Which Dye is Best 2: Rit DyeMore and iDye Poly with Intensifier

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Which Dye is Best 2: Rit DyeMore and iDye Poly with Intensifier [Image Heavy!]

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Test 1 : ProChem Disperse Dye
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ProChem's smallest quantities are rather more than I wanted to purchase for testing, so I ended up buying a sample kit that included 5 colors in mini-jars, the chemical carrier, a small vial of synthrapol (used to clean fabric for dyeing), and a set of written instructions. I didn't bother with the synthrapol or carrier (here), but did add the white vinegar to the dyebath that the instructions requested. There was no pink, so I used a dilution of the red dye (it ended up being half the tiny bottle).

15sec: 30sec:

1min: 2min:

5min:



Results: Performed as admirably as a disperse dye should. The dyebath was much more true-to-color than iDye Poly, though it did appear that the ProChem dye didn't take *quite* as quickly. The striations in the piece are from my sanding (150 is a large grit, and i didn't bother to sand up to anything smoother), and largely evened out by the end. I don't notice them from a distance on the finished piece.

 

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Test 2: RIT DyeMore
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I bought "Super Pink" color, figuring that would be closest to the colors I already had. Rit does not come with a chemical carrier, and does not have one available for purchase separately as far as I know.


15sec: 30sec:

1min: 2min:

5min:


Results: Virtually indistinguishable from iDye Poly. The dyebath looked decidedly purple (as opposed to the sort of scary dark color of the iDye), but really, that's the only difference. Seriously.




iDye Poly test on the left, with the sharpie circles. DyeMore is the unmarked one on the right.

 

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Test 3 ProChem Disperse -- with Carrier --
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I wanted to see what kind of difference the carrier made. I used the other half of the red dye, and the vinegar as required.





15sec: 30sec:

1min: 2min:

5min:




Results: The dye was noticeably darker by the end. However, the chemical carrier has a POWERFUL odor and is extremely concentrated. I used a little less than a third of a capful (*maybe* a scant quarter teaspoon, or less). It's not necessarily a strong, or immediately offensive smell, but it is definitely a dangerous chemical one. I had my overhead fan on, the windows open, and my very large air filter running, and I still got a headache just in the 5 minutes I had it on the heat.

 

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Test 4: iDye Poly -- with Carrier --
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iDye Poly's carrier came in a little packet. I snipped off a corner and used maybe a third of it. I used 3 tablespoons of my liquid concentrate, as that's about what I used on the first test (and I still have probably enough dye for one more pot this intensity. Make concentrates! Save money! ).

15sec: 30sec:

1min: 2min:

5min:



Results: A noticeably darker color, like the ProChem with carrier. I need to get better pictures, but the with-carrier piece is more of a burgundy/eggplant as opposed to the purple-side-of-electric-magenta that the other pieces are.

The same here for odor, iDye's carrier is POWERFULLY SMELLY. I had a headache within minutes. The odor is hard to get rid of in the air, as well. As far as I could tell, the resin did not pick up any of the carrier smell, though in both cases, iDye and ProChem, the carrier seemed to increase the hot-resin smell from the piece in the pot. Not a good thing, really.

 

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Takeaways So Far
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iDye Poly without carrier == RIT DyeMore: I'd have a seriously hard time telling the difference between these two pieces if I hadn't already drawn all over the iDye Poly piece. Use whichever dye brand you feel like. iirc, DyeMore is a dollar or two more expensive in my area, but on the other hand, it is in more physical locations than iDye. Personally, I like iDye's color names better.






The carrier is insurance for dark colors: If you really, *REALLY* want something as dark as dark can be, use the carrier. If you have trouble with the disperse dyes alone, try adding the carrier. It's not going to hurt, and that's what the dyes are designed best for, after all. You might want to wear your organic gasses/spraying MSC mask when you do it, however. Otherwise, LEAVE THE CARRIER THE HECK ALONE. Seriously. RIT doesn't even come with one (and I didn't get sick from using it, so i don't believe it's in the liquid already). The carrier's not worth it for regular light and medium (or maybe even some dark!) dyeing.

 

Removal Tests

[EDIT 1/25/16] Fixed various formatting issues related to the forum migration

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Depth of Dye Penetration
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Same as the first test, all dyes used here showed no penetration, even the ones with the carrier. Surface treatments only.






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Removal Table
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(Descriptions of tools in part 1. Based on their poor performances in part 1, i decided to forgo the Turpenoid products here)

• ProChem
  • Sandpaper (150): Complete removal with light sanding
    
  • Magic Eraser: Light color transfer to sponge, almost no color change on resin
    
  • 100% acetone: moderate color transfer, moderate lightening effect
    
  • 91% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol:slight color transfer, no discernible color change on resin
    
  • Dish Soap + Water: no change

• Prochem with Carrier
  • Sandpaper (150): Complete removal with light sanding
  • Magic Eraser: Light color transfer to sponge, almost no color change on resin
    
  • 100% acetone: moderate color transfer, small lightening effect
    
  • 91% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol:very slight color transfer, no discernible color change on resin
    
  • Dish Soap + Water: no change

• RIT Dyemore
  • Sandpaper (150): Complete removal with light sanding
    
  • Magic Eraser: Light color transfer to sponge, small lightening effect on resin, small smoothing effect
    
  • 100% acetone: moderate/heavy color transfer moderate/large lightening effect
    
  • 91% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol:light color transfer, slight color change on resin
    
  • Dish Soap + Water: no change

• iDye with Carrier
  • Sandpaper (150): Complete removal with light sanding
    
  • Magic Eraser: Light color transfer to sponge, almost no color change, slight evening of darkest areas
  • 100% acetone: moderate/heavy color transfer, moderate lightening effect
  • 91% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol:no visible effect
    
  • Dish Soap + Water: no change

Other Notes:

The carrier is insurance for frequent washings -- The carriers seemed to help the dyes resist the effects of the solvents, so, I guess, if you wanted to make sure you could scrub your unsealed pieces repeatedly with harsh chemicals without losing much color, consider using a carrier. I'm still not sure this makes carrier chemicals worth putting up with their fumes, though. The only other time I'd recommend using a carrier is when attempting to get the deepest black or brown possible.

RIT DyeMore == iDye Poly without carrier -- I was stretching a bit to find differences between the two. DyeMore might respond a bit better to acetone, and iDye Poly might have had a bit more removal/smoothing with the magic eraser. I saw more difference between the ProChem pieces and the iDYe Poly/DyeMore pieces than I did between iDye Poly and DyeMore, but really, all 3 are the same class of dyes, so they all did basically the same things.

[EDIT 8/19/15] Here are the Material Safety Data Sheets for the two carriers: iDye Poly Color Intensifier ProChem Chemical Carrier They are not as officially toxic as I initially thought, just irritants, mostly, but respirators are recommended if there's isn't adequate ventilation. I have a history of strong reactions to things like this, so take my statements above regarding them with a bit of salt. Or maybe a face mask.

 

And there's removal info up. Going to have to clean a lot of the current pieces back to white before I can do the temp tests