[DSM]

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=17&t=484089&page=1

Here's the parent thread on dyeing the polymer with ordinary RIT dye you can get from Wal-Mart. I posted this elsewhere but if you use liquid Tan dye you can make a very close approximation to the ACR coyote.

 

[ACRTOME]

thanks for posting this DSM! on my way to Walmart today! just what I have been looking ,for will be interesting to see which workd better -dye, -or duracoat when it comes to matching federal standard color 30118 AKA coyote brown

 

[DSM]

I used an old cheap pot. Maybe a touch more than a gallon of water. A dozen or so capfuls of the dye (make sure to shake it up well!).
Heated the water but didn't let it get to a boil then let it cool for a few minutes.
Placed a cheap wire mesh strainer in the pot and then dropped in a few XTM's at a time.
Let them set in the dye for about 30 seconds.
Pulled, drained then rinsed in the sink.
Laid them out to air dry on an old rag.

I did a bunch of XTM's, a few MOE grips and a CTR. The color match isn't super perfect so if someone has the time and patience to play with various recipes of dye combinations I'd bet you could make it identical.

There's some other gear I want to do yet but today was just a test run to try it out. It was pretty easy to do. I'm hoping the tan LaRue FUG will take to it but it's a different plastic so I'll have to give it a shot and see what happens.

 

[cjt50]

Did you start with black as the base plastic color, or FDE? Woundering outloud if that would make a different with the finished product. I have never played with liquid dyes and don't know if it would make a different (I would think so )

 

[DSM]

You'll need to start with FDE or maybe even LaRue UDE. Black won't do a thing other than soak up the dye but since it's black already it won't show through.

 

[tankertrooper]

I used a rattle can of field drab made by aervoe and it matches the lower and stock almost perfectly.

 

[cjt50]

You'll need to start with FDE or maybe even LaRue UDE. Black won't do a thing other than soak up the dye but since it's black already it won't show through.

Makes sense, thank you for update. Might just have to give it a try.

 

[bigdog2003_99]

theres another color acr out, advanced armament had a pic of it on silencertalk.com
it's a remington acr with Flat Dark Earth

http://www.silencertalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=86&t=62101&start=25

about half way down the page

 

[Blast]

I liked the dye color so much I dyed everything on a new unfired ACR enhanced and really like how everything matches and the more brown color. Now I need to find someone who can match the darker brown color and have my receiver duracoated to match everything. I never did like the greenish coyote color that much.

 

[bigdog2003_99]

that looks good, i wish i could dye mine sometimes...

 

[Blast]

Thanks bigdog, now I'm thinking about maybe doing a shade lighter brown from the same color family on the receiver to give it a slight tu-tone effect. Or should I have it matched to the exact FDE stock color?

 

[Uxi]

Do you recall what you used to mix and/or did you make any progress on a specific recipe, DSM? Or just the tan by itself in the quantities you mentioned above enough?

I'm about to order an FDE AFG to try this on.

 

[DSM]

Using just the tan came out pretty darn close. It darkened the FDE to maybe just a shade or two off from the coyote. I did my AR gear in it too and I actually like it better than the original lighter shade.

 

[oif0709]

How is the durability? Pretty good I imagine? I've got black acr parts but maybe hitting it with a few coats of adhesion promoter and primer will allow the dye to soak in. Thanks for the write up! Ill guinea pig my black basic stock when I get home after next week with this process and see how it goes. I am working on a woodland type krylon project as I posted my stock and pmag plus panels in the krylon thread.

 

[DSM]

I don't think the black will take the dye. It won't show up is what some of the arfcom folks were saying.

 

[Uxi]

So just tan and mix the quantity. That's it, gonna order an AFG... well after I decide between AFG and AFG2, that is. Leaning AFG.

 

[oif0709]

Yeah I was hoping a good adhesive promoter and primer would accept the dye. It may. Worth a shot. Primer is white.

 

[Uxi]

Primering, you'll want to sand it down or it would probably wear easier. Most magpul stuff doesn't seem to have a whole lot of texture on most spots.

 

[BoovarBjarki]

So just tan and mix the quantity. That's it, gonna order an AFG... well after I decide between AFG and AFG2, that is. Leaning AFG.

AFG2 is smaller and keeps your hand a little bit closer to the barrel. I like them both but I think the AFG2 gives a slightly better weapon manipulation. YMMV

 

[Uxi]

Left my MVG grip in a bit too long, I think. Came out a bit too green when I left it in about 60 seconds or so. I tried with the RVG rail segment and it fell out of my strainer and I fished it out with tongs after from an RVG and game out way too green (looks OD) after a couple minutes in there. Will redying make it lighter, perhaps? Guess I'll find out in a bit.