Distressing T-Shirts

[Serge d Nimes]

Hello there, how do you distess t-shirts at home? Should I soak them in Peroxicarbonate? or sodium percarbonate (nearly the same thing.) are there any other chemicals that do a good job and what is a good method to assure even treatment? Thanks, Joel

Live is too short for bad denim!

Edited by Serge d Nimes on Mar 4, 2005 at 08:08 PM

[zombiemonster]

Found this a while ago on another board - hope it helps

"I created a killer mixture that breaks down cotton/poly blends. It was actually a science project waaaay back in middle school, but I digress.

4 tablespoons TSP (trisodium phosphate, fades and dissolves surface fibers for the vintage look)

1 tablespoon lye (dissolves fibers for that soft feel)

2 gallons (16 cups) water

Combine TSP and HOT water in a rubbermaid storage container. Stir until water stops steaming but is still warm, about 9 to 12 minutes. Add lye. PLEASE BE CAREFUL,

LYE IS CAUSTIC. Use goggles, long sleeves, and rubber dishwashing gloves. Soak shirt from 4 to 8 hours. I would say less time if there is a design,

and more time if it's just a plain shirt. Remove shirt- WEAR GLOVES AND GOGGLES- and rinse in steel sink or another tub. Leave to dry on well

covered surface, then wash and dry in normal cycle. Dispose of water in drain and rinse well."

[adnans]

yo. what does this actually accomplish to the fabric, the tee, and what does it look like. its a first time i hear about 'distressing' anything.

music = response

[FRESH]

where do you get all these chemicals??

http://www.designwrk.com/

[Serge d Nimes]

lye= drano =pure sodium hydroxide (NaOH)

tsp can be found at hardware stores. if it is chlorinated it iscalled Diversol,. do you know if the tsp was chlorinated? probably.

Thanks for the info, i'll try it out and post pics

Live is too short for bad denim!

[poobrowne]

griptape

fuck around and get your waffle split

[Good]

Serge d Nimes, I was wondering if you ever got around to trying the treatment on a shirt... how'd it work out?

[Serge d Nimes]

It didn't work. I am going to try again with some paracetic acid; very nasty corrosive stuff.

Carpe Denim!

[ReasonRumRunners]

good stuff

[adnans]

totally forgot about this site. good stuff d nimes. wear gloves and take pics!

music = response

[arfarfbarkmeow]

so, any good results yet with the aforementioned chemicals?

[alej]

...hmm.... I know that I'm bringing this up from the past,but..Does it work?

[Corbin Law]

good question,ive never seen a distressed shirt in person but ive seen alot of them in energie ads and other brands. fading i guess is ok for a shirt but making holes and shit, seems a bit too over the top for a shirt.

chwa?

[rabbitpunch]

Maybe I'm coming off as a pussy, but perhaps you shouldn't be fucking with Drano. That shit's bad for the soul.

I remember this kid in highschool who was wearing a striped Polo that had probably been left balled up in the sun, with fades in the creases. We mocked him, but what the hell did I know then?

[Serge d Nimes]

Well, I am a bit of a chemist so I feel perfectly fine playing around with these chemicals. I Burned a hole (on purpose) through a pair of jeans with some 30% Hydrogen peroxide, so I made some 3% and didn't get of an effect on a t shirt. I will try to use 10% next. I'll try out the the paracetic acid tonight.

Carpe Denim!

[ReasonRumRunners]

so does this work or what?

www.reasonclothing.com