Coloring stems
Coloring stems
I have this pipe I made with the acrylic stem I bought and it's almost a good color, but as you can see it needs some help. I tried the alcohol dyes I use on the briar, but they don't work, just buffs off. Is their some way I can smooth the colors out or re-color it....the coloring is inside and can't be sanded away.
http://s1320.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... 7782038567
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- PremalChheda
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Re: Coloring stems
To my knowledge, Acrylic is not porous and cannot be colored. It is just going to come off eventually with friction or solvents.
Premal Chheda
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http://www.chhedapipes.com - Just for fun
http://www.smokershaven.com - New & Estate Pipes
http://www.rawkrafted.com - Pipe Making Tools, Materials, & Supplies
Re: Coloring stems
Yeah...I figured I'd just be stuck with that, or buy a new one. (Tried making one, but found that out of my league for now! heehee!)
Thanks,
Duane
Thanks,
Duane
Re: Coloring stems
Hold on, I'm about to talk out my ass about plastics.
I'm not really sure if those acrylic mouthpieces are really acrylic, or what plastic they are. But, you can heat and bend them, so they are thermoplastics. So I think those guys have strong primary bonds and weak secondary bonds or something like that... which means they can be colored when they're heated up. Maybe try a google search for coloring thermoplastics while pliable or something like that. Might not help you color a stem you've already formed though, I'm not sure how hot you need to get it.
I'm not really sure if those acrylic mouthpieces are really acrylic, or what plastic they are. But, you can heat and bend them, so they are thermoplastics. So I think those guys have strong primary bonds and weak secondary bonds or something like that... which means they can be colored when they're heated up. Maybe try a google search for coloring thermoplastics while pliable or something like that. Might not help you color a stem you've already formed though, I'm not sure how hot you need to get it.
Hello, I'm #1312.
That's a really big number.
That's a really big number.
Re: Coloring stems
Thanks!
I'll give that some research and see what I can find out...and...if I'm successful, I'll post my results...if not, heehee, I'll buy another stem, which is what I was thinking I'd have to do anyway!
Duane
I'll give that some research and see what I can find out...and...if I'm successful, I'll post my results...if not, heehee, I'll buy another stem, which is what I was thinking I'd have to do anyway!
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Duane
Re: Coloring stems
I'm pretty sure they can be colored when they're melted, as that's how they're colored in the first place.
And Duane, please stop with the "heehee". It's driving me crazy.
Rad
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
And Duane, please stop with the "heehee". It's driving me crazy.
![Twisted Evil :twisted:](./images/smilies/icon_twisted.gif)
Rad
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Re: Coloring stems
Rad- you already ARE crazy.RadDavis wrote: And Duane, please stop with the "heehee". It's driving me crazy.![]()
Rad
Re: Coloring stems
OK Rad...hehehe! (Is that better then..heehee?!?!)RadDavis wrote:I'm pretty sure they can be colored when they're melted, as that's how they're colored in the first place.![]()
And Duane, please stop with the "heehee". It's driving me crazy.![]()
Rad
I found out that alcohol boils at 78.27 to 78.40 degrees C. (depending on the type of alcohol) and that converts to 172.922 degrees F. So, I'm going to mix up a bunch of dye colors, to my liking, as to what I'm going to want the color to look like and then throw the stem into that vat at about 170 degrees F. And from past experiences in the house, I have to do this outside in my gas Bar-B-Que, which has a thermometer on it....that I'm sure it is good to plus or minus 50 degrees or so...hehehe!...and then I'll walk away for a while and see what happens.
The worst that can happen is that I destroy the stem and my Bar-B-Que-ed ribs taste a bit funny for a while, but all that can be adjusted for by increasing the quantity of beer consumed before cooking next time. I'll get back with you on the outcome!
Duane
Re: Coloring stems
OK...No more "heehees", just remember I'm just a joke! ______!RadDavis wrote:I'm pretty sure they can be colored when they're melted, as that's how they're colored in the first place.![]()
And Duane, please stop with the "heehee". It's driving me crazy.![]()
Rad
The Bar-B-Que didn't work and putting it in front of a hair drier then cooling it in the dye did put a slight tint on it, but not enough to make it worth the effort. So, much for that.......
Duane
Re: Coloring stems
I don't think thermoplastics need to be completely melted into a liquid state to color them because most of their properties can be changed when their secondary bonds are broken but their primary bonds are still intact. For example when you heat and bend you don't have it in a liquid state.RadDavis wrote:I'm pretty sure they can be colored when they're melted, as that's how they're colored in the first place.![]()
And Duane, please stop with the "heehee". It's driving me crazy.![]()
Rad
Hello, I'm #1312.
That's a really big number.
That's a really big number.
Re: Coloring stems
I know nothing of bondage. Not that there's anything wrong with it, I'm just not into that.
Rad
Rad