Button Dyeing

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satellitecrawler
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Button Dyeing

Post by satellitecrawler » Tue Dec 04, 2012 10:18 am

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?

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wiggyx
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Re: Button Dyeing

Post by wiggyx » Tue Jan 22, 2013 2:22 am

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 :P

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Re: Button Dyeing

Post by nevermind1534 » Tue Jan 22, 2013 12:05 pm

Wow, those resin buttons look great.
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wiggyx
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Re: Button Dyeing

Post by wiggyx » Tue Jan 22, 2013 12:42 pm

Thanks! And they're really not all that tough to make :)
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jjhammerstein
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Re: Button Dyeing

Post by jjhammerstein » Thu Jan 24, 2013 8:30 pm

Make a guide!
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wiggyx
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Re: Button Dyeing

Post by wiggyx » Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:20 am

Already in the works ;)
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ttsgeb
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Re: Button Dyeing

Post by ttsgeb » Fri Jan 25, 2013 10:31 am

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?

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wiggyx
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Re: Button Dyeing

Post by wiggyx » Fri Jan 25, 2013 10:55 am

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

Post by ttsgeb » Fri Jan 25, 2013 11:36 am

Ooh. Fancy.

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wiggyx
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Re: Button Dyeing

Post by wiggyx » Fri Jan 25, 2013 3:50 pm

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 ;)
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Re: Button Dyeing

Post by ttsgeb » Fri Jan 25, 2013 10:02 pm

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.

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wiggyx
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Re: Button Dyeing

Post by wiggyx » Sun Jan 27, 2013 11:21 am

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

http://rosecoloredgaming.wordpress.com/ ... ting-parts" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Last edited by wiggyx on Wed Jun 12, 2013 2:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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wiggyx
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Re: Button Dyeing

Post by wiggyx » Wed Jun 12, 2013 2:50 pm

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


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

Post by jjhammerstein » Sun Jun 16, 2013 6:31 pm

Pretty much the only reason I have been checking this site. Thank you.
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jjhammerstein
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Re: Button Dyeing

Post by jjhammerstein » Sun Jun 16, 2013 6:31 pm

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