If you are a disc golfer or someone who loves to put creative designs on your discs, probably you are looking for a proper method to dye them on your own. But most of the time, we end up with a mess and misrepresenting our imagination. There are several processes to dye them. This article will consist of one of the most used and effective methods which will let you know how to dye disc golf discs and will help you to get your desired design. Before starting, you will have to decide a few things. What kind of material has been used to make it? How many would you like to have in your design? Most importantly, which method to apply?
Table of Contents
How to dye disc golf discs?
Dying a disc golf disc requires some considerations and processes. Before starting to dyeing, make some research and take some opinions if possible. Here are some steps and considerations to make your task easy and comfortable.
Choosing correct material
The quality of a disc can affect the final result. Translucent plastics usually hold the color for a long time but are not good at soaking dye fast. Premium plastic will be good at soaking, and the color does not fade away quickly. Overall a good choice. Base plastic is not a good option. The dye will fade away soon enough and will not give you the exact color. So dig well to choose your disc according to your preference. If you are experimenting, go for a cheaper one.
Choosing the correct color
Multi-colored disc looks attractive but to play with different colors; you will need to pay extra attention. If you are new to this field, begin with one color. Black is the best option to work with as it can easily cover up the actual color of the plastic. Idye poly will give you the best result. It depends on not only your choice but also on the dying method. A single color image is best for stencil dye. If you are working with a spin dye method, using a multicolor can give you a fruitful result. How disc golf discs are made? See how?
Which method to apply?
There are plenty of methods available such as stencil dye, spin dye, drip design, hot glue design, shaving cream dye, etc. If you want to create a custom stamp, go for stencil dye. Go for a hot glue design if you are looking for a neat and clean design. If you have proper control over your hand movement, then you can choose spin dye. To produce unique patterns, work on the shaving cream method. There are many more but explaining each of them is out of the scope of this article. As stencil dye is popular among all the techniques, we will tell you how to dye disc golf discs using this method.
Setting up the station
Before gearing up, set up your station with all the necessary equipment. For stencil dye, you will need your stencil design, your disc, dye, jar, a scissor, contact paper, acetone, paper towel, a pan, X-Acto blade, scotch tape.
Removing the stamp
Erase the stamp that already exists on the disc with the help of acetone. Use some paper towel to scrape it off. Make sure to rinse it off to get rid of any extra amount of acetone that is still on the surface.
Preparing your disc
Choose your design and print it out in black and white. After that, you have to cut a large enough piece of contact paper that will overlap all sides of the disc. Pull off the backside of your contact paper. Get the sticky side up and center the object, which is the disc on it as best as you can. Flip it over and start rubbing it to get rid of any air bubbles. Start from one edge and work your way across. Else, it may start bleeding. You can use a square-shaped hard object or something like that for this task. If you are comfortable, you can use your fingers as well. Fold the extra area of contact paper over the edge of your disc.
Next, put your printed design on your disc and cut the excess amount of paper that is outside of the area. Attach it using tape. Make sure not to put the tape on your design. Now use your blade and start tracing the edges of your design. Just keep the design on the disk and peel the rest of the portion from the paper that has no design on it. Do not strip away the contact paper. Then peel off all the parts of the contact paper which you will be dyeing. It is a crucial part that needs to be done with patience. Find the Cheapest disc golf bags here.
Dying
The heart of our entire procedure starts here. Prepare your dye. Fill the jar with hot tap water and pour all of the dye powder into the pot. Close the jar nice and tight. You have to shake it a little bit for the dye mixture. Pour it into the pan. Now take the disc and gently place it on the surface of the liquid. Don’t push it into the jar. Set it in gently because you do not want to splash it and get it under the back of the disc.
Spin it around if possible. Leave it there and check it every 10 or 20 minutes to see how dark it has got. Pull it up once it receives the darkness you like. The longer it stays, the darker the color gets. Next, rinse it off with some cold water. In the final stage, pull off the remaining contact paper. Here you go! Your custom-designed beautiful discs are ready.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do you stencil dye a disc golf disc?
Answer: Find this short video to know it all about disc golf dying tutorial on Stencil Dying.
Can you dye DX plastic?
Answer: It is possible but next to impossible. Know better before trial.
How do you dye a disc golf disc black?
Answer: There are many different ways to dye a disc golf disc black, but the most common way is by using RIT Dye. First, you will need to place your disc in a pot or bucket that has about two gallons of water. Second, pour the RIT dye into the pot or bucket and let it dissolve. Third, add more water to remedy for any change in color (it’s normal for the water to be a murky brown).
Dyeing discs with pens provides a quick and easy solution when wanting your discs to be darker in color. *The pen should never touch the flight plate of the disc due in order to avoid damage to the flight plate surface.
Can you dye a colored disc golf disc?
Answer: It is not recommended to dye a disc golf disc. The colors that are used in the manufacturing process can take on different chemical properties than the original color. As a result, the new color may fade or change color over time.
Can you use Rit dye to dye discs?
Answer: Yes, you can dye discs with Rit dye. You will need to apply the dye to the disc and then heat it up for a few minutes. The type of disc that you use will depend on how much time and effort you want to put into this project.
Conclusion
If you are entirely new to this field, you might need to give a couple of shots to get perfection. But with enough amount of practice, you will learn how to dye disc golf discs properly. You can also work on the other available procedures. The technique mentioned above is easy to apply. You are sure going to have a lot of fun working on this. It is cost-efficient, and all the equipment can be found online or in stores. Just make sure to do everything slowly and with a steady hand. Play with the process, and you will learn the art over time. Dying disc golf discs might look complicated at first instance, but the process gets easier once you start working on it. Know how to throw disc golf disc straight.
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