Dyeing a pack
- Thread starter Navek
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Sorta. Not a backpack, but I've died an Air Force A-3 bag the newer nylon one (the same type and weight cordura that the ALICE packs were made from and about the same total amount of material)
Aye Up Navek,
I have dyed several, British military surplus, nylon, water, ammunition and utility pouches with great success despite manufacturers claims that it couldn't be done with their (cotton) dyes. (they advised against using polyester dyes as being potentially dangerous - I didn't because the colour range was limited).
Most of the pouches were originally Brit desert dpm (sand/beige) but one was a Dutch (Brit) dpm. All were dyed to a dark brown.
My initial attempts were carried out as per the manufacturers instructions for hand dying cotton fabric - it didn't work!
I repeated the process but next time kept the dye solution hot, not quite boiling (over a burner outside) for about two hours and then left the pouches in the solution until it had gone cold - success! The pouches don't appear to have been adversely affected. I've been using them on and off for several years in all weathers and the colour has hardly changed.
Dying from a light to a dark colour will probably be most successful.
Be aware that the solution (dye/salt etc) might affect straps, buckles, stitching etc differently so if that could be an issue remove them, if you can.
BTW you've just reminded me that I must post some info about dying Ventile too
I have dyed several, British military surplus, nylon, water, ammunition and utility pouches with great success despite manufacturers claims that it couldn't be done with their (cotton) dyes. (they advised against using polyester dyes as being potentially dangerous - I didn't because the colour range was limited).
Most of the pouches were originally Brit desert dpm (sand/beige) but one was a Dutch (Brit) dpm. All were dyed to a dark brown.
My initial attempts were carried out as per the manufacturers instructions for hand dying cotton fabric - it didn't work!
I repeated the process but next time kept the dye solution hot, not quite boiling (over a burner outside) for about two hours and then left the pouches in the solution until it had gone cold - success! The pouches don't appear to have been adversely affected. I've been using them on and off for several years in all weathers and the colour has hardly changed.
Dying from a light to a dark colour will probably be most successful.
Be aware that the solution (dye/salt etc) might affect straps, buckles, stitching etc differently so if that could be an issue remove them, if you can.
BTW you've just reminded me that I must post some info about dying Ventile too
BTW you've just reminded me that I must post some info about dying Ventile too
That'd be extremely useful; I'd like to hear somebody else's take on it
Bump
I have a British patrol sack in MTP - Its definitely on the lighter/brighter green/khaki spectrum.
So I would like to dye it and tone it down a little.
I have a 3 Dylon dye packs - Black , Espresso Brown and Olive Green
So currently as I have some modded slimline side pockets in Olive Green I'm leaning to that - I know , not very original but I feel it may 'take' better - darker green overlay and tone down the contrast in colours
So - any hints or tips people have found doing the same??
I'm anticipating the molle webbing not taking very well but I may just go to town with some permanent markers and colour over by hand.
I have a British patrol sack in MTP - Its definitely on the lighter/brighter green/khaki spectrum.
So I would like to dye it and tone it down a little.
I have a 3 Dylon dye packs - Black , Espresso Brown and Olive Green
So currently as I have some modded slimline side pockets in Olive Green I'm leaning to that - I know , not very original but I feel it may 'take' better - darker green overlay and tone down the contrast in colours
So - any hints or tips people have found doing the same??
I'm anticipating the molle webbing not taking very well but I may just go to town with some permanent markers and colour over by hand.
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Bump
I have a British patrol sack in MTP - Its definitely on the lighter/brighter green/khaki spectrum.
So I would like to dye it and tone it down a little.
I have a 3 Dylon dye packs - Black , Espresso Brown and Olive Green
So currently as I have some modded slimline side pockets in Olive Green I'm leaning to that - I know , not very original but I feel it may 'take' better - darker green overlay and tone down the contrast in colours
So - any hints or tips people have found doing the same??
I'm anticipating the molle webbing not taking very well but I may just go to town with some permanent markers and colour over by hand.
I have a British patrol sack in MTP - Its definitely on the lighter/brighter green/khaki spectrum.
So I would like to dye it and tone it down a little.
I have a 3 Dylon dye packs - Black , Espresso Brown and Olive Green
So currently as I have some modded slimline side pockets in Olive Green I'm leaning to that - I know , not very original but I feel it may 'take' better - darker green overlay and tone down the contrast in colours
So - any hints or tips people have found doing the same??
I'm anticipating the molle webbing not taking very well but I may just go to town with some permanent markers and colour over by hand.
MTP was selected to be low obervable in temperate/tropical/desert climates.
From a hunting perspective the biggest mistake that most commercial camouflage patterns make is that they are designed for USA and just like DPM (designed for fighting in trenches in east german destroyed spruce forests) are too dark for the UK background and appear black (traditional waxed clothing is even worse) against a lighter background from a distance as human (and prey eyes) pick up movement, shadows and dark shapes a lot more effectively than lighter shades.
UK general cultivated/edge background is bright greens in spring/summer/autumn with pale green/yellows being winter colours. Obvious exceptions being heather dominated moorlands and non-native conifer plantations.
The contrast on the bag between the colours is designed to both blend in and also confuse your vision to not seeing the object shape from a distance and is effective.
Toning it down by dying will make it darker and more prone to being visible at distance, even though up close it is more subdued.
It might be worth getting a spare side pocket and trying to dye that before the main bag and to compare before dying the whole bag.
From a hunting perspective the biggest mistake that most commercial camouflage patterns make is that they are designed for USA and just like DPM (designed for fighting in trenches in east german destroyed spruce forests) are too dark for the UK background and appear black (traditional waxed clothing is even worse) against a lighter background from a distance as human (and prey eyes) pick up movement, shadows and dark shapes a lot more effectively than lighter shades.
UK general cultivated/edge background is bright greens in spring/summer/autumn with pale green/yellows being winter colours. Obvious exceptions being heather dominated moorlands and non-native conifer plantations.
The contrast on the bag between the colours is designed to both blend in and also confuse your vision to not seeing the object shape from a distance and is effective.
Toning it down by dying will make it darker and more prone to being visible at distance, even though up close it is more subdued.
It might be worth getting a spare side pocket and trying to dye that before the main bag and to compare before dying the whole bag.
RIT dye for anything plastic, not sure what your patrol sack is made of.
Did an orange and grey MaxP shoulder bag and even the gray plastic buckles, zips and velcro came out black. Regular Dylon won't take to nylon. Friend of mine did a pink Spydie Squeak to purple with RIT.
Could just as well be a brand new bag in black, brilliant stuff.
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Nice one - that looks the ticket - Just ordered some - will post some before and after photos for whomever is interested
Dark Green - If I can make a full obscure green - I will be happy , if it doesn't achieve that but more just a semi 'many shades of green' I will be content .
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Watching this thread because I have a Maxpedition bag in a drab tan that I’d like to die. Green or brown would be good.
Did you order the die fixer also?
Did you order the die fixer also?
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I did the the bag without the fixer in a huge stockpot so I could stir and let it soak. I was going for a sort of all over greyish type look and was pretty shocked by the take.
It had about 3 rinses in the machine after and I thought it would lose a bit, but the buckles and zips were a giveaway, it's a very black bag.
It had about 3 rinses in the machine after and I thought it would lose a bit, but the buckles and zips were a giveaway, it's a very black bag.
