How can one dye and change the color of an acetate frame?

[rlocke234v2]

Hello, happy new yrs,

I have a few acetate frames with a strange semi-transparent swirl color that I have had a few requests to get in a solid non-transparent black color. Unfortunately they do not come in a solid black color from the manufacturer, so I was wondering how one would go about dyeing these frames a different color? Who I need to contact, what I need to buy, what I need to do, etc. Thanks.

[chip anderson]

I have on some occasions been able to dye them with lens dyes. On some plastics this is totally inefffective, some it works quite well. Unfortunately, I can't often tell what or which a plastic is just by looking. Test an extreem corner or temple tip. If done be sure and buff or hand wipe it down well, one doesn't want black marks on the customer's nose and ears.

Chip

[Jacqui]

I have on some occasions been able to dye them with lens dyes. On some plastics this is totally inefffective, some it works quite well. Unfortunately, I can't often tell what or which a plastic is just by looking. Test an extreem corner or temple tip. If done be sure and buff or hand wipe it down well, one doesn't want black marks on the customer's nose and ears.

Chip

That's what I do

[Judy Canty]

Me too!

[obxeyeguy]

One of my sunglass frames is a dakota smith that was a black front with a sort of camouflage back, and it made me nuts. I dyed it using lens tint at about 180 degrees and never left it in for more than a minute at a time. Worked out fine.

[apaul]

Always wanted to do this but worried the tint would end up on the customers face!
After tinting a lens it never comes off when cleaning with any solution Ive used ,so have I answered my own question? or does acetate differ from CR39 in this usage?
Thanks Alan