Prepping parts for vinyl dying (and questions)

[MichaelD]

I know that when you're preparing to paint a surface, you prep it first. I.E. clean w/some kind of contaminant/grease remover.

A buddy and I (you know who you are ) want to dye Molex connectors. I'm assuming since it's plastic, it's dyeable. What do I use to prep the connectors?

How long does this stuff take to dry? Is it like regular spray paint?

 

[RalfHutter]

I always use 91% Isopropyl Alcohol to remove any mold release compounds, dirt, grease, etc from the plastic in question prior to painting. Then i just let it dry for a few minutes before painting. The 91% alcohol drys pretty fast.

On the advise of the guys in the autobody paint shop where I buy my SEM vinyl dyes, I occaisionally use this clear spray called "adhesion promoter" prior to actually painting the plastic. It's supposed to help the dye stick to the plastic better. I can't really tell the difference in the durability of the vinyl dye with or without the adhesion promoter so I usually don't use it unless the plastic I'm painting is pretty smooth. According to the directions on the can, this stuff is ready to paint over in 5-10 minutes.

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks, RalfHutter. I've never dyed PC parts before. I have done a glove box for an older car, but that's about it.

I'll make sure to clean the parts with alcohol first. Thanks.

 

[lchyi]

I'm pretty sure with plastic, and even other parts (faceplates, mice, etc) don't need to be primed or sanded. Just dye straight over. But cleaning is a must and vinyl dye is kind of sensitive. If the coat's too thick it'll bubble up in no time. But other than that, it basically covers up anything and leaves a great finish. gl hf

 

[beatle]

I followed GideonTech's vinyl dye guide when I dyed my cdrw's faceplate. The results are great. I used alcohol to clean the plate and handled the plate with plastic baggies over my hands.