RIT dye on plastic/rubber grips?

PALADIN85020 · Jan 30, 2012

Recently I purchased a nice "flat gate" old model Ruger Single-Six revolver. It's great except that the right grip (plastic) on the gun has turned brown from its original black color. I'm told over on the Ruger forum that this is a more or less common phenomenon.

However, reading from various comments on the Internet, some have used RIT dye to restore or change colors on plastic or rubber grips. I'm wondering if anyone here has had experience with this - I'm thinking that a strong black dye might work, but I don't know about its wear characteristics.

Some have also recommended this technique to artificially age fake ivory grips...

Any thoughts?

John

2152hq · Jan 30, 2012

Sunlight will fade and leach colors from plastics as well as some of the cleaning products. A combination of both probably worse.
The backside may be still black.

I've used alcohol based stain (dye) to touch up the plastic grip on a Walther PPK (wartime) that someone decided would look better spray painted. The dye was just enough to restore the color tone back after removing the paint and carefully polishing the grip back to life.
But that was boosting the brown color to a darker tone,,not changing the color entirely.

Real 'hard rubber' grips (Gutta-percha) often turn brown with age but not this much contrast.
Those G/P grips can be made black again by a simple application of WD-40 in most cases.

I'd stay away from heavy solvent based stains that may 'melt' the plastic the grips are made from. I'd think alcohol based would be safe but check a spot on the back of the panel first to see.

I've never used the Rit Dye. Don't know if it'd penetrate any deeper than the alcohol stain/dye.
I think you have to use hot water with it. That may soften the panel. Extra careful handling or even mounting it on a flat piece of wood for the process may avoid any damage but no promises.

I've seen some that Ruger plastic grips were touched up with a felt marker! Some that were painted..

Those are expensive grips for those older Rugers. XR3 frame was the black plastic panels.

Just some thoughts.

Maximumbob54 · Jan 30, 2012

Found this and thought it was worth sharing:

How To Dye Absolutely Any Plastic.

ChattanoogaPhil · Jan 30, 2012

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-m-p-15-22/228968-rail-covers-rit-dye.html

Walter Rego · Jan 30, 2012

I had good success restoring the color on an old set of plastic grip panels that were turning brown by first cleaning with a soft toothbrush and some household cleaner like Formula 409, rinsing well with lukewarm water and then drying. When dry I used some black shoe dye (NOT shoe polish) in one of those plastic bottles with built in applicator tip that I found at the drug store. I let it soak in and then buffed lightly with an old piece of terrycloth towel. It worked perfectly. Make sure you work over some old newspapers and wear gloves. You do not want that dye to get on anything other than the grips !

Packard · Jan 31, 2012

I think that the RIT will bleed back onto your sweaty hands. Can't you just go out and buy new ones?

dant · Jan 31, 2012

John, yes that is quite common, basically time & sunlight may affect the pigment of the material they used..not all do it and some will go brown, some almost green, and as noted above, a simple "oil down" ( WD-40) will spruce things up and yes the RIT dye works as well as the plain 'show dye' type the old shoe makers used when they resoled the shoes, along the edges.....just wipe off and oil and they will not bleed onto your hands...looks like a great example of an early RS , a 'keeper'.............

venomballistics · Jan 31, 2012

Ive noodled with it a bit .. its how we tint canopy's in model airplanes

PALADIN85020 · Jan 31, 2012

Walter Rego said:
I had good success restoring the color on an old set of plastic grip panels that were turning brown by first cleaning with a soft toothbrush and some household cleaner like Formula 409, rinsing well with lukewarm water and then drying. When dry I used some black shoe dye (NOT shoe polish) in one of those plastic bottles with built in applicator tip that I found at the drug store. I let it soak in and then buffed lightly with an old piece of terrycloth towel. It worked perfectly. Make sure you work over some old newspapers and wear gloves. You do not want that dye to get on anything other than the grips !

BINGO! I found some black shoe dye that we already had in the house, and it works fine! Sometimes the best answer is the simplest one. I don't know about wear characteristics, but I've handled the grip after it dried, and nothing came off on my hands. If touchup is ever needed, it would be quick and simple. Thanks for the suggestion - here's what I used.

John

RIT dye on plastic/rubber grips?

PALADIN85020

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2152hq

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Maximumbob54

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ChattanoogaPhil

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Walter Rego

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Packard

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dant

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venomballistics

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PALADIN85020

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