Dyed DPM attempt

[Angeal]

My first post for my CB as here is my DPMs dyed with Rite's Dark Brown liquid dye. Want to see what everyone thinks, as I kind of played it safe and used half the bottle as the instructions said use the whole bottle for 2lbs of fabric to which the DPM did not add up to.

 

Here some pics as I also put my District 9 1st Reaction Battalion combat jacket next to it as its Popper brand dark brown for reference of color.

 

With flash

 

 

Without flash and pants with Popper brand dark brown in the middle

 

[Jimah]

You might want to give it another brown rinse, then a black. I used 2 Rit brown boxes and one black to get the colour right. With a gentle machine wash in cold water between each rinse.

 

NB: the black rinse was only quick. As the DPMs were drying the pattern was all but invisible... But that was just the damp cloth causing that effect.

 

This was after my first brown wash (25 minutes):

 

 

2nd brown wash (12-15 minutes):

 

3rd wash (black, 10 minutes)

Wet:

 

And when dry:

 

 

Hope that helps with some comparisons for you. Yours may not end up end up exactly the same, but it hopefully gives you a basis to work with

 

Keep us posted, always grand to see another CB in the works!

[Angeal]

Thanks for the insight Jimah, as I finally got around to dying them again since I have some time now with the holidays looming as here my 2nd attempt at it.

 

Taken with flash

 

And without flash

[darren1970]

Looks a better brown. Now give it a dye with the black. Like Jimah said, when it comes out it will be almost black, but don't panic. It will get lighter as it dries.

[Angeal]

Black washed my DPMS, as here the results as I already seamed ripped the front pockets and the little button flap thing (have no clue what its called or its use). But I did have a question. When you seam rip the front pockets do most of you make a front flap to cover up the front buttons of the shirt? Was just wondering as I was thinking of doing this, but when I laid out my pockets they cover up all but the last two bottom buttons. Was wondering if this is normal or do some people split the material and make the flap like a racing suits with the the button flap acting as like a mando collar?

 

 

With flash

 

 

W/O flash

[Jimah]

Looking good there, you have got more of a 'purple' than a brown look in the cloth now, which is the aim with the dyes. I have posted a picture below as I don't think purple really sums it up... but a picture tells a thousand words.

 

 

As to covering the buttons, I used the material from one of the rear pockets to make a flap that covers the collar. It is stitched at one side, and there are several velcro dots sewn on the other side to attach it to when suiting up.There is no need to cover the buttons all the way down on your shirt front, as the 'bund does the hard work.down to your belt line. Tuck the shirt into the pants & voila no buttons showing on the shirt front

 

 

Please note that the above picture is from my shirt in progress (no flash used for the picture). I then used a 'Sharpie' permanent black marker to go over the stitching and conceal it. The end result looks more like: (flash used for the picture below, thus the seeming difference in shirt colours).

 

Hope that helps.

[LENOX61]

Your soft armor looks like it is coming along nicely. I agree with James, use a Sharpie or some sort of other / permanent marker to hide the stiching. It may take a while to do it all but it does make a considerable difference when you suite up. Hiding the stiching does pay off in appearance. As far as the buttons, they got to be out of site as well. I also had to modify my shirt (I made a sheath to cover the neck area which looks like it is part of the shirt). Also, when you get to it, don't forget to remove the rear pockets on your pants (at your rear end area).

 

Keep it going Bro!!!!!

[Angeal]

Thanks you all for the info as I am in the process of seam ripping the last of the pockets and all as I hope the next steps would be doing the cumber bun and thigh pockets.

 

Is there a template/pattern for those or is it a by the seat of my pants thing when making them?

[Jimah]

I didn't use any kind of template but made mine by creating a cummerbund that reached from my waistline to under my armpits. Once all stitched & sewn, I then measured and trimmed it back to get a good snug fit.

 

About the only measurement of importance for me in this process was the strips on the 'bund. Each strip was 1.5" wide, and there is 1" between each strip.

 

Hope that is a little help.

[Angeal]

thanks for the info

[Guest spooky-kid]

is this the correct pants?

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/British-Army-DPM-Soldier-95-Trousers-Super-Grade-/150792475392?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&var=&hash=item231bee9300#ht_500wt_721

[Angeal]

They are the correct type of pants, but wrong climate pattern. The ones I used were the "Desert" version as the ones in your link is are "jungle".

 

The desert ones don't have green

 

[Guest spooky-kid]

these?

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BRITISH-WINDPROOF-DPM-DESERT-Combat-Cargo-PANTS-Trouser-/200469417892?pt=UK_Men_s_Trousers&var=&hash=item2eace88fa4#ht_2788wt_940

[Grumpy]

these?

 

http://www.ebay.com/...4#ht_2788wt_940

 

Those are correct.

[comm tech]

Just asking, in Spooky=kid's last link, the pants were a windproof pant, from what I understand the windproofing makes the dye application have issues. I know the pattern is correct, but should he be looking for a non-windproof set. This is just what I find when going through the forum, trying to research my BDU purchase. Not an expert, just passing along what I read.

[Archer]

Are the windproof pants not the right material????

[Death Recon]

No, you want the normal cloth material... If its windproof then it's a synthetic material and the due wont take as well as it should.

[Archer]

now I'm kinda worried... can't remember if the last ones I got from eBay were windproof or not...they didn't feel that way when I checked over 6 weeks ago... DAMM DAMM!!! have to wait till I get back home possible 2 weeks maybe more!!!!

 

thanks for the quick response..

[Death Recon]

Well once you find out let us know, I'll give a check in my area and see if I can find some your size

[bselphfsu282]

unionjacksplace1@hotmail.co.uk

 

Email this guy. He has an online store with them usually in stock. Just email what you want and size and he can help with conversion too.

[Grumpy]

now I'm kinda worried... can't remember if the last ones I got from eBay were windproof or not...they didn't feel that way when I checked over 6 weeks ago... DAMM DAMM!!! have to wait till I get back home possible 2 weeks maybe more!!!!

 

thanks for the quick response..

 

If they have those little squares in the fabric, and feel slick, that's the ripstop kind. Hard to dye. Even harder to try and make pouches out of that material. (I tried and my sewing machine refuses to work on that fabric.)

[Archer]

unionjacksplace1@hotmail.co.uk

 

Email this guy. He has an online store with them usually in stock. Just email what you want and size and he can help with conversion too.

 

email sent..thanks for the heads up..I went back and looked on ebay "where I bought the shirt and pants" and it didn't say anything about windproof or ripstop. I remember it feeling like cotton like material!!

here is the actual pant description:

"Lightweight desert camouflage combat trousers now current issue to all UK forces when deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Cotton and polyester mix now more hard wearing than the previous soldier 95 issue.

Button tighteners and pyjama waist cord, zip fly.

Two large bellow leg pockets, standard hip and seat pockets.

Slotted buttons used throughout.

Fully IRR treated material, these are the genuine issue, not inferior copies

This pair is a size 85cm (33") leg and a 112 cm (44") waist....

Brand new unissued.."

 

thanks for the advice guys!!!!

 

Angeal sorry if I hijacked your post!!

[Death Recon]

You ordered the corect pair, don't worry about it.

LoL I like that guys add for them... " fully IRR treated"

Yep, they are untill you wash them 2 or 3 times

[Archer]

Will be going home Wednesday...will be ripping pouches off the pants and staining DPM soon...can't wait....

[gerald]

Hey guys after 2 x dying brown and 1 black got something like that,i think i need put black yet it was probably too short black wash:

http://imageshack.us/f/542/0j3r.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/f/7/nl2t.jpg/

and probably threads with wchich i sew pouches was shrinked by hot wash that is less trouble though can resew.

what You advice?bit afraid so longer black wash can turn it to total black and so pattern will be no visible.