how to colour sails !

[BobGiles]

i could do with some help...

i have two oldish sails...not uv damaged just a few rust marks...

i have been told that you can bleech the sails to get them looking clean but.....i would like to dye them..

any ideas?

bob /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Das_Boot]

If they are synthetic it is bloody difficult. I once tried a dodger and ended up with a blodgy faded thing that I could see jesus's face in. I had to throw it in the bin.

 

[BobGiles]

thats the kind of answer i was looking at getting.
there is however, a way of doing it.....i am told.
but you would have to work in a sail loft to find out.

the only tip i have had so far is that a sail loft will bleech your sail for you....!!!!!!!!!!!! i wonder if they would telll me.......I THINK NOT

 

[RickMoss]

<thread hijack>

Shoulda put it onto ebay. A piece of toast with the same image went for £13000 recently.

</thread hijack>

 

[Das_Boot]

We went out of our way to identify the exact make up of the cloth and then bought the dye from a specialist on the net and followed the instructions to the letter. I believe that polyester is virtualy impossible to dye. The dying is done in the manufacturing process before it is woven. My fanily owned one of the biggest dying companys in the North not that that qualifys me to give advice just thought it might be of interest. It is apparantly a black art.

 

[Das_Boot]

Sorry Yes you can bleach anything. I was about to bleach the mooring lines we have just washed my wife stoped me just in time she says that it will undermine their strength.

 

[BobGiles]

yes i beleive that bleach can damage the stitching.....but sail lofts bleach sails to clean them...........................wonder if they use napisan..