This is a first post in series of how to do dyes with disc golf discs. First article goes through step by step to create a hole dye I did to my lucid-x trespass. So I do my best to open up the techniques used here with this disc.
What is needed with this dye project:
- Clear transparent disc (like lucid-x / opto-x)
- Stencil film (like Oramask 810)
- Prefered dyes (two at least: black and another color for disc)
- Tools (pen, surgeon knife, cotton swabs, acetone, frying pan, tape)
Select or draw desired hole / broken glass image for the disc and either draw image to disc by hand or use cutter if you prefer. Cut outlines off from the stencil and prepare it for dyeing. Use sharp surgeon knife to cut out outlines of hole. Carefully remove air bubbles from close to edge and make sure you go through especially those spots where outline crosses stamp edges. Small amount of the heat can help or even bit of glue if there’s notiseable difference between disc surface and stamp.
At this point with disc I’m going to hot dip, I make two small handles under side of the disc with sticky tape (see pic below), so it’s easier then to put disc in and take out from frying pan.
I prefer to dye those thin lines with hot dipping. With this method I put water & dye mix into frying pan and heat it to about 50C. Good indication is to stop heating when first twist of steam appears. When dye is in correct temperature, slowly place disc floating on to pan one corner first in order to avoid air trapped under disc. Let it stay floating 2 to 5 minutes and check level of black. When black level is in desired intensity rinse disc throughly under tap water.
NOTE! With dip dye method make sure that there’s enough liquid in pan so plate of the disc won’t touch the pan. Also do not make liquid too hot so you don’t damage the disc.
Remove stencil from outside the “hole” and keep hole area covered. Dye rest of the disc into desired color by hot dipping or using other prefered method (lotion dyeing is also recommended).
When desired disc color is achieved, you can do shadings for the hole edges. I prefer using cotton swabs and toothpick to do shadings. Rinse the disc carefully after happy with shadings and rest of the stencil can be removed.
Final steps is to wipe off the stencil from within the hole with cotton swabs and you are done 🙂
