Button Dyeing

[satellitecrawler]

Hey all,

Recently I've been trying to dye GBA SP buttons using liquid Rit dye with close to no luck. I've watched videos of people dying ABS with success using 10:1 water:acetone mixture at warm temperatures. Previous to trying that method, I boiled water, added a liberal amount of dye and placed the GBA SP buttons in the mixture for 40 minutes. Nothing. Tried the acetone method and after about 3 hrs I got a little color on them but it just looks like a dirty button now. I am trying to dye them orange and blue starting with the light grey buttons from a pearl blue unit.

I've read of using a whitener bleach first to get to white, then dye from there, but it doesn't feel like the dye is permeating the plastic much. Any ideas what I could try? Am I missing something?

[wiggyx]

In all honesty, this is such a poor method for making colored buttons that I'm amazed people still insist on trying it.

Personally, I cast new resin buttons if that's what I'm after. It's not that hard to do and it's a great skill to have for other small projects like this. I recently made a set for a modded Gameboy Advance. I can do a little write up for ya along with a parts list.

Plus you can make clear buttons, which no dye on the planet will help with

[nevermind1534]

Wow, those resin buttons look great.

[wiggyx]

Thanks! And they're really not all that tough to make

[jjhammerstein]

Make a guide!

[wiggyx]

Already in the works

[ttsgeb]

That is a beautiful idea.

So, do you use clear resin, and mix a dye in?

I take it you just press the buttons into some clay/play-dough/whatever, pull them back out, and pour the resin in, right?

[wiggyx]

It's a little more involved than that, but that is essentially what I'm doing except I'm making multiple part silicone molds.

[ttsgeb]

Ooh. Fancy.

[wiggyx]

I think you guys, of all the different forums, will really dig it. It costs a few bucks to get the materials together, but once you've done a few projects with the stuff, I'm sure you'll be hooked. There's something really satisfying about just being able to make your own parts that are essentially perfect without having to kill yourself in the process.


I'm looking forward to a "cast parts trading depot" thread at some point

[ttsgeb]

I'm just glad you mentioned it, seeing as I know how to cast resin, I just never would have thought to use it for this... (I guess some bits of my brain don't work right, or something) Awesome.

[wiggyx]

Sweet, make some parts so we can do some trading!

http://rosecoloredgaming.wordpress.com/ ... ting-parts" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[wiggyx]

Sorry this took so damned long, but here it is!


http://rosecoloredgaming.wordpress.com/ ... ing-parts/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jjhammerstein]

Pretty much the only reason I have been checking this site. Thank you.

[jjhammerstein]

Pretty much the only reason I have been checking this site. Thank you.