RIT dye on white strat pickguard?

gjbrocker · Post by **gjbrocker** » Sun Mar 07, 2010 1:39 pm

Hey there,

I've been interested in trying an abstract design on a white pickguard. I was wondering if RIT dye might work in the same way it does on lax heads? Also, if this idea is shot, are there any other ways for coloring a pickguard?

Zack · Post by **Zack** » Sun Mar 07, 2010 9:20 pm

Interesting idea, it sounds plausible but I've never done it before. Cigarette smoke & coffee will "age" a pickguard if that helps at all.

gaybear · Post by **gaybear** » Sun Mar 07, 2010 9:24 pm

i have no idea, but i love the idea

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Sun Mar 07, 2010 9:47 pm

I have been recently thinking of doing this very same idea. I found a youtube demo once that showed how to use RIT dye mixed with acetone to dye plastic.

edit: if you just want to "age" it or something. I think just sitting it in that taupe RIT dye would work. I just re-dyed some black pants I had (what it's actually intended for) and I had a pick in the pocket and it was dyed a little bit.

gjbrocker · Post by **gjbrocker** » Sun Mar 07, 2010 11:57 pm

Thanks you guys. Im not really aiming to "age" the pickguard as much as im looking to re color it. I figure ill give it a try on a back plate or something. Thanks for that youtube video link as well. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

Cheers,

G

gjbrocker · Post by **gjbrocker** » Sun Mar 07, 2010 11:59 pm

oops, no linkage haha...thought i saw one

DanHeron · Post by **DanHeron** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 12:09 am

I think it would work.. Years ago I got into inline skating for a short while and i remember people would dye the plastic parts of the skates with RIT dye, like this:

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 12:12 am

[youtube][/youtube]

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 12:19 am

I think the trick with a pickguard is gonna be getting a pan big enough. you might have to put it in the oven to keep a big pan hot.

also, I think it will take a lot longer than in this video because it's not a plastic part purposely made for dyeing. maybe as long as an hour or more depending on how hot you can get the water and plastic.

gjbrocker · Post by **gjbrocker** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 2:51 am

I think if it works on inline skates then I will probably give it a try. Do you think a large pot would work rather than a pan? If* I can find a pot that big I could keep it at a continuous temperature on the stove top--that's what worked for my lax head. Again, I'll try it out probably sometime this week

cobascis · Post by **cobascis** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 4:13 am

do you have any pots that huge?

What color were you planning? as it's much easier with a dark color because you cannot over-do it, but its a lot trickier with a specific shade you are trying to hit.

I've died lacrosse heads and it came out way to light, it need well over an hour.

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 4:15 am

what kind of pickguard are you going to use ?

i couldn't believe that fender wants like 30 bucks for a freaking white pickguard these days when i was at guitar center.

guitar fetish has them for 8 bucks

http://store.guitarfetish.com/whpificlte.html

gjbrocker · Post by **gjbrocker** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 4:36 am

I can scrounge around my house for a big ol' pot of some sort. I'm not too worried about that. I'm planning on doing a yellowish orange color on a white pickguard (luckily I already have one to use). I'm thinking I'll buy a darker orange to mix with the lighter one to compensate for the white underneath. I'm getting really curious to see how this plays out...