This is something I worked up in my shop the other day.For some time now I have what is likely the beginnings of arthritis in my hands and fingers and while it hasn't affected my striping ability(yet),I feel that is what will eventually happen. When out in the shop the other day,I came across an old auxiliary handle for a drill that I had discarded after it stopped working.This is one of those that screws into the side of a hand drill to aid in stabilizing it while drilling holes.Basically a round knob with a 1/4" threaded shaft. Noting that it felt rather comfortable in my hand I wondered if perhaps it might work as a handle to a striping brush for doing long straight lines.To modify it,I cut off part of the threaded shaft and fitted over it a length of 1/4" I.D.br*** tubing and epoxied it on. I then took a #1 Mack striper and slightly reduced the diameter of the handle so it was a snug fit in the tube.After some experimenting,I found an ideal length and proceeded to try it out;first on a display case and then on the side of my car.The results were excellent;it felt comfortable to hold and allowed me to keep the brush very steady.I think I'm onto something here. Today I made another;this time using a miniature tennis ball dog toy(which is roughly the same diameter)and inserting another piece of tubing into the ball;allowing it to protrude about 1/4".Fit another brush and tried this one.Works even better! While it does take some getting used to and probably isn't good for doing designs,it fits nicely in my hand and seems to make it much easier to pull a straight line. I've enclosed a couple of pictures and would invite some comments from my fellow stripers.If you would like to try making one,it is really simple(about 5 minutes work).
I tried Ray's. It allowed an easy tension free grip on the brush. It will take a few lines to get the right angle and feel but I will be making one for myself.
thats a great idea ill have to make one and try it , i knowthe other day when my arthritis flared up my wife cought me rubbing the felt from my balls , so maybe this will work better thanks
Thanks for the kind words.If you do make one please let me know either by e-mail,PM.or phone how it works out for you.I'm really interested in the feedback.
For those of us with hands that get cramped up and don't work as well as they used to that might be just the ticket.
New's flash ,Speedybill is on his way to hongkong to market your idea Lol ,And by the way Im bookmarking this ,Great idea
Why is it that every time I read that guys name anymore, I picture Jabba the Hut in a wide brimmed fedora?
Hey, if it works for you, then I say it's a good idea. One of the things that makes us hot rodders is the ability and willingness to make and/or modify our tools to suit our own particular needs.
Thats a cool idea..seems like you could have more control, and possibly other tricks not possible with just a paint brush handle..interesting
This is why I don't toss old tools. I'll give it a shot. My kid has started striping, but the mack is hard for a 6 year old to hold. Great post.
yea know im so glad you came up with this . im a youngin and already unfortantly problems with my hands from years of drawing holding onto the pencils had bad cases of hand cramps etc i had to start using grips , and i know tattooist have the different size grips for there machines b/c the same reasons .. i often thought what happens to a pinstriper when authritis gets the upper hand on them , i can see how it will work for straight lines and thats great ! might be the begining of a wonderfull thing
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