Things that happen with Dye and Propellers when bored

I saw a post on one of the Phantom 3 forums I follow about dyeing the stock white P3 propellers different colors using RIT fabric dye. I did a couple test runs with props that were on when a hemlock jumped out and swatted my drone.

Phantom 3 White Propellers dyed blue and purple using RIT
Phantom 3 White Propellers dyed blue and purple using RIT – sorry for the shitty iPhone pic in my kitchen

The results are above – I think that the blue came out better than the purple, but the purple was the first test I did. What I figured out with the blue is:

  • Heat water to 160° F
  • Pour into pyrex dish
  • Add the dye, then add more than you think you need
  • Stir it up and lay the prop in the dye
  • walk away – don’t fiddle with it, pull it out to check it, just leave it the hell alone
  • wait 15m and check color
    • If not the color depth desired, repeat above step as needed
  • If desired color has been reached take it out, wash with cold tap water and dry

The purple still has some white on the edges, but this was a slightly damaged prop so it may be related. The blue is a dark denim color and looks consistent and IMO amazing. I think I will do a pair in the blue and a pair in red – red in front, blue in back – will make it easier to see the direction the Phantom is facing from altitude.

Now to find a skin wrap for the drone that I like… the white is already boring the hell outta me 🙂

John P. Hoke

John P. Hoke headshot

Cyber Security Professional, Photographer, Coffee Junkie, Mac Addict, Craft Beer & Whiskey connoisseur, all around curmudgeon and generally sarcastic SOB – Not necessarily in that order.

The opinions expressed on this blog are mine alone and not those of my employer, family, pets, the voices in my head, or anyone else for that matter … hell in an hour they may not be mine either 🙂

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