r/dyeing • u/magic-gps • 1d ago

Resources pot material?

I want to dye some pants I have, but i'm worried that doing it in my bathtub in a plastic storage bin won't be hot enough water (cotton pants) for non-rit dye. if I were to buy a giant stock pot, is there any reason I shouldn't just buy the cheapest one I can find in a suitable size from a restaurant supply store (not amazon) or are there material considerations to keep in mind? (do some metals react weirdly with dharma dyes?)

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11

u/draftgirl24 1d ago

For cotton or other plant based fibers, if you are using a fiber reactive dye, I usually use a 5 gallon bucket. No heat required

7

u/kimmerie 1d ago

What dye are you using? Cotton can be done with cold water dyes.

And yes, a stainless steel pot from a restaurant supply house is perfect.

5

u/Mermaidman93 1d ago

If you're using fiber reactive dye, then hot water/boiling isn't necessary. I've used lukewarm water from the tap everytime and achieved great results. The dye doesn't bond through heat, it bonds to the fabric through a chemical reaction to the soda ash.

Don't trouble yourself about boiling anything. It's completely unnecessary.

2

u/spectrum_incelnet 1d ago

For cotton you can use a plastic tub no problem cause the dye is cold water. Make sure you aren't using instructions for acid dye, as this will not work on cotton.

0

u/lowkeywhit 1d ago

Dharma dyes need heat for cotton, a cold water dye wont bond right. Stock pot is fine but avoid aluminum, it can mess with the color.