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Other Anybody dyed plastic (lego ideally)

Discussion in 'General' started by modd1uk, 23 Aug 2013.

  1. TheBlackSwordsMan

    TheBlackSwordsMan Over the Hills and Far Away

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    You could write a list of what you need and ask around for folk to send you their purple lego ? I remember the epic thread about the 100$ RIG, everybody wanted to participate. You could make a thread about it and update the progress, that could be epic !
     
  2. modd1uk

    modd1uk Multimodder

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    I was just going to buy all the bits I need in purple but there are about 10 blocks maybe that aint available :(
     
  3. bigkingfun

    bigkingfun Tinkering addict

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    LEGO is made from ABS plastic.
    Perhaps google can show how to dye ABS?
     
  4. Cei

    Cei pew pew pew

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  5. modd1uk

    modd1uk Multimodder

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    Of course, i spent two days solid. Majority of bricks are available in purple, but the " macaroni" pieces they call them, some hinges, and a few other blocks aren't available in purple. I have some RIT liquid dye (i heard its better than powder) on the way in purple, just need to get a few white blocks to try it out before i commit to £79.99 + about £35 quid in white lego.
     
  6. The Gaji

    The Gaji What's a Dremel?

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  7. modd1uk

    modd1uk Multimodder

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    I bought the liquid version of that, just waiting for it to arrive :D
     
  8. LordPyrinc

    LordPyrinc Legomaniac

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    I have no idea, but I'd like to see the results if you get something to work. May be useful for me in the future. Right now I just rely on the colors I got when doing custom things. It would be nice to find a fairly reliable method of dying bricks as needed.
     
  9. modd1uk

    modd1uk Multimodder

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    Yeah buddy i'l keep the thread updated with progress, although dying bricks is blasphemy amongst the lego purists, but what else can you do when lego don't make all the bricks in the colours you need...if in doubt seek other methods !
     
  10. dancingbear84

    dancingbear84 error 404

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    Email lego pr department with what you want to do, they may be willing to help, any publicity is good publicity and all that.
    If not they could give you some pointers as to how to achieve what you want.
    Or worse case, nothing happens, but it is worth a try...
     
  11. modd1uk

    modd1uk Multimodder

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    I emailed somebody and the reply i got was basically a link to lego building specialists...that's no good, i know how to put bricks together lol. Its a real shame they dont just make the parts i need in purple :'(
     
  12. modd1uk

    modd1uk Multimodder

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    Dye has arrived, now to source some white lego to try. Not sure if i should just try the dye cold first or if i should heat it up..i don't want to distort any of the blocks :/
     
  13. Cei

    Cei pew pew pew

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    LEGO PR won't be any help - if Lego don't make the blocks in that colour, they don't make the blocks in that colour. Simple as that really.

    I would try cold, or low heat (40?), more will warp the bricks.
     
  14. modd1uk

    modd1uk Multimodder

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    Warped a few bricks with heat, leaving them in the cold dye overnight, but don't think its going to work :(.
     
  15. modd1uk

    modd1uk Multimodder

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    The white isn't taking ANY dye at all, not sure what else i can try ? Cause if you put heat into it the lego just warps :(. Think i may have to scrap the idea which is gutting as i really wanted to pull this off for the wedding.
     
  16. matt_lumley

    matt_lumley You're only supposed to...

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    Shrink wrapping with purple vinyl or wrap?

    Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
     
  17. supermonkey

    supermonkey Deal with it

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    Dang, sorry the Rit didn't take. That's disappointing; I was sure it would do the trick.

    Have you considered just building the model, then spray painting it with something designed for plastic, such as Krylon Fusion or Vinyl Dye? Or, if you're so inclined, you could paint all the individual pieces then assemble the model.

    Edit: I just found this brief write up about Vinyl Dye and Lego. Apparently it works pretty well.
     
  18. modd1uk

    modd1uk Multimodder

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    I've seen that before, and might be worth one more shot. Not sure what brand we can get in the UK though as the RIT hasn't even touched it, not even 1%.
     
  19. KayinBlack

    KayinBlack Unrepentant Savage

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    Vinyl dye is not like RIT, and it works beautifully on ABS, including Lego. I used to make dash pieces match with it, and then I used it on early PC cases. I have hit Lego with it before and the color will likely outlast me.
     
  20. modd1uk

    modd1uk Multimodder

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    Can you tell its been sprayed ? The RIT isn't doing anything, even added some acetone (well nail polish remover as it contains acetone) but apart from smelling toxic its doing nothing.

    The spray vinyl dye ok ? Can you tell its been sprayed though :/ ?

    http://www.vinyldye.co.uk/Brillo Vinyl Spray Dye Purple?filter_name=purple
     

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