seatbelt dye ????
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 318
Likes: 0
From: Morrisdale Pa
seatbelt dye ????
I currently have a pair of shoulder harness seatbelts that are dark brown in color and I need to make them a medium saddle color. Has anyone ever tried to change the color of their seatbelts? did it work? what did you use. I've heard Sem is a good product for dye but not sure if it will due what I need. :confused: :flag
Slide
Slide
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,183
Likes: 2
From: Des Moines Iowa
Re: seatbelt dye ???? (slide)
Before you go out and dye your seat belts, be absolutely sure you are using a process and a product labled safe for such a purpose. I do remember reading a few years ago about the fact that some material dye processes, will severly weaken the seat belt material and may result in seat belt failure when you need them the most. Just something to double check before you begin the dyeing process...........I'd rather have safe non-matching seat belts, than color coordinated, belts which come apart in an accident.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: Whispering Pines NC
Re: seatbelt dye ???? (slide)
Slide, before you do that, I may have what you need. I have a set of light tan seatbelts out of a 1976 and I need the dark brown colors!!! Maybe we can work out a swap. I have a complete set.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
Likes: 717
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
Re: seatbelt dye ???? (MikeT)
I've re-dyed several dozen sets of various seat belts. The secret is to strip the old dye before re-dyeing with the new color. Both RIT and Tintex make dyes safe for nylon. They both also make a corresponding dye stripper. Follow the directions...the belts with the old dye removed will be a beige/ecru color...not pure white. You can then re-dye them. Trying to do a color change over old dye will not work. I suppose you could do the belts with the buckles and labels still attached, but I prefer to remove the stitching and remove all the buckles and labels. After your dyeing process, the belts can be re-sewn by an upholstery shop. You cannot use your regular sewing machine...not heavy duty enough. Hope this helps. Chuck
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,183
Likes: 2
From: Des Moines Iowa
Re: seatbelt dye ???? (Chuck Gongloff)
Good suggestions and information. I'd also suggest that you first check with uphostry shops in your area to verify that they will work on seat belts. Many around here will NOT touch seat belts, because they say their insurance carrier told them not to work on them, due to potentially huge liability issues if a belt they'd worked on came apart in a subsequent auto accident.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
Likes: 717
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
Re: seatbelt dye ???? (john's '81 mouse)
John's 100% correct. Many upholstery shops won't touch them. I will go one step further and say that I think it's against federal law to re-sew/repair seat belts. That being said, several shops around here will do it..."off the books" for RESTORATION purposes only. If you brought your 1999 Malibu in with a torn belt, they would not touch it. Ask around. Chuck
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