Do It Yourself: Different color PMAGs and other polymer/plastic items

[danpass]

So I decided to chase an orange PMAG. Figured I would do it myself since they are not available and individuals who are selling want a steep premium.

Ingredients:

• Rit Dye (Walmart bleach section [not crafts section], shoe shine area from my local Winn Dixie grocery store are the places I've found Rit Dye.)

• FDE PMAG

Lessons learned:

• Both amount of dye and amount of time factor into the color change so try to do everything at the same time.
  I did one PMAG first and then the other the next day and was really, really, really close in a color match. I ended up leaving it in the solution about 30 seconds longer than I should have.
  If you end up doing more later on, dip in increments until you get the match.

• Bring water to a near boil instead of an actual boil.
  My first PMAG tests were in boiling water and while there doesn't appear to be any actual function issues I figured it would be best not to push it lol.

• FDE is the best host color to get the color you're looking for. Yellow rit dye on foliage green simply resulted in a darker, puke green.

• Add dye to the water until you are just slightly darker than the color you're after. By this I mean adding like the tip of a tablespoon until you're close to your color choice. If you go overboard dump out half the solution and add plain water.
  The brick red PMAG is a result of adding the whole sunshine orange packet to 6 cups of water lol. The lighter, more orange PMAG was the second attempt using that little tip.

• Use stainless steel pots and tongs for easy cleanup.

• Use the liquid dye (instead of powder). Only because it's easier to store and less potential for mess.

Camera color balanced off an 18% gray card.

[rob_s]

Any way of knowing if it's actually dying the material or just sticking to it like paint?

I might give that a try, think I still have some tan Pmags around here.

[danpass]

Any way of knowing if it's actually dying the material or just sticking to it like paint?

I might give that a try, think I still have some tan Pmags around here.

It's a surface treatment (the way parkerizing is I suppose).

I had thought of taking a sliver off with a razor, thanks for the reminder.


When you pull out the components it says to gradually rinse with cooler and cooler water but I believe that's in reference to the process when dying fabrics.


I simply pulled out the plastic parts and rinsed them off, nothing 'washed' off.

[danpass]

Any way of knowing if it's actually dying the material or just sticking to it like paint?

I might give that a try, think I still have some tan Pmags around here.

Ok, got some pics.

It is just penetrating into the material. Just to clarify some heat is needed to help penetration.

[glockeyed]

excellent photos!

and it looks as it penetrates pretty good too!

[Heavy Metal]

I am going to dye some FDE mags Brown.

[danpass]

I am going to dye some FDE mags Brown.

add dye until your solution is the same color you want.

it should end up being a little lighter than you're after.

this way you're leaving yourself the option of going darker.

[Evil Colt 6920]

excellent photos!

and it looks as it penetrates pretty good too!

I agree. That looks like it would hold up better than paint. Good penetration

[Blowby]

I guess you're screwed if all your Pmag's are black.

[danpass]

I guess you're screwed if all your Pmag's are black.

Good excuse to get some FDE


I only had two FDE (that are now brick red lol) and ordered up four more mags (FDEx2 and FGx2) just for this.