How can One Color Metal Needles?

#1

[color="#330099"]Anyone know of a way to colorize metal needle tips? :shrug:

I’ve started a pattern for two at a time toe-up socks using two circular needles. :sun: Of course I went out and bought two circular needles in the same size. I prefer the Susan Bates Silverado and I am quite pleased with the feel of their surface. After working with two identical sets I am now getting annoyed with their identical appearance. I am wasting time trying to identify the other end of the working set. :sad:

:think:

I’ve though to just let one set stand in a cup of strong tea until they brown up but I hate to waist the tea if the results will not be color fast. :sad:
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#2

Would you be able to color the tips with permanent marker?? I’m not sure if it would rub off or not.

Maybe you could try it out first with a pair of “old” needles and some scrap yarn. Color the tips of a pair of needles you don’t care all that much about. Cast on some stitches and knit any old thing back and forth for a bunch of rows. Then see if the marker has stayed on.

That’s the only thing I can think of, aside from fastening colored rubber bands around the tips. Or maybe you could buy some red and blue rubber point protectors and use blue for the one set of needles and the red for the other set.

HTH, knitcindy

#3

I’d be afraid to colorize them in anyway for fear it comes off on the yarn. I knit with two circs and what I do is slide the stitches to the end on the front needle then look at the other end. The needle hanging longest is going to be the needle you use. As long as the other side stitches are in the centerish area of the other cable it’s not been a problem. So far I haven’t used the wrong needle yet. :thumbsup:

#4

Maybe a little strip of nail polish painted near the base of the needles? If it dried really good, I don’t think the color would rub off on the yarn. At some point it would probably chip. You could put a coat of clear over it to protect it.

#5

[color="#330099"]
That reminds me that the cable joint on these tend to have a crack or seam edge. The nail polish might help cover that rough spot and provide color too. I have enamel hobby paint and will give that a try before I go asking my dear wife if I can use her nail polish. :roll: :lol:

The down side is the drying time means idle time for the socks.
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#6

Depends on the metal, probably this.
anodizing
Although for needles it may be cheaper to find a custom plating shop than to buy all the stuff.

#7

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Mike, thank you.

That link is about what I was seeking. I think the Bates Silverado are steel not aluminum, so maybe I need to look for a custom plating shop instead. Although that sounds pricey to me.[/COLOR]

#8

Looks like they’re anodized aluminum and not stainless steel. Silverado knitting kneedles.

That’s good otherwise you would be limited if you had to rely on oxidizing or plating. Any color can be done with anodizing.

I was looking into anodizing because I was making bow parts. The parts were too big to cover easily. The amount of acid I needed pushed me away and I went with paint because the parts wouldn’t see any wear and tear.
If you don’t have a local that would be kind on the price it may be worth it to do your own at home since the required amounts would be so small.

A real problem is being treated like a meth lab when trying to put the chemicals together. I can’t buy my torch chemicals at the same time at some stores.

Paint or markers are not really an option on needles since they have constant rubbing. I’ve even worn/scratched off anodizing which is why I like my nickel plated Options so much. I’m sure it will eventually wear but at least it doesn’t seem to scratch and accelerate the process.
I just wish they’d have a black nickel color option to cut down on reflections.

#9

I think I’d just buy a new needle in a different color

#10

I bet you probably measure for kitchen appliances that fit before buying too. :wink:

#11

I know from personal experience:aww: regular spray paint will never ever, never dry. (still gummy 3 months later)
I have used nail polish to paint the tips

#12

[color="#330099"]
:sad: Too bad about the spray paint.

I was reading about baked enamel finishes but, alas I do not have a kiln and the heat would melt the plastic cord of the circulars.

Of course adding a finish color would also change the size of the needles. :think:

It might be easier to change the color of that plastic cord than to add color to the needle tips.

I just didn’t think circulars needles and the method for knitting in the round on two circulars was quite so new that the industry hasn’t provided (pick your own needle color) product offerings.

Then again I go to a local craft store and not a LYS or on-line knitting supply store (OKS).

(As a “natural” technology geek I favor initialisms. Should we make an initialism of OKS for [B]o[/B]n-line [B]k[/B]nitting [B]s[/B]upply store?)
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