Extra resitance Cont.

[M_D]

I'm no expert so take this accordingly, I have found low dye temperature can cause inconsistent dying, including uneven coloring, light spots, etc. Perhaps there is an underlying cause or problem and this is just a work around, but I start the dying process at about 120º - 140º, and then raise the temp to 180-200º when it is fully colored. I am using a stove to heat with, so I can vary the dye temperature. I have found that paritally seals in the color and when I do the full seal it doesn't fade or leach out, and leaves a nice solid color free from blemishes. I haven't had any uneven spots since I began doing it like this, except for some parts where the agitation wasn't adequate. Of course, if you don't want the part to get as dark as possible for a given dye bath and need to pull it out before getting any darker, this method won't work.

[neilfj]

The only potential issue I see with raising the temp of the dye to 180+ degrees is the affect on the lifespan of the dye. I've thought of doing it myself but I'm not sure how it will affect or possibly degrade the dye.

What I do is to dye at 130-140 degrees then steam it over the sealing tank for 10 minutes before I immerse it in the boiling sealer. My theory is that the steam will begin to seal it and prevent the loss of any dye. From experience it seems to work very well. When the part is finally dropped into the sealing tank, there is absolutely no loss of dye.

[Sid03]

potsked- any luck yet? Im curious if you have found the problem

[Tim Wiltse]

M_D,


I also do the same thing with my dyes, dye at 140 and then turn up the temp for a few minutes to help get the sealing process going and then I use steam to seal. Works very well and very very little lose in color depth. My red dye is over a year old and I have not had a problem with it using this methode.


Take care,
Tim Wiltse

HyperColor Anodizing