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#1 |
Moderator
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Location: Southern Cal
Posts: 20,006
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Re-Dying Seatbelts
I have a set of red shoulder harnesses/buckles that I would like to re-dye to match the factory medium blue color of the interior of my truck. I am sure some of you have done this. Any suggestions on stuff/techniques?
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#2 |
Moderator
![]() Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern Cal
Posts: 20,006
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Re: Re-Dying Seatbelts
Here is what my factory seatbelts look like.
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#3 |
Burnouts are therapeutic
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: lancaster, south carolina
Posts: 852
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Re: Re-Dying Seatbelts
I tried doing it on a set of belts in a car I restored because they didn't make new belts at the time ,I used spray die and it ruined the belts they were stiff as a board I'm sure theres a right way to do it but the method I chose was not it .....hopefully someone who had a good experience will help you out with the proper way
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#4 |
Moderator
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Location: Southern Cal
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Re: Re-Dying Seatbelts
Thanks...I have not had luck with the spray dye in the past with seatbelts. It works great on plastic, but not fabric. I ethought of going with that Rit liqid dye you can get at any store...
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#5 |
"GO DAWGS"
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Batesburg, SC. 29006
Posts: 5,410
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Re: Re-Dying Seatbelts
I have used the rit dye but on black belts. If you can find the dye in that color which I doubt you can, it works great.
PT
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70 CST SWB 70 NOVA 93 Indy 500 Pace Truck (SOLD) 94 SILVERADO SWB 5/7 drop 2000 Silverado swb 2005 Nissan Altima 3.5 (Surprisingly very fast) 2004 GMC Yukon XL Denali BATESBURG, SC. 29006 29006 Some of my restorations http://www.snapfish.com/snapfish/thu...NAME=snapfish/ Restored Tach tins 8 cyl - 6 cyl http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=518185 Contact info(Not my paypal address) DAWGSFAN227@YAHOO.COM God Bless Our Troops |
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#6 |
Junior Member
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Location: DAYTON
Posts: 505
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Re: Re-Dying Seatbelts
google Rit dye. you can make custom colors by mixing the dyes...
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#7 |
Out of the carpool lane.
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Clark Co, WA
Posts: 5,673
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Re: Re-Dying Seatbelts
The potential problem with Rit dye or anything else is that you don't know what it's doing to the integrity of the belt material. I wouldn't want to find out that it was a bad idea at the last second.
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#8 |
Moderator
![]() Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern Cal
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Re: Re-Dying Seatbelts
Looks like Rit all the way...
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#9 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Alva Florida
Posts: 668
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Re: Re-Dying Seatbelts
well i got my 67 chevy truck seat belts from a guy in TN they where blue and in greart shape i paid $50 for them if any one whats
the # send me a prive message |
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#10 |
Hand Crafted C-10
![]() Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Burien, WA
Posts: 5,180
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Re: Re-Dying Seatbelts
Maybe put a "want to swap" on the parts board; you get blue belts, they get red belts...
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#11 |
"GO DAWGS"
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Batesburg, SC. 29006
Posts: 5,410
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Re: Re-Dying Seatbelts
He is not gonna swap shoulder belts
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70 CST SWB 70 NOVA 93 Indy 500 Pace Truck (SOLD) 94 SILVERADO SWB 5/7 drop 2000 Silverado swb 2005 Nissan Altima 3.5 (Surprisingly very fast) 2004 GMC Yukon XL Denali BATESBURG, SC. 29006 29006 Some of my restorations http://www.snapfish.com/snapfish/thu...NAME=snapfish/ Restored Tach tins 8 cyl - 6 cyl http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=518185 Contact info(Not my paypal address) DAWGSFAN227@YAHOO.COM God Bless Our Troops |
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#12 |
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Re: Re-Dying Seatbelts
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#13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: daytonabeach
Posts: 22,956
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Re: Re-Dying Seatbelts
i'd think to dye those red belts blue you'd first have to try bleaching the red out/then dye them blue// i doubt the dying process would affect the belts but the bleaching process would worry me
if i were to do it i'd search and try and get the correct size and color webbing and transfer the original ends onto it
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#14 | |
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Re: Re-Dying Seatbelts
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#15 |
still buypickupparts
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: charlotte
Posts: 637
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Re: Re-Dying Seatbelts
the strengh of seat belts???? I use the same one for years to lift and install engines all the time, never a fatality. built like a rock CHEVY
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#16 |
Registered User
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Location: Granbury, TEXAS
Posts: 250
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Re: Re-Dying Seatbelts
I needed belts also and my interior was hugger orange. I bought used tan ones. I took them all apart. I bleached the belts numerous times until they were white. I used Rit dye in red and again in orange. I used boiling hot water and did it outside in a bucket. The finished belts and buckle were so clean and shiny that I used a weak bleach solution to fade them slightly. Alot of time but they match the interior. The integrity of the belt is NOT compromised!
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#17 | |
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Re: Re-Dying Seatbelts
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#18 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Loveland Co.
Posts: 3,098
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Re: Re-Dying Seatbelts
You might want to contact Jerry Brown at The Truck Shop, I believe he restores belts in most colors, I remember seeing rolls of seat belt material while I was there.
www.thetruckshop.com The catalog lists the service as $175-225, but I think that's for a full set. Just two shoulder belts should be cheaper???
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Chris 74 Custom Deluxe SWB 350/350/3.73’s 99 2wd Silverado RCSB 5.3/4L60/3.90’s http://www.classictrucks.com/feature...short_bed.html Last edited by powell72; 10-12-2008 at 05:34 PM. |
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#19 | |
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Re: Re-Dying Seatbelts
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#20 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Loveland Co.
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Re: Re-Dying Seatbelts
I totally understand, if it was me I'd be doing the same as you. Always gotta throw out all the options though.
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#21 |
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OK, here is what I have come up with after carefully bleaching, drying, and re-washing with fabric softener. I think they have turned out pretty well. They are slightly yellow at this point (due to the bleach) I am now ready for the final wash with Rit color remover to whiten them up a touch more, and then the actual dyeing process will begin. Note how the color did NOT come out of the rubber boots.
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#22 |
SWB 4X4 CLUB
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PA
Posts: 1,088
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Re: Re-Dying Seatbelts
Very nice post.
I have a few questiuons for you. After bleaching and using the rit color remover are the belts pliable or are they stiff? Were they stiff when you started? Also, did you use the color remover with the hard plastic retractor covers on and the buckle covers on? I am anxious to see how they turn out because I have a set that needs freshened up. Jason |
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#23 |
SWB 4X4 CLUB
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PA
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Re: Re-Dying Seatbelts
You have a PM!
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#24 | |
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Re: Re-Dying Seatbelts
Quote:
They were very pliable when I started, and at this point are just as (if not more) pliable. The fabric softener is responsible for this I am sure. You can see the buckle covers bleached out but the retractor covers did not. DO NOT put the entire buckle assembly in the solution. Disassemble (as 68_chop_top says in his post) the buckles/retactors FIRST. The bleach will wreak HAVOC on pitted chrome, which most of these old belt buckles have to some degree, and freeze up the button/ buckle locking mechanism on the receptacles. You DONT want that. I put ALL the plastic covers in just the rit color remover, per package directions along with the belts and it removed it in a SNAP from the hard plastic buckle covers.... DO NOT bother putting the retractor (floor boots) covers in ANY solution...they will NOT bleach out. |
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#25 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 2,145
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Re: Re-Dying Seatbelts
Wow ...great post. I have to say though, with the value and rarity of those red shoulder belts I would have myself experimented with a common lap belt first, just in case something went wrong. It does look like it will work great. Good work.
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