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#26 |
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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#27 |
SWB 4X4 CLUB
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PA
Posts: 1,088
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Re: Re-Dying Seatbelts
You have a PM!
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#28 |
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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#29 | |
Moderator
![]() Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern Cal
Posts: 20,006
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Re: Re-Dying Seatbelts
Quote:
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#30 | |
Moderator
![]() Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern Cal
Posts: 20,006
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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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#31 |
Moderator
![]() Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern Cal
Posts: 20,006
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Re: Re-Dying Seatbelts
Here is the first of my test belts. It turned out pretty bright...I am going to try and bleach it down a little bit to soften the color. I do like the color...my truck is dark blue, and this blue is VERY dark and actually looks pretty good in my opinion. The belt is very soft and supple, feels and looks new, with NO stiffness. I used the liquid dye, and the stovetop method, per the directions. Bleaching them white prior to dyeing no doubt allowed the full bonding of the color. I have washed them several times by hand in a bucket, using regular laundry detergent, and have NO bleeding out of the color.
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#32 |
Moderator
![]() Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern Cal
Posts: 20,006
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Re: Re-Dying Seatbelts
My next Dye will be a lighter shade called "Evening Blue 27" The darker shade above was "Royal Blue 29" I am seeking to duplicate the factory color of blue, and in the next experiment, I will use less of the Dye concentrate and keep close watch of the shade it takes on.
After that, I have come across some custom color charts that require mixing and blending of different shades of dye, and some of them look EXACTLY like factory colors (not just blue) in just about every shade. I will experiment with those and see what I come up with... |
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#33 |
LET'S GO...MOUNTAINEERS
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Williamstown, WV
Posts: 339
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Re: Re-Dying Seatbelts
Sounds great. Going to try the blue to black.
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