mask thoroughly and remove all bands, elastic, clips, lenses, visors, etc. If you wish to dye those pieces, they should be separate loose pieces on the dye pot. If the foam is removable, take it out. Mine had the glue separate, so I’ll have to glue it back in. YMMV.
- Note: I tied a shoelace in a loop through the harder plastic to use as a hanging device to suspend it in the liquid. This wasn’t necessary in the end.
- Get the water to near boiling (~200F/94C) then add the dye. For darker shades, add two bottles. I just used one. Add a tablespoon of dish soap. Stir thoroughly.
- While wearing the long gloves, slowly sink the mask under the water. I used the salad tongs to make sure the whole mask was submerged at all times to get an even coat. Once the mask foam separated, the mask stayed down on its own due to reduced buoyancy. Even though it rested on the bottom of the pot, nothing melted or became malformed - the heat on the electric coil stove stayed at 7-7.5.
- Keep the temperature just below boiling and occasionally stir the liquid so the dye particles don’t settle at the bottom. Ensure the whole mask is always submerged.
- I left mine in for about 90 minutes. The longer it’s in the pot, the darker the end result.
- I took a picture at 15 min into the process and again after rinsing it off at 90 min. I expected it to be the darkest when wet, but it actually darkened as it dried. I’m happy with the end result - should be a great mask for woodsball play.
Before dyeing:
15 min in the dye:
After 90 min in the dye and final rinse:
After completely drying, a few hours later:
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