How-To: Change Lego element colors

Fun & Games Science
How-To:  Change Lego element colors
vinyl dye before and after.jpg

It turns out the same dyes that work on computer parts also work on Lego bricks, which are also, in my experience, seemingly never available in the color you need. Lego purists generally frown on paints and adhesives, but frankly being an active builder can get pretty expensive pretty fast, and a lot of that is due to having to order elements you may already have in abundance, but in the wrong color. And sometimes the element you want may not even be manufactured in the color you need at all.

vinyl dye before and after 02.jpg

These pictures come from SaveTheAggie’s post over on Classic-Castle.com, and show his own results in dying the armor on one of his Lego knights. His report also includes some abrasion tests of the dye’s fastness.

Discuss this article with the rest of the community on our Discord server!
Tagged

I am descended from 5,000 generations of tool-using primates. Also, I went to college and stuff. I am a long-time contributor to MAKE magazine and makezine.com. My work has also appeared in ReadyMade, c't – Magazin für Computertechnik, and The Wall Street Journal.

View more articles by Sean Michael Ragan

ADVERTISEMENT

Maker Faire Bay Area 2023 - Mare Island, CA

Escape to an island of imagination + innovation as Maker Faire Bay Area returns for its 15th iteration!

Buy Tickets today! SAVE 15% and lock-in your preferred date(s).

FEEDBACK