Name: Noah
Message: Hello, I found your site while searching about dying nylon. I am trying to find out if it is possible to dye red CORDORA fabric to Yellow and if so what dyes should I use? I am trying to find out because I am looking at a red Sparco kart racing suit that is red, I have been trying to find one in yellow but the one I am looking for is now out of production and sold out in the yellow color everywhere I look. I can get basically the same suit in red right now. Can this change in color be accomplished? http://www.kartpro.com/sparco/suits/imolacolors.jpg this picture shows a similar suit in the same shade or red, and it shows the shade of yellow I want. Can this be done or should I wait for a used suit in yellow? The only way I can get a suit in the yellow color as shown from a maker I trust (in racing you must use safety gear you trust) will cost about $250 more than I can get that red suit for. I would appreciate any help regarding my question.

This, unfortunately, is a pretty easy question to answer. No, you can't do it.

Dye is transparent, so every color you dye a garment with is just added on the the colors already in it. If you spend a little time with some watercolor paint, you will see that it is possible to cover up a yellow color with red, either by using red or by using magenta (which combines with the yellow to make red), but there is no way to use transparent color to turn something that is red into yellow.

Cordura is made of nylon and can be dyed with the use of acid dyes (see "About Acid Dyes"). This requires an acid dye, a cooking pot that is large enough for the garment to move freely but which will never be used again for food, and a mild acid such as vinegar. However, if there is any finish on the fabric, such as a water-repellant, stain-resistant, or permanent-press finish, the dye will not be able to reach the fabric evenly, so it cannot be dyed successfully.

It might be possible to discharge the color from a red Cordura suit, using a product called sodium dithionite, also known as sodium hydrosulfite, which is sold under the name Rit Color Remover. However, there is no predicting whether or not it will work. Some dyes cannot be discharged. In addition, I do not think that this treatment would reduce the strength of the nylon, but I can't guarantee it. Nylon absolutely should not ever be subjected to chlorine bleach, which is a more common discharge agent, but which is very damaging to synthetic fibers.

I think you had better pay the higher price for the suit that is already the color that you need. Sorry.


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