Dyeing seat belts (1969)

[Greg L.]

Well I have all my seat belts cleaned up and for the most part they turned out really nice. One issue that I have is that now that they are all clean and dry I see that the drivers lap belt has lost a lot of the color and is almost a gun metal color except for the ends which are still nice and black(see pic)
Yes that is the actual color difference and not a trick of the camera flash.

I guess it was the one that got the most use so the dye must have broken down over time and was washed away with the rest of the dirt.

So is there a safe and relatively easy way to re-dye this belt or do I need new webbing?

Thanks.

Greg Linton
#45455

[Dick W.]

Re: Dyeing seat belts (1969)

Greg, we use Ritz dye. Work it in and use fabric softner at the same time you dye. Works real good

[Greg L.]

Re: Dyeing seat belts (1969)

Thanks Dick, that sounds simple enough but where can you buy Ritz dye? I did a google search and found a few references to it but can't see where to get some. Found lots of hits on Rit dye though.

I've never dyed anything before but I assume that you add the dye and fabric softener to hot water and then soak the belt for a certain amount of time?

[Chuck G.]

Re: Dyeing seat belts (1969)

I believe Dick meant to say RIT dye.

It's available in just about every supermarket.

I've used it many times too.

Chuck

[Greg L.]

Re: Dyeing seat belts (1969)

I was wondering if that was what he meant but then I was getting some Google hits on how to use Ritz dye so I wasn't sure.

I'll try again under Rit dye.

[Dick W.]

Re: Dyeing seat belts (1969)

Greg, I think you better add the softener to the rinse water, not the dye water. Additives may interfere with the evenness and penetration of the dye. Make sure to rinse, rinse, and rinse again so the color will not transfer to the wearer's clothes.

[Jim V.]

Re: Dyeing seat belts (1969)

Hey Greg...I have been on the fence on this one as well with my faded original webbing. I also would rather not remove and re-sew the Irving labels. Do you C3 belts have white sewn on labels as well?

[Jim V.]

Re: Dyeing seat belts (1969)

Hey Greg...I have been on the fence on this one as well with my faded original webbing. I also would rather not remove and re-sew the Irving labels. Do you C3 belts have white sewn on labels as well?

[Greg L.]

Re: Dyeing seat belts (1969)

Hi Jim,

Yes mine have lables too but I only have one lap belt to do and the fading stops about a foot or so from the lable so I was just going to dye to about 6" or so from the lable and call it good.

I might be lucky in that my interior is black so it should be easy to get a match. What color is your interior?

[Greg L.]

Re: Dyeing seat belts (1969)

Hi Jim,

Yes mine have lables too but I only have one lap belt to do and the fading stops about a foot or so from the lable so I was just going to dye to about 6" or so from the lable and call it good.

I might be lucky in that my interior is black so it should be easy to get a match. What color is your interior?

[Jim V.]

Re: Dyeing seat belts (1969)

black also....and yes C2 labels are down low enough were fading is not an issue. I am concerned with creating a visible disparity between the dyed and not-dyed portions of the belt. I don't know if this is a one-way street. What hoping to get a test belt, but I suppose I will just jump in...today or tomorrow!

[Jim V.]

Re: Dyeing seat belts (1969)

black also....and yes C2 labels are down low enough were fading is not an issue. I am concerned with creating a visible disparity between the dyed and not-dyed portions of the belt. I don't know if this is a one-way street. What hoping to get a test belt, but I suppose I will just jump in...today or tomorrow!

[Greg L.]

Re: Dyeing seat belts (1969)

Well Jim if you can wait a couple of weeks I'll be your guinea pig.

I bought a small box of the black Rit Dye powder so if all goes well I plan to do my one belt next week and I'll let you know how it turns out. I really have nothing to lose because this one is badly faded. The first little bit of the lap belts are also hidden under a guide and carpet on my 69 so if there is a "dye line" it will be hidden anyways.

What could possibly go wrong?

[Greg L.]

Re: Dyeing seat belts (1969)

Well Jim if you can wait a couple of weeks I'll be your guinea pig.

I bought a small box of the black Rit Dye powder so if all goes well I plan to do my one belt next week and I'll let you know how it turns out. I really have nothing to lose because this one is badly faded. The first little bit of the lap belts are also hidden under a guide and carpet on my 69 so if there is a "dye line" it will be hidden anyways.

What could possibly go wrong?

[Michael B.]

Re: Dyeing seat belts (1969)

I just dyed a set of Camaro belts from Lt blue to black. It wasn't critical, but I tried to avoid dying the lables but the webbing wicked up the dye for several inches and into the lables. I did them with hot water on the stove. They came out great and with even black color.