I picked up a pair of NOS Head Raptor B2 RD boots for cheap. These are true race plug 150 flex shells and the plastic is quite thick. I don't know what color you would call them, but they aren't white; maybe more of a translucent "ivory".
So I didn't love the color. What to do? Maybe you can dye ski boot shells?
I researched what is takes to dye plastic after it's already molded and cured. I found info on dyeing lots of types of plastics and other materials, but very little on dyeing polyurethane (PU). There are paintball people who dye their guns and armor. And frisbee players who dye their discs. But very little about anyone specifically dyeing PU. I did find a few old threads on the newschoolers forum about dyeing your ski boot shells, but they were using the original Rit dyes for fabrics. Rit now has a line of dyes called "DyeMore" specifically for synthetic materials, but even the Rit docs said nothing about PU plastic.
But I figured, WTH, I'll go for it. However, I feared that the color might not be "infused" well into the plastic shells completely, so I decided to go with a color that would look fine no matter what shade it ended up being. I was also unsure of how the base ivory color would "mix" with the color chosen. So I selected the Rit DyeMore Graphite color, fearing that if a chose a blue or red it might end up being more of a pastel color and I didn't want that.
Next step was to take apart the boots. Being plugs, everything on these shells comes off. So I removed everything, just leaving the bare plastic bottom clogs and the upper cuffs. Here's a pic of what the shell looked like before I started:
I followed Rit's directions for DyeMore and used the stove top method. I used 2 full bottles of dye in a very large pot that could fit one bottom clog and one top cuff. In retrospect you probably could get away with using a large tub or bucket if you don't have a pot large enough for your shells, but the directions state that you really want to do this in a pot and keep the heat on the items the whole time you're dyeing them. Luckily we have a large pot that I usually only use to steam crab legs on Christmas eve (don't tell my wife
). I used my infrared thermometer to make sure I got the water to 200* F and added the dye.
I decided that I didn't want the shell pieces to come in direct contact with the pot bottom and sides. So I wrapped the pieces in old towels and figured I could still stir the dye liquid enough to ensure the color would be even. Once the water hit the right temp, I placed the shell pieces in the pot and kept the heat on for about 10 minutes, simmering the shells in the dye. I then turned off the heat and left the pieces in the dye bath for 30 minutes. Time to remove the pieces…
And then my jaw hit the floor.
I couldn't believe how well the PU plastic absorbed the dye. The shells are now as black as midnight. I didn't expect the DyeMore graphite to produce midnight black. Rit doesn't even have a DyeMore black dye, but they do have a "formula" to achieve a black color by mixing Graphite, Blue, and Red together. So I was quite surprised that the Graphite dye alone achieved this level of penetration into the shells and such a dark color. There isn't even a hint of the old color anywhere on the shells (even the thick soles). They honestly look like a stock shiny black shell.
After removing the shell parts from the pot, I rinsed the pieces in cold water while holding the flaps in their correct positions. The hot water had straightened out the upper cuff flaps quite a bit. Once the shell pieces were cool and clean, it was time to put them back together. That was easier said than done. The boots were much easier to take apart than get back together, but I got the job done in the end.
So now I have a pair of B2 RD shells in the "Stealth Edition". They're kind of the polar opposite of the current Head "Stormtrooper" white boots. Here's a shot of one of the boots on our black granite counter top:
And another in its more "natural" environment (yeah, we got some snow in CO!):
Next step is to cant and plate them so I can get them out for their maiden run. Luckily my feet drop straight into these shells without need for modifications (other than flattening and lowering the bootboards to get my feet in a good position in the shells).
Knowing what I know now, about how well the Rit DyeMore works on PU-based shells, I might have gone with a different color, or done something a bit more interesting, like dye the cuffs and bottom clogs different colors. Oh well, maybe I'll find another set of shells super cheap. I also wonder how well the current Head boots that are opaque white might take the Rit DyeMore dye…
So I didn't love the color. What to do? Maybe you can dye ski boot shells?
I researched what is takes to dye plastic after it's already molded and cured. I found info on dyeing lots of types of plastics and other materials, but very little on dyeing polyurethane (PU). There are paintball people who dye their guns and armor. And frisbee players who dye their discs. But very little about anyone specifically dyeing PU. I did find a few old threads on the newschoolers forum about dyeing your ski boot shells, but they were using the original Rit dyes for fabrics. Rit now has a line of dyes called "DyeMore" specifically for synthetic materials, but even the Rit docs said nothing about PU plastic.
But I figured, WTH, I'll go for it. However, I feared that the color might not be "infused" well into the plastic shells completely, so I decided to go with a color that would look fine no matter what shade it ended up being. I was also unsure of how the base ivory color would "mix" with the color chosen. So I selected the Rit DyeMore Graphite color, fearing that if a chose a blue or red it might end up being more of a pastel color and I didn't want that.
Next step was to take apart the boots. Being plugs, everything on these shells comes off. So I removed everything, just leaving the bare plastic bottom clogs and the upper cuffs. Here's a pic of what the shell looked like before I started:
I followed Rit's directions for DyeMore and used the stove top method. I used 2 full bottles of dye in a very large pot that could fit one bottom clog and one top cuff. In retrospect you probably could get away with using a large tub or bucket if you don't have a pot large enough for your shells, but the directions state that you really want to do this in a pot and keep the heat on the items the whole time you're dyeing them. Luckily we have a large pot that I usually only use to steam crab legs on Christmas eve (don't tell my wife
). I used my infrared thermometer to make sure I got the water to 200* F and added the dye.I decided that I didn't want the shell pieces to come in direct contact with the pot bottom and sides. So I wrapped the pieces in old towels and figured I could still stir the dye liquid enough to ensure the color would be even. Once the water hit the right temp, I placed the shell pieces in the pot and kept the heat on for about 10 minutes, simmering the shells in the dye. I then turned off the heat and left the pieces in the dye bath for 30 minutes. Time to remove the pieces…
And then my jaw hit the floor.
I couldn't believe how well the PU plastic absorbed the dye. The shells are now as black as midnight. I didn't expect the DyeMore graphite to produce midnight black. Rit doesn't even have a DyeMore black dye, but they do have a "formula" to achieve a black color by mixing Graphite, Blue, and Red together. So I was quite surprised that the Graphite dye alone achieved this level of penetration into the shells and such a dark color. There isn't even a hint of the old color anywhere on the shells (even the thick soles). They honestly look like a stock shiny black shell.
After removing the shell parts from the pot, I rinsed the pieces in cold water while holding the flaps in their correct positions. The hot water had straightened out the upper cuff flaps quite a bit. Once the shell pieces were cool and clean, it was time to put them back together. That was easier said than done. The boots were much easier to take apart than get back together, but I got the job done in the end.
So now I have a pair of B2 RD shells in the "Stealth Edition". They're kind of the polar opposite of the current Head "Stormtrooper" white boots. Here's a shot of one of the boots on our black granite counter top:
And another in its more "natural" environment (yeah, we got some snow in CO!):
Next step is to cant and plate them so I can get them out for their maiden run. Luckily my feet drop straight into these shells without need for modifications (other than flattening and lowering the bootboards to get my feet in a good position in the shells).
Knowing what I know now, about how well the Rit DyeMore works on PU-based shells, I might have gone with a different color, or done something a bit more interesting, like dye the cuffs and bottom clogs different colors. Oh well, maybe I'll find another set of shells super cheap. I also wonder how well the current Head boots that are opaque white might take the Rit DyeMore dye…
