This article is part of Disc Tree's mini-series on Disc Dye, where we delve into different techniques for personalizing your discs. In this guide, we'll take you through the process step by step.
The gluebed method is often known by its English name as a base of clear glue is used to distribute your color. When working with glue, a paint mixed with acetone is also used, and we therefore strongly recommend that children and young people do not work with these things without an adult by their side.
Using the glue method for your dyes opens up a new world of possibilities for mixing colors and creating completely unique patterns.
Materials you will need:
- PVA glue/school glue : Many people say that Elmer's clear school glue is the best, but any PVA/school glue can be used.
- A dish: It should be larger in diameter than your disc. A beach frisbee also works well – just remember that it should not be used for cooking afterwards.
- Acetone Dye: For the gludbed method, you need to prepare your dye/paint. Read more in our introductory guide on how to prepare your dye via the link here.
- Pipette: To distribute the color
- Small gas torch: Used to remove air bubbles in the glue. You can also use a creme brulee torch from the kitchen.
- Gloves: To take care of your hands and protect against dye
- Kitchen roll, old tea towel or towel: For drying hands and disc after washing.
- A straw, toothpick or similar: Use to draw the paint around in the glue and create a pattern. Most thin and pointed tools can be used, but remember that they will also probably get stained with use.
- Soft sponge: For cleaning discs
How to dye your disc with the glue method
Step 1: Preparing the disc
To start with, you need to wash your disc. Here, you just give it a wash with warm water and dish soap. Use either a soft sponge or your hands. A dishwashing brush can scratch your disc, so be careful using one.
Both brand new and used discs need a spin. Used discs need to be washed to remove any dirt and new discs may have some silicone residue from the molding process that can affect your results.
Step 2: Setting up your workstation
Before you proceed, it's a good idea to cover the surface you're working on very well with newspapers, an old towel, an oilcloth, or something else.
Step 3: Prepare your glue base/gluebed
To start, take your ultimate frisbee (or whatever you have chosen for the bottom) and pour in your glue. If you have chosen a flat disc you will not need as much and if it is a slightly more domey disc you will need to use more so that your disc does not end up hitting the bottom of your mold. If you use a flatter disc, you can make do with less glue in the mold.
When pouring the glue, try to avoid getting air bubbles in the glue, as any air bubbles will only cause problems later in the process. If air bubbles get into the glue, you can use a small gas burner and give the bubbles a quick spin so that they burst. It is also possible to use a regular lighter, but this is a bit more difficult. If you do not have or do not want to use an open flame, you can try using a straw to blow the bubbles out to the side of the dish so that they do not hit the disc you are going to paint.
Step 4: Create your pattern with your dye
It is a good idea to have a plan for your pattern before you start, otherwise you can quickly make a mess. The good thing about glue bed and acetone dye is that the colors do not mix unless you specifically put them on top of each other. Carefully drip your color into the desired pattern, starting with a single drop at a time. You can always add more. Drip your color from about 1 cm above the glue, so that you avoid it spreading too much. Depending on the glue you use, the drops spread more or less when they hit the glue. Here you have to experiment a little with the exact glue you use.
If you are using a single pipette, it is important that between each color change you suck up a little pure acetone into the pipette and squirt it out again to clean it before the next color.
Once you have laid out your color and everything is covered you can manipulate your pattern with the straw, blow gently from different angles until you are satisfied with the result. When you blow, the straw should not be in the glue, but held a little above. You can also blow gently between each color you put in if, for example, you think it is spreading too much. Alternatively, you can use a toothpick or similar to move colors and patterns around.
If you use clear glue, it can be a challenge to see the colors and patterns you are making and if you feel that this is a problem you can either use white glue or you can take a piece of white paper and place it at the bottom and then cover it with cling film before pouring your glue on.
After you have blown or used a toothpick to make your pattern, it may be a good idea to go over the whole thing with your gas burner again to get rid of any air bubbles that may have formed along the way - it is important that you give the acetone time to evaporate from your bed, otherwise accidents can quickly occur as acetone is highly flammable.
Step 5: Place the disc in the glue
Once you are happy with your pattern, you need to place your disc in your glue base. This is done by grasping the inside of the strap on the disc and carefully rolling your disc into the glue from one side until it is fully seated.
Step 6: Waiting time and color absorption
Once your disc is placed in the glue, leave it for 8-12 hours depending on what plastic your disc is made of.
After the waiting time has passed, pick up your disc and use a piece of cardboard, an old plastic card, or something else to scrape off the glue. We recommend that you scrape the excess glue from the disc back into the shape it was in to avoid getting it in your sink.
Below you can see the result from our dye in this guide. Notice how it was actually difficult to see our pattern in the pink form that we used.
Closing and cleaning
Once you have removed your disc from the glue, you can use a soft sponge to remove the glue completely. Remember to be thorough around the edge as there may be some dried glue, but be careful not to scratch your disc.
Remember to take care of the environment and dispose of excess paint and glue responsibly. Enjoy.
We hope you can use this guide and we would love to share the results of your project with a tag on social media. The guide has been created in collaboration with Troels Ellehammer, who runs disc.dye.dk on Instagram. On his Instagram page you can find even more pictures and get inspired for your next project. Enjoy your next gluebed-dye project.
If you need white discs for your next DIY project or polyester paint, you'll find it all right here on the website.