coloring PLA prints with dye

[jbeale 0]

I have heard that not everything can color PLA filament well, but just FYI the first thing I tried worked OK: metal layout dye. I didn't use paint, because I didn't want to increase the diameter of the part. I tried it on an 8 mm shaft I printed and the fit remains the same, so I think the dimension did not change more than 0.1 mm anyway.

This fluid comes in only a few colors, most frequently blue or red. I tried some blue on the light-blue PLA that came with my UM2. It turned it a nice dark blue-purple. The color was not entirely even since I brushed it on, but that might be improved with some more care.

Be aware the smell is somewhat annoying, although not awful. The label says it contains Ethanol, Butyl Acetate, Isopropanol, Nitrocellulose, 1-Butanol, Propyl Acetate and to use with adequate ventilation.

The exact product I used was Dykem 80300 BLUE from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0018ACR6G/

and they also have it in red color.

Another brand is Beechem who have blue, red, green, black, purple, yellow and orange. http://www.shelbygemfactory.com/KelleyBeechem-Labs_ep_34-1.html