How to hold a Pinstriping Brush ------ for fun and profit

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This is an excellent thread. Can you guys enlighten me on the best way to thin paint and keep the brush flowing smoothly.
I've notice some guys dip the brush in thinner before reloading it with paint?



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Craig:This topic has been covered a couple of times here,but briefly:
There are a number of factors to consider in keeping paint flowing smoothly.First is the environment.You should be painting in an area that is in the shade and preferably with no breeze.Both of these factors contribute greatly to accelerating dry time(usually on the brush while you're pulling a line!).
Depending on whether you are doing designs or long straight lines is also a factor;you want the paint much thinner for long lines and less so for design woirk.
To begin,dip the brush in the paint about 3/4 of the hair length and palette back and forth using both sides of the brush.Dip brush in thinner and work into the paint using the same technique of first paletting one side of the brush and then the other.Repeat this process until you can feel the brush pulling smoothly through the paint with virtually no drag.At this point lift the brush and look at the profile of the hairs from the top.If the paint is close to properly thinned,they should come to a sharp point.If it is too thin,the very tip of the brush will,"balloon"out.The remedy is to add more paint and palette some more.If the paint is too thick,it will,"drag" across the palette.The remedy is to add a bit more thinner.
After a LOT of practice,you can do this strictly by "feel".
If you search the threads here,you will find a wealth of info on striping.Also(insert shameless commercial plug here)go to http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/groups/pinstriperspage .There is even more info there.

 

Two parter here:

1)I started out with a Dagger 3-cost me over $30-is that too much? I must say I do like the variety of line I can pull off it (even with mettalics )
2)Technique- I notice that most pinners use a roccoco/decorative style ala' tribal tattoos. I've been experimenting more with representational pix. I had an idea to do "3-D"(red/blue/silver) pins with that 'seeing double aspect'-What ya'll think? Robt. Williams (a hero of mine) has done a few paintings like this and it's mas *****in'
anybody have any representational pin designs?

 

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1)I started out with a Dagger 3-cost me over $30-is that too much?

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Around $10 each ?
Sounds fair.That's about what I pay for a Mack Series 10.
And if you take care of them,you can do several thousand dollars of work with each one before it dies.

 

OUCH! $30 for one brush!!!
DAMN IT that's like 4 12 packs of Pabst!!
Damn you Asel Art Supply!

 

Is it solid GOLD ?

< www.Mackbrush.com >or < www.pinstriper.com >

 

Weellll, in my hands...

 

Thanks unkl ian and everyone else who has contributed. Just waitin' for my brush and some time so I can see what I can make ugly. You all have made it a lot easier- uhh I think?
Chris

 

man, i am so glad to see this post come back. a HUGE help. i'm gonna go to an old timer's house around here tomorrow to learn a few more things too. the HAMB is all knowing, ya know? place RULES.

 

I have a couple more questions.
1. How do you clean the brush between colors?
2. Can you paint over the stabillo pencil marks? I presume not but I was unclear on that. If not then you lay down the strip next to it? Can't cross over the marks?

Thanks, great stuff. You have me fired up to run out and buy some stuff to give this a whirl.

 

........I'm no expert, just the first one up this morning...

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I have a couple more questions.
1. How do you clean the brush between colors?

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....use your mineral spirits and gently squeeze with a clean cloth. May want to repeat a couple times for drastic color changes?? I use one cup to clean and another with cleaner juice to "rinse" but I waste a lot...

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2. Can you paint over the stabillo pencil marks? I presume not but I was unclear on that. If not then you lay down the strip next to it? Can't cross over the marks?

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..no problem painting right over the Stabillo pencil. When the paint dries, wipe off the remaining pencil marks......

When the experts wake up, they can correct any mistakes I've made. They can also offer advice on how to do it faster, cheaper and more efficiently.

 

Hi Unkl Ian great post , I got a real buzz tryin it out at the broken dream cruise, thanks for the tips ...

 

Got my brush today, the only thing I am confused on is the oil thing. I've seen vegetable, and motor oil, ****** fluid and diah soap. Doesn't this stuff mess with the paint characteristics? Do you have to make sure you get it all out before you start?
Thanks
Chris

 

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the only thing I am confused on is the oil thing

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Oil is used to maintain the correct shape of the brush,but more importantly,
it stops any minute traces of paint from drying in the brush when it's not being used.

Some guys get REALLY **** about cleaning their brushes so they can store them dry.

I'm too lazy for that ****, so I will rinse it in Odourless Mineral Spirits,
then 1-Shot Brush Cleaner and Conditioner,pat dry,and dip in Neets Foot Oil.
Lay it down flat and your done.

Before you use it the next time,you need to rinse it in Mineral Spirits,pat dry,and your ready to go.
Microscopic traces of oil won't cause a problem,unless you are Gold Leafing.

 

Perfect, Thanks!!!!!!

 

bttt

 

Perhaps I'm a ***** but I can't figure out how to start a new post, so I will change the subject here. I am a signpainter so consequently I am broke all the time. I am finding pinstriping videos (the good ones) can be expensive so I am wondering where I could watch pinstriping on-line. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

I have yet to see a decent Pinstriping video,never mind the price.
Some are bad,others are misleading.
And most Pinstriping books are a complete waste.
Anything from **** Bird ****S.

Hannukaine's book is decent,and there is another good one coming.


This doesn't answer your question,but might help.

 

Do they make left handed brushes ????????????

 

Carefully untie the string and glue the hairs to the other side of the brush. Re-tie the string. Stripe away!

 

Mack Brush Company tried this a few years ago but there didn't seem to be a lot of interest in them.I'm left handed and I tried one;didn't seem any different to me.I think they dropped the idea. They also made up a small run(about 50 if I remember right)of the old double striping brushes.I managed to get one of those and tried it a couple of times.Not an easy brush to use;sort of like using a Beugler striping tool and trying to lay it back down on the line after you've picked it up. Shane Syx has one also and even tried using two different colors at once.He would do something like that.

 

You'd be better off to find a local pinstriper or car show with a panel jam going on and watch guys work. I never p*** up the chance to watch another striper working, you'd be surprised what you can pick up. Everybody's got their own way of working a brush.

Right after I started striping again I was lucky enough to have an 'old-timer' (Tommy Sanborn) offer to work with me for a while. He's been at it since '57. I need to get back down there and visit him again soon.

I also spent some time with 'Von Hot Rod' at a W.O.W. show - he's in the 'Master's of pinstriping' book along with our very own Von Franco. He's left handed so it was kind of interesting seeing his technique.

 

I remember buying up all the left handed paint cans years ago too go with them brushes,got to save something for old age,ya know
"The Bat"
Super info Ian

 

Thanks,Ian.. I really want to learn to 'stripe. You've given me more real world info that I can use in this post that I've found in all of my HAMB searches

Jan

 

I really appreciate this thread. I started to draw pinstripping a couple months ago and havent gone any farther than a sharpie. I usualy practice with a dry erase marker and a pane of gl***. Ive been itching to actually strip but kinda scared until now. I know I got a lot more practicing to do but Ill get it eventauly.
Again, thanks a ton for all the info and tips.

 

Check the Inter-Galactic Panel Jam and Pinstriping Events Calander
in our Yahoo Pinstriping group: http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/pinstriperspage/
look in the "Database" section.
You'll find Panel Jams coming up SOON in Cincinatti Ohio,
Atlanta Georgia,Pomona California,Detroit Michigan,and many others.Call the phone number included for details.

A chance to learn,LIVE and Hands On,in person,
from experienced professional Stripers.

A much better investment than most books and videos,
and a lot more fun.

 

Other location include: Sacramento CA,Kansas City,
St. Paul MN,Louisville KY,Indianapolis IN,Salt Lake City UT,
Oklahoma City OK,Lee's Summit MOi,Davisburg MI,Antioch CA.

Other events will be added as info becomes available.

 

For those interested in t******* brushes,and palleting,
check out this video from Alan Johnson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tMdL_FF3ws

His new book is now available from Motorbooks.com
http://www.motorbooks.com/Store/Prod...ails_38589.ncm
I will have my copy soon.

Signed copies are also available on his site http://www.AlanJohnsonGrafix.com

 

I did a cl*** with Herb Martinez last month . http://www.herbmartinez.com/ He has a book and is sponsored by One Shot and knows his stuff and delivers the seminar very well and the walk aways are a signed book a li'l can of white and a brush. Oh and an practice seems to be the secret word. As fro symmetry I discovered that if I do a vertical centerline and go to the right first - away from my beer gut (right handed) - while making an O I can match the other 1/2 . If I start toward the beer gut I am a ****ing retard.... I guess its a left brain/right brain thing.

 

Staedtler Omnichrom are nicer to use than Stabilos.
They are less likely to scratch, and stand up better in the heat.
Like Stabilo, they wash off with water.
Priced about the same, slightly harder to find.