Dying wheels

[Rushevaderacer]

I just bought a set of these (http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXM957&P=7) wheels and was wondering if I could dye them another color.

If so, I need to know what dye and where to get it

thanks in advance :)

[SteveK]

I believe so. I know other HPI wheels can be dyed, as can RPM wheels.

To dye them, just use regular clothing dye like the Rit stuff in the supermarket, in boiling water (Don't use the pot to eat in after that).

[Dropkicked]

I could be wrong but I was under the impression that only nylon wheels can be dyed.

[Rushevaderacer]

Thanks

[SteveK]

Well HPI wheels are at least part nylon. They have talked about dying some of their wheels, and I can't imagine those wheels are too different.

Check HPI's website or forum for info.

[spencer253]

i know your able to dye them a different color but i dont know with what.

[SteveK]

http://www.hpiracing.com/graphics/bodies/7424.jpg

Anything you can dye, you do it with clothing or fabric dye. I've done Associated and RPM parts, and HPI did those wheels above in red. Rit will work great according to several posts found on the HPI forum.

[SteveK]

In the past we have tried colored wheels, we used to have yellow and green. The problem is that our distributors and hobby shops can't stock every wheel from every manufacturer, so they usually pick the safe wheels...chrome, silver, black, white.

Most of our white wheels can be dyed, the only ones that can't are the R5 wheels because they are made from ABS plastic that can't handle heat as well as our nylon wheels. Use Rit clothing dye, you can find it in most grocery stores. Use a deep pan that will never be used for cooking (the dye is poisonous) and boil a strong mix of dye, then shut off the burner and drop in the wheels for about 5 minutes, then rinse them in warm water and let them dry.

Tips from personal "mistakes":

-dye stains everything...clothes, towels, ceramic sinks, countertops, grout, pans etc... so don't use anything that isn't disposable, and put down lots of newspaper and paper towels.

-Don't store used dye, dump it down the drain. The dye will disintegrate metal containers, and it looks too much like Coolaid in glass jars.

-Buy a cheap teflon coated pan with a handle for dying parts, store it somewhere where nobody will ever use it for cooking. Get a strainer spoon while you're at it.

So only the R5 wheels won't take dye. The other wheels will actually be stronger for being dyed: The water increases the resiliency of the plastic.

[kenfuji]

what about wheels from pro-line? can those be dyed?

[TC3 Benjammin]

Oh my goodness. I've used the pot I dyed rims in for about 2 years now.

It was nice knowing y'all.:(

[corwin99]

yah i used the pot i dyed rims in too.. my girlfriend actually bleached it out afterwards for days until it was actually shinier and cleaner than i ever remember seeing it....

[sanseric]

I bought wheels that said dyeable on them by rpm for my t- maxx I used rit in a old pot they took well:)