rit dye question

don s · January 31, 2011, 12:34:00 PM

i want to ask a question regarding rit dye. i know there is another post about stain for woodies but, i don't want to hijack the thread. i see people using the dye mixed with alcohol. why? why not water? i'm just curious. does alcohol retain more of the color? or, if water is used will the color run?
don

Stumpkiller · January 31, 2011, 12:42:00 PM

Depends on the dye. Alcohol based dyes are just a different chemical base vs. water based. Some oils and compounds won't dissolve in water, some will.

The practical difference is that it is cheaper to ship water based dyes from a vendor due to the fire hazard of the alcohol.

Neither is really better or worse once sealed on the shaft.

fireman_3311 · January 31, 2011, 12:42:00 PM

Alcohol dries quicker? Not sure otherwise?

don s · January 31, 2011, 12:46:00 PM

stump killer. i talking specificly about rit dye. why alcohol and not water? fireman. thanks. i thought maybe for the dry time. wasn't sure.
don

Rick Wiltshire · January 31, 2011, 01:24:00 PM

In addition to a quicker dry - water may sometimes cause the grain in the wood of the arrow to rise.

don s · January 31, 2011, 01:27:00 PM

ohhhh. yeah rick. your right. i never thought about that. then you end up having to sand off the dye you just put on your shaft. thanks.
don

Stumpkiller · January 31, 2011, 01:40:00 PM

Ah. Never tried that.

I know guys who use Rit to tint the clear plastic canopies of model airplanes and they add vinegar and salt to get it to take - so I guess Rit is pretty flexible of what it is mixed with.

PS - I use a 3M pad on the shaft after staining (or leather dyeing) to smooth it back to polished.

Bjorn · January 31, 2011, 01:47:00 PM

I have used Rit with water and with alcohol works the same except for grain rise on occasion with water, and alcohol dries faster. Buffing the shaft like stumpkiller suggests is a good idea.

hvyhitter · January 31, 2011, 02:27:00 PM

I use 1 pack of rit powder dye to a standard bottle of 90% rubbing alcohol......you got to dump some out to get the dye in without overflow. Not all the dye will disolve so you get a little settled on the bottom. It makes dark colors and the alcohol seems to soak into some woods better than water base dyes. It drys in about 20 min so you dont have to wait overnight to dip. Shake well before use.

reddogge · January 31, 2011, 02:36:00 PM

In applying any of the water based or alcohol based dyes you can "whisker" your shafts (wet down and sand lightly when dry) several times before applying the dye. That way the grain won't rise.

Kelly · January 31, 2011, 03:53:00 PM

Starting doing colored stains with Rit dye back in the 70's. Ws using water at that time because that is what the directions called for. Tehn in the early 80's at a Michigan Longbow shoot Jerry Byrum told me that anything water soluble is also alcohol soluble. So thereafter I started using de-natured alcohol(which is cheaper and comes in larger quantities since I was dipping-not wiping) than rubbing alcohol.

Really didn't like the idea of adding water to my dry shafts, plus alcohol dries so much faster than water and doesn't rain the grain as much. Used 1 pint of de-natured alcohol to one package of powder Rit Dye, except for the Golden Yellow color where I used two packages to get a deeper color.

Dick in Seattle · January 31, 2011, 04:08:00 PM

Have a bow to make for a friend here soon. We bought a gorgeous piece of curly maple for him and he wants it dark, so I'm figuring I'm in for my first stain under Smooth On job. RIT seems to be the popular choice for this as well as for arrows. Only problem I have is I'm not familiar with it at all. What's usual outlet for buying it? Didn't find any at Lowe's or the hardware.

hvyhitter · January 31, 2011, 04:26:00 PM

Dick

Its clothing dye, Wallyworld used to carry it in their sewing dept but most of those are gone now. Any craft store has it and common colors are at drugstores and supermarkets in the laundry section.

ilarcher · January 31, 2011, 06:41:00 PM

Wally world will have it in there laundry soap area. Thats where mine has it. I'm pretty sure most if not all wally worlds have it. The last time I got some last summer it was about 2.50 a box for the powder.

You can find rit dye just about anywhere, but wally world was the cheapest I found

Killdeer · January 31, 2011, 07:39:00 PM

Compared to aniline dyes, how fade-resistant is RIT under UV exposure?

Killdeer

Dick in Seattle · January 31, 2011, 07:50:00 PM

Thanks, guys... clothing was the key... I was thinking paint and stains. Shouldn't have any trouble at all now

StickBowManMI · January 31, 2011, 07:57:00 PM

I thought that you were talking about using the RIT dye to stain feathers, I did not realize that it could be used on wood shafts. Good to know!

Huntschool · January 31, 2011, 08:05:00 PM

The alcohol, which is a solvent, penetrates the wood better kinda like the aniline dye Killy asked about. There are natural "oils" in most any wood and some more than others (Pine, spruce etc and hardwoods like mesquite)

Killy: I have not seen any UV effect on some of my wood shafte from 20 years ago when I used alcohol as a medium for both RIT and natural dye.
Yep, I still have two arrows from back then. This could, perhaps, be due to the final coat of varnish which I used then. RIT can be made pretty concentrated...

Hope that helps.

Killdeer · January 31, 2011, 08:14:00 PM

Thank you Bruce!

Dick, clothing is often key, and will serve you well when paint and stains aren't quite enough.

Killdeer

SS Snuffer · January 31, 2011, 10:47:00 PM

What Killy said. AND they'll keep ya warmer!