Basic Techniques Dyeing Wool with MX Dyes

PO Box 14 • Somerset, MA 02726
orders 1-800-2-BUY-DYE
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e-mail • promail@prochemical.com
www.prochemical.com

Immersion Dyeing Wool
using PRO MX Reactive Dyes

Please read directions carefully before starting

This process allows you to use the MX Reactive Dyes on wool and other protein fibers. Keep in mind that some MX colors dye better than others, producing beautiful, but sometimes unexpected results. These directions are based on dyeing one pound (454 gm) of fiber. Please increase or decrease the amounts proportionately. Always do test samples before working on a large project. For additional information, visit our website at www.prochemical.com.

Wear rubber gloves, apron, or old clothes.

Utensils used for dyeing should never be used for food preparation.

Supplies
PRO MX Reactive Dye
Synthrapol
Citric Acid Crystals or Sodium Bisulfate or Acetic Acid 56% or white distilled vinegar
Wool Dye Assistant SBS
clear household ammonia (non-sudsy)
white distilled vinegar

Procedure
1. Wet out the wool. Measure 2 ˝ gallons (10 liters) of warm 110^oF (43^oC) water, for each pound (454 gm) of wool, by using ˝ tsp (2.5 ml) of Synthrapol. Soak for 30 minutes. Squeeze out the excess water before adding it to the dye bath. There is no need to rinse.

2. Dissolve the dye powder. Measure the desired amount of dye, from the chart below, in a 1 cup (250 ml) measure. Dissolve the dye powder by pasting it with approximately 1/4 cup (60 ml) room temperature 75^o to 95^oF (24^o to 35^oC) water, until there are no visible lumps. Add more water to equal one cup (250 ml) of dissolved dye; stir thoroughly and set aside.

	Pale	Medium	Dark	Black
Dye powder	˝ tsp (1 gm)	1ž tsp (4.5 gm)	3˝ tsp (9 gm)	10 tsp (25 gm)

3. Make the dye bath in a non-reactive, stainless steel or enamel pot. For each pound (454 gm) of wool, measure:

2˝ gallons (10 liters) of room temperature 75^o to 95^oF (24^o to 35^oC) water
˝ tsp (2.5 ml) Synthrapol
2 Tbl (35 gm) Citric Acid Crystals or 2 Tbl (56 gm)Sodium Bisulfate or 2 Tbl (30 ml) Acetic Acid 56% or 22 Tbl (330 ml) white distilled vinegar
1 Tbl (23 gm) Wool Dye Assistant SBS
dissolved dye
Be sure to give the dye bath a stir after adding each item.

4. Add the wetted out wool to this dye bath. Start at room temperature and bring the dye bath to a boil gradually over a 45 minute period. Dye at a simmer for a minimum of 30 minutes for pale shades and up to 60 minutes for black and dark shades.

5. Allow the fiber to cool to room temperature in the dye bath. Rinse well in warm 110^oF (43^oC) water.

6. Make the after soak. Mix 2 Tbl (30 ml) of ammonia in one gallon (4 liters) of room temperature 75^o to 95^oF (24^o to 35^oC) water. Wearing rubber gloves, swish your wool around in the ammonia water for 3 to 5 minutes. Rinse in room temperature 75^o to 95^oF (24^o to 35^oC) water.

7. Neutralize the wool. Mix 1 tsp (5 ml) of Acetic Acid 56% or 11 tsp (55 ml) white distilled vinegar in 1 gallon (4 liters) of room temperature 75^o to 95^oF (24^o to 35^oC) water. Wearing rubber gloves, swish your wool around in this vinegar water as your final rinse. Squeeze out the excess water and air dry.