dying acrylic

[magic]

How does one dye acrylic so it's sky blue and translucent?

Thanks

I've called two local distributers looking for 3/8 already blue and they don't have it (And don't know how to colorize their stock material either)

[john_l]

Use clear acrylic and apply translucent, self adhesive vinyl of the color of your choice to it. Sky blue is available from a few manufacturers. If you cannot locate the vinyl check with any local electric sign company.

You could also use clear acrylic and back spray it with Spraylat paint... but it is very trickey stuff to work with. Also, very inexpensive to simply sub out to an experienced electric sign shop.

[magic]

Thank you for the reply but I need to dye the acrylic. The edges need colorised and the materials will be held in peoples hands.

I have a friend that's an optometrist, I'll call him

[bleeth]

You have to buy it.
one supplier is 3-form. They have several blues in their varia collection. Be prepared for high cost and lead time. Check their "leftovers" store.

[c_kling]

I can supply dyed acrylic anyway you need it if you sill need it email me

[jerry_stanek]

You have to buy it.
one supplier is 3-form. They have several blues in their varia collection. Be prepared for high cost and lead time. Check their "leftovers" store.

Your right about the cost 1 sheet of their blue .125 was about $375

[bleeth]

Yeah-and thats probably before crating shipping and insurance. When I have a project calling for one of their most basic designs it is usually 3/8 or 1/2" and I assume it is going to cost me a grand just to get it here and cut rectangles.

[norm]

Can you use stained glass? Just a thought.

Norm

[magic]

No. No glass. This will be a prop that's handled by people.

I found 1/4 translucent acrylic for $141.50 a sheet and they're only 15 miles away.

But I still have 12. 1.25" spheres that need dyed.

My optometrist friend said they use RIT dye. They heat it then dip the eye-ware in it. So I bought some RIT, first I heated the dye, then I heated the acrylic, then I heated both with no luck (but I used a microwave oven which might not have heated the acrylic correctly).

I found an industrial toaster in the trash two months ago (The kind that restaurants have). It uses moving belts and heats up to 450 degrees. I think I'll run the acrylic through the toaster tommorow (on med-high) then pour some boiling RIT on that... now if that doesn't work, I'll have to admit defeat either that or eyeglass plastic is not the same as cast acrylic.

Or if anyone is willing to share their method i would appreciate it. Acting like the Nutty Professor is not my style.

[myxpykalix]

I would think the microwave solution will not work as it heats things up from the center where what you need to do is heat the surface. It seems to me that the dye needs to be added at the manufacturing stage.

[magic]

it worked.

[bleeth]

cool!
(Here are more words since the forum doesn't accept one word replies.)

[magic]

absouloutly!

[myxpykalix]

not sure what sizes you were looking for but i ran across this and it looked reasonable compared to the prices others have quoted here. I know nothing about this but here are some links:
Plastics:
http://www.delviesplastics.com/ (http://www.delviesplastics.com/)
http://www.professionalplastics.com/ (http://www.professionalplastics.com/)
http://www.eplastics.com/ (http://www.eplastics.com/)
http://www.ocip.com/ (http://www.ocip.com/)

[magic]

I'll keep that for future reference.

[sailfl]

Do a google search. There is a video that shows how to dye acrylic with acetone, rite dye and water.