How To Re-Ink Dice

Have you got some old dice knocking around and the numbering is looking faded or peeling? Or perhaps you wish the ink was of a different colour?

Whether you’re wanting to ink your own dice set and change the colour of the numbers, or freshen up an old d20 from years ago, then this is for you.

What you’ll need

(Optional) Step One: Removing the old ink

If you’re wanting to change the ink colour of your dice it is recommended to first remove the old dry paint first in order to avoid uneven layering, achieve smooth paint application and prevent the old colours showing through! 

You can use a simple cotton swab soaked in isopropyl alcohol to rub away the old ink, don’t be afraid to be firm with the swab. If the ink is especially difficult to remove, you can use a pointed implement such as a needle to carefully chip away at any stubborn bits. But be careful not to scratch your dice!

Step Two: Cleaning the dice

Before re-inking dice you want to make sure the surface is clean of any dirt and dust. This will help the paint bond to the surface and prevent the ink flaking away at a later date.

Isopropyl alcohol is excellent for cleaning dice and removing leftover paint. Simply wipe down the dice with a paper towel dabbed in isopropyl alcohol, then wait a few minutes for the alcohol to completely dry.

Step Three: Adding the paint

Once you’ve found the paint you wish to use (Citadel Paints by Games Workshop are highly recommended), simply add some to your brush and get painting!

You may wish to be careful to minimise cleaning or you can be as messy as you like – we’ll be giving a light clean to the dice afterwards to remove any excess paint. Depending on the paint used, a single layer should be more than sufficient!

Step Four: Removing the excess paint

Ideally this step should be done while the paint is still wet to make things easier.

With a paper towel, you want to wipe the faces of the dice clean of any excess. This may be accomplished with a single wipe, or may require a bit more effort if the paint is being stubborn. In a worst case scenario, you can put a little isopropyl alcohol on a paper towel or cotton swab for extra power – though do be careful about getting it in the numbers as it can damage the work we just did in step three!

(Optional) Step Five: Show off your work!

Be sure to show us your results on our Facebook page!