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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Rocky on January 17, 2006, 09:10:07 am

Title: Dying a Trackball?
Post by: Rocky on January 17, 2006, 09:10:07 am
I'm working on a Marble Madness Control Panel and I want to have one ball red and one blue, like the original.  Has anyone tried dying white ones?  Do they fade?  Does the color come off on your hands?  :P

Anyone who has tried this let me know your experience.

Thanks,
Rocky
Title: Re: Dying a Trackball?
Post by: Witchboard on January 17, 2006, 09:18:41 am
Why not just buy red and blue.... balls?  That didn't sound right.  Anyway, even if you did dye them, they aren't going to be the vivid colors you want, they'll end up pink and baby blue.. that is if they would even dye in the first place.
Title: Re: Dying a Trackball?
Post by: divemaster127 on January 17, 2006, 09:34:11 am
What a pain for no more than a ball cost, i would just buy one
Title: Re: Dying a Trackball?
Post by: ErikRuud on January 17, 2006, 10:06:29 am
Buying new balls is probably the best answer, however if you are going to try and dye the ones you have, you should try and get dyes that are formulated for nylon.  They would give your best shot at good result.
Title: Re: Dying a Trackball?
Post by: MinerAl on January 17, 2006, 10:42:51 am
Pool Balls.

#s 2 and 3 i think. :)
Title: Re: Dying a Trackball?
Post by: Rocky on January 17, 2006, 07:53:44 pm
Why didn't I think of BUYING them  :P  /sarcasm off

Seriously, if I wanted to be called cheap, I wouldn't have to post on here   ;D

I may end up buying the colored trackballs, but I was wondering if anyone had actually tried this. It sounds like no one has.  I just may have to be the first.  :laugh:

Title: Re: Dying a Trackball?
Post by: ften on January 17, 2006, 10:32:58 pm
I'm working on a Marble Madness Control Panel and I want to have one ball red and one blue, like the original.  Has anyone tried dying white ones?  Do they fade?  Does the color come off on your hands?  :P

Anyone who has tried this let me know your experience.

Thanks,
Rocky
I dyed my white trackball brown using vinyl dye, worked pretty decent.
Wouldn't know if it will fade, but after about a year it is still the exact same color and I never had the color come off in my hand. After a while I decided I didn't like the brown color and went with a custom black cue ball, but it did work fine.
Some pictures of it...
(http://www.fathertom.net/mame/pictures/IMAGE021.JPG)
and
http://www.fathertom.net/mame/trackball.html

-FTen
Title: Re: Dying a Trackball?
Post by: Rocky on January 18, 2006, 09:03:56 am
F10,

Thanks for the word and the picture. I may give it a try!
Title: Re: Dying a Trackball?
Post by: eccs19 on January 18, 2006, 10:13:23 am
F10,

Thanks for the word and the picture. I may give it a try!

You may just get the balls to try it?   ;D
Title: Re: Dying a Trackball?
Post by: divemaster127 on January 18, 2006, 11:29:33 am
I would be worried about doing this, 1 these balls are very inexpensive, 2 once you dye it the ball will not roll even, plus your sitting your self up for abnormal wear on the bearings & optical wheels in a expensive trackball, i just dont think its worth, plus cost of the dye & your time
thanks
Title: Re: Dying a Trackball?
Post by: Kremmit on January 18, 2006, 11:50:24 pm
How much does a bottle of dye cost, and how much would a replacement ball cost?  There's your decision right there, if you ask me.
Title: Re: Dying a Trackball?
Post by: quarterback on January 19, 2006, 12:07:01 am
I would be worried about doing this, 1 these balls are very inexpensive, 2 once you dye it the ball will not roll even, plus your sitting your self up for abnormal wear on the bearings & optical wheels in a expensive trackball

I don't know if that's true.  To my knowledge, vinyl dye isn't thick like paint and shouldn't add any extra weight or lumps to the ball.

I say TRY THE DYE!!!!!!! 








.......and then tell us if it was a bad idea or not :D