RIT dyes...thanks!

[twinklestarchild]

I have been trying to find where I saw this posted, but someone suggested using RIT dyes mixed with methylated spirits as a spirit dye. While I had thought of using RIT dye, I had not known what to mix it with, and had been hesitant to experiment. Having someone say that they had already done this and had success was enough of a butt-kick in the right direction. So far I have been having lots of luck, expanding my palette on the shoe-string budget I am operating with. Smooth, even, colors on the cheap. The only comments I would make is just that these dyes require alot more in the way of buffing. I am currently experimenting with Dylon dyes, and have not had quite as much success, but I think that they might make great stains.

Just wanted to say thank you for another useful piece of info from this forum!

Namaste.

[tashabear]

Interesting -- are you mixing the spirits with the Rit powder or the liquid?

[CitizenKate]

I'm curious, too. I tried this with the powder, and some of the powder would not dissolve in the solvent. It did infuse the solvent with color, though. Maybe I should have just strained out the solid particles.

Kate

[cem]

It may of been me twinklestarchild was referring to here's the original thread I posted in http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?s...pic=3924&hl=

I've also used Dylon but didn't think it was that good so have stuck with Rit, I originally got the idea from when Leatheroo contacted Leatherwood designs (Roderick Stanger) and he got back to her to say that he used a dye from the chemist we don't have alot of choice when it comes to dyes in Australia so I thought it must be Rit or Dylon. That thread is here

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?s...pic=1423&hl

Cheers,

Clair

[twinklestarchild]

I think it was cem that I saw the post from. I've been using the powdered dye, mixing it with some boiling water, and then the methylated spirits. Generally I use a half packet of dye, a few teaspoons of water, swirl it together into a sludge, and then cut into 4-8 oz.-ish of the metho. Like I said, the RIT seems to dissolve fine, although there will be some sediment settled at the bottom of the jar after a couple of hours. I just avoid this by using the top of the jar, but even swirled up there does not seem to be too much of a particulate content, which as cem suggested could be re-used. I've tried out the Cocoa Brown and the Scarlet so far with great results, though as I said there is a greater need for buffing. I am curious about using the liquid as it may prevent some of these issues altogether. The Dylon is another story. Does not seem to want to dissolve at all, although I have not yet tried out all of the colors I got from the store. Does infuse some color into the spirit, so might make a good stain, still doing test strips.

P.S. - RIT dyes on sale right now at Jo-Anne's, bringing what is already a highly cost-effective dye solution to $1.79 US plus cost of metho for 12-16 oz.-ish, beats the hell out of $6 for 4 oz. bottles of fiebings. Plus I love the mad scientist element!

Edited December 15, 2008 by twinklestarchild