Not sure how to dye rubber? This post lists the best methods and tips on how to color rubber at home. Using the right paints, dyes, and techniques, it is surprisingly easy to transform the look of your rubber belongings.
Rubber objects can be difficult to color because the stretchy material can cause regular paint to easily crack and peel off. If you use the wrong dye, paint, or techniques to color rubber, you can end up with a dim, blotchy-looking item.
Not all paints and dyes can adhere onto rubber, so it’s important to select the right product before diving in. Let’s get started!
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How To Dye Rubber
Rubber is a versatile material because of its elasticity and flexibility. It is a popular substance used in shoes, toys, grips on tools, tires, stamps and much more.
This post lists four different methods on how to dye and color rubber. Depending on the type of rubber, item, desired color and results, some techniques and products will work better than others.
Here’s how to color rubber at home!
How To Prepare Rubber For Dyeing And Coloring
Rubber surfaces can get quite dirty and oily. In order to prevent a grainy and rough looking finish, you should clean rubber items before coloring or dyeing them.
When selecting a cleaning agent, avoid using harsh cleaners to clean rubber (like bleach). Some chemicals can cause adverse reactions to rubber and cause irreversible damage to your precious items.
For best results, I recommend cleaning rubber with a gentle dish soap. It’s super easy to do!
How To Clean Rubber With Dish Soap
- Using your fingertips, rub a small amount of dish soap over the entire rubber surface.
- Run water over the rubber item to wash off any loosen dirt and excess soap. Dry with a towel.
- Repeat steps 1 to 2 until the rubber surface is completely clean. You can also use a toothbrush to help remove hard to reach dirt inside small nooks.
Now that you’ve prepared the rubber item for coloring, here are the best products and methods to dye and color rubber!
Best Products To Dye Or Color Rubber
1. Fabric Dye Or All Purpose Dye
Looking for tips on how to dye rubber? Rubber is a natural material that can be dyed with regular fabric dye or all-purpose dye. Fabric and all-purpose dyes are great to use on rubber items because they color objects without reducing the rubber’s elasticity.
Best of all, fabric dyes are inexpensive, are conveniently found in most craft stores, and can permanently color rubber. The process is time consuming but the end result is worth the wait!
Looking for a vibrant dye to color rubber? I highly recommend using this All Purpose Liquid Dye from Rit Dye. This is an excellent dye intended for fabric items, but also works decently well on rubber items.
Before you start, you will need to make sure that your rubber object is clean and dry. You don’t want any dirt or oils on the surface of the rubber because it will affect the color of the end product.
Fabric dye works the best on light colored rubber objects (ideally white). You can use fabric or all purpose dyes to dye most items like rubber boots, rubber bands, and rubber stamps. If you need to color a specific part of an item (like rubber soles), make sure the waterline of your container only reaches up to area you want to dye.
How To Dye Rubber With All Purpose Liquid Dye
- Clean and dry your rubber object. Fill a stainless steel pot with water and heat on stovetop to around 200ºF (make sure the waterline is high enough to cover the entire object or desired area).
- When the water is simmering, add the proper ratio of the dye into the pot (check the manufacture’s recommended ratio).
- Turn off the heat and submerge your rubber object into the dye mixture. Cover the pot with a lid.
- Allow the rubber object to soak for at least an hour. Leave the object in the dye mixture until it has reached the desired color.
- If you are satisfied with the color, remove the rubber item with tongs and rinse off the excess dye with warm water. If you are happy with the outcome, allow the object to dry completely before touching it with your hands. If needed, you can soak the object longer for a more vibrant color.
2. Acrylic Paint Markers
Here’s a tip on how to color rubber: use acrylic paint markers. Acrylic paint markers are a great way to color rubber because they can be used on both dark and light rubber surfaces. They are an excellent alternative to dyes!
It’s super easy to color rubber with acrylic paint markers: just paint the rubber with the markers and let it dry. The convenient pen tip allows you to easily add colors and intricate designs to your rubber items. These types of markers work great on rubber products because the ink will not change the texture or stretchiness of rubber.
You can find these special pens at any art supply store and they come in a variety of colors. If you are looking for high quality paint pens to color rubber surfaces, I high recommend checking out these affordable Acrylic Paint Markers from Artistro.
Best of all, you can use these acrylic paint markers on outdoor rubber objects. I recommend using a sealant like Mod Podge ensure the paint does not come off or fade.
Acrylic paint markers are a great way to add some color and creativity to your rubber items! Try using acrylic paint markers to decorate rubber grips on tools, rubber boots, rubber bands, or rubber stamps. These are excellent markers to draw on the rubber soles of converse shoes and boots.
How To Color Rubber With Acrylic Paint Markers
- After cleaning and drying your rubber object, cover the surface under your object with newspapers.
- Like using regular markers, paint and color rubber surfaces with your acrylic paint markers. Allow the ink to dry completely before applying a new acrylic ink color or handling.
3. Plasti-Dip
Plasti-Dip is a durable rubber coating that can be applied to almost anything. It is a popular colorant to transform the look of your belongings while providing a non-slip, insulating coating. You can find Plasti-Dip in multiple vibrant colors like blue, red, green, silver, copper, purple, and much more.
Plasti-Dip can be painted on a variety of materials like stainless steel, rubber, metal, rope, brick, and glass. As a bonus, this defensive rubber layer adds durability and protection to your belongings.
The stretchy rubber coating is flexible, making it an ideal product to paint on rubber items. This amazing elastic paint won’t crack or chip. This is a great paint to use on frequently used outdoor rubber items like rubber boots and grips on tools.
Plasti-Dip can be applied on anything from the rubber soles on converses to rubber bands. If you are looking for a professional-looking finish that won’t alter the elasticity of rubber, I highly recommend using Plasti-Dip to color your items. Here’s how to “dye” rubber with Plasti-Dip.
How To Color Rubber With Plasti-Dip
- Before applying Plasti-Dip, make sure rubber objects are clean and completely dry. Place newspapers under your object to prevent any spills.
- There are several ways you can color rubber with Plasti-Dip.
- If you are using Plastic-Dip in a spray can container, simply spray and coat your rubber object like regular spray paint. Make sure to shake the can for a minute before using.
- Not using Plastic-Dip in a spray can? To prep, stir the paint before using. Apply the rubber coating on your object with a paint brush. You could also dip rubber objects into the paint for a smoother finish.
4. Acrylic Paint
Acrylic paints are a great alternative to dyeing rubber with fabric dyes. They provide a vibrant color, work on dark surfaces, and are easy to apply. Acrylic paints are a cheap and easy way to transform the look of your rubber objects.
If you are looking for an inexpensive set of paints to color rubber, I recommend checking out this 18 Acrylic Paint pack from Apple Barrel. This quality paint set comes with a beautiful selection of vibrant colors at a great price.
Since rubber objects are stretchy, acrylic paint tends to crack and peel off of them. For this reason, I recommend only using acrylic paint for indoor and infrequently used rubber items. For outdoor rubber items exposed to weather (like rubber soles on Converse shoes and rubber grips), seal the paint with Mod Podge to protect it from peeling and fading.
Coloring rubber with acrylic paint is quite easy. Rubber can be colored by dipping it in the paint or with a paint brush. Here’s how to color rubber with acrylic paint.
How To Color Rubber With Acrylic Paint
- Clean and dry your rubber object. Place newspapers under your object to protect surfaces.
- Apply acrylic paint over your rubber object using a paint brush. Allow the paint to dry completely before applying a new color or handling.
- After coloring, seal the acrylic paint with Mod Podge to protect it from cracking.
Summarized: Best Products To Dye And Color Rubber
This post lists several tips on how to dye rubber, as well as, rubber dye alternatives. Here are all the top products from this post in one convenient list:
- Best Rubber Dye: Rit Dye All Purpose Liquid Dye
- Best Paint Pens For Rubber: Artistro Acrylic Paint Markers
- Best Product For Professional Use: Plasti-Dip
- Best Budget Acrylic Paint Set: Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint Set
Conclusion
In this post, I’ve listed several ideas on how to color rubber. Dyeing and coloring rubber is a fun and creative way to custom items at home or work. Rubber is a super versatile material used in many items like footwear, tires, gloves, and stamps.
Due to its flexible surface, rubber can be difficult to color and dye. Not all paints and dyes will stick onto rubber, so it’s important to purchase the correct product before starting.
I hope this post gave you some helpful tips on how to dye rubber. If you plan to color rubber for professional use like automative purposes, I highly recommend using Plasti-Dip.
Good luck!
