The Armour Archive

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if anyone had any advice on dyeing a GDFB Deluxe Arming Jack? (Picture found here.)

Should I use RIT dye or something else? I was hoping for a medium blue color. Any thoughts?

RIT, and a tub. Drying will take quite a long time, so best try for a dry wind blowing. How available are such winds around Ft. Leavenworth? If it was Ft. Carson CO, no question -- but you're down at lower altitudes.

And once dyed, you'll likely need next to launder it again anyway, to lose excess dye that did not bind. Otherwise, it will liberally color either you or whatever you were wearing under it. If that was a uniform tee, you'd be pissed.

The wind here recently has been pretty good I should say so out back it is! And thank you so much for the advice about washing it again, I'm sure my Frist Sergeant might have something to say if I showed up to PT colored blue!

RIT does not dye linen or wool well; it may work if the shell is cotton.

My sister recently did a bunch of t-shirts using "iDye" packets. (available from JoAnn fabrics and Dharma Trading) The colors have been holding very fast. I've noticed some mixed reviews, but the majority (8 of 10) of users appear to like the iDye very much. You'd need several packets for something as thick/heavy as a gambeson, but it should work in theory. They also have a poly affecting version of the dye.
I noticed, a quantity of the negative comments about the dye not working appear to be with regards to using it on silk (protein) and poly fabrics. I would be very leary of using this "instant" type of dye on silk or wool, since treatments that work on plant fiber usually have the opposite effect on animal protein.
YMMV and NFI on my part.
-Cian

Hmm, well I will do a little more research into it and then pick the appropriate dye. Would you all be interested in pictures of the results?

If you are looking for something to make it blue, and it is any sort of natural fiber, you may want to check out the dharma trading company. They have cloth dyes in every color and all the tools you would need, and with a bit of urea, you can rinse it and then wash it and not have to have it take such a loooong time to set and dry. Just my bit.