One trend that never really went away but is now more popular than ever is pinstriping. Cool patterns are finding their way onto everything from the hood of a truck all the way to the shop toilet seat. Nothing is safe from the lines of a mad striper-hey, coolness knows no bounds. Being a bunch of guys who want to learn everything, we hooked up with one of the most talented painter/stripers we know, Steve Deman. Steve's work has been featured in just about every automotive enthusiast magazine out there, and now he is starting a school of custom painting called Kolor Kings. After a little begging he agreed to give us a one-on-one class on how to pull lines.
If you are interested in attending a class, check out the Web site for appointments and scheduling. The following story will give you the basics to get going, because what it really takes to be a good striper is practice, practice, and then some more practice.
One Shot
Oil-based, high-gloss enamels are for interior or exterior use on metal, glass, or wood. Their flow characteristics assure the virtual absence of brush marks and provide a clean, sharp edge. They will dry to the touch in two to five hours and can be cleaned up with a good body solvent.
Brushes
The brushes used for pinstriping all come from one of these two types of material that form the tuft of the brush: 1) Synthetics, which are man-made of either nylon or polyester, are very durable and easier to clean but don't carry color as well as the 2) natural hair type. Usually made from blue squirrel hair, these brushes will hold a tremendous amount of paint because they have microscopic scales along the hair's shaft.
Here is Steve's basic setup...
Here is Steve's basic setup and what you will most likely need. The two main tools required are the brush and the paint. Steve advises picking up a few brushes or daggers in assorted sizes (he recommends Mack brushes) and some 1 Shot paint.
Fist thing we needed to do...
Fist thing we needed to do was get the paint thinned out and on the brush. Steve poured some thinner into a Dixie cup and a few globs of paint onto the high-dollar mixing pallet. Dipping the brush in the thinner and then moving it to the paint will allow you to progressively thin the paint. Don't just go crazy as you thin the paint-pull the brush through it, not in a back and forth motion. This will prevent you from damaging the hairs on the brush.