How to get started pinstriping?

Chris I just use ordinary motor oil, new stuff of course. I did read some palce a while back that the additives in modern oils can be detrimental to the brush hair. But I have never had a problem. I have also never had a problem with the oil affecting the paint. I don't just dip the cleaned brush in the oil and leave it at that. I dip say half the brush in the oil and pull the excess out through my fingers. Geoff aka Whodaky

 

I'm often surprised by just how much paint the oil actualy brings out of the cleaned brush.

However, I have another question and it's to do with 'drag'. My old fingers seem to have had the prints almost worn off the ends and as such you'd think they should glide smoothly over any surface. Not so.

My biggest problem is drag when pulling long lines which tends to make the line go a bit shaky. So my question is, how do I get my hands to glide over the surface for a smoother line. I was thinkin maybe teflon gloves.

Read in the book that some guys use talcum poweder, so I tried that and got friggin powder all over the shop.

 

Thanks, that helps.
Chris

 

Guys pulling long lines is a matter of control, that's why I don't.

But, the tip of using talc is worth trying. Just use some on your pulling hand and only on your 'lil finger. The one ya use to steady your hand as ya go.

Another tip is for shaking hands and steading yourself as you begin to lay lines. Take a full breath, hold for a second and then let half out. You'll be amazed on how it steadies you and gives ya strength. Hope it helps.

Joel

 

I've been following this thread for awhile now and I've seen a lot of good info get posted.There have been a couple of questions in regards to brush oil,paint consistency,shakiness,etc. that I might be able to help out on.Remember,these are just my opinions based on my experiences;some of you may have different solutions.
I guess I'll start with brush oil.My personal preference is Wall Dog Brush Oil.I have used many things in the past:lard oil(turns rancid in hot weather and gums up the brush),various types of motor oil,trans fluid,air conditioning compressor oil,Marvel Mystery Oil to name a few.All seemed to preserve the brush pretty well but were difficult to completely clean out of the brush prior to striping and would sometimes create,"fish eyes"in the paint.
A lot of people use fish eye eliminator(Smoothee is one brand)but this creates a couple of other problems.Smoothee is essentially pure silicone and will contaminate any paint it comes in contact with as well as the brush you are using.You CANNOT spray over striping that has this stuff in it.Likewise if you use it in sprayed on paint it cannot be recoated.
I've used boiled linseed oil as a preservative but this dries out in the brush and is difficult to remove.
I've even used whale oil which works great but is near impossible to find.I had a small can of it that my grandmother used to lubricate her sewing machine with but that is long gone.
So after trying all this stuff,I started using Sapphire Brush Oil which is basically sunflower oil and some additives.Sadly they are no longer in business but the owner of WallDog products managed to make a very close copy and it works great.It is available through Mack Brush(and probably other sources)and costs about $7.50 a quart.I recommend it highly.It is easy to remove from brushes for use and will not harden with age.
OK;in regard to pulling a long straight line.A number of factors enter into this:The surface must be clean,you need to have something to rest your guide finger on(either a molding,a body crease,a piece of tape,or a magnetic strip),the vehicle should be out of the wind and sun,and you have to have the proper paint consistency.
I prefer to use a magnetic strip if possible(on aluminum and fibreglass cars I use a piece of tape).One hint that makes it easier to get the magnet straight is to lay down a piece of 1/4" tape first and then lay the magnet up against the bottom edge of the tape(it's much easier to see than a body line)and then pull the tape.
Another hint here:if you are doing a double stripe and you are right handed,pull your stripe from right to left and do the top stripe first;that way you can see your spacing when you come back to do the second line.Lefties work the opposite way but still do the top stripe first.
For proper paint consistency doing a long stripe,you will want the paint much thinner than if you are doing designs.I palette my brush by loading paint from the can and working it on a piece of glossy paper(the best are those little catalogs your wife or girlfriend gets about 50 of every day in the mail).I dip the brush in some thinner(mineral spirits usually)and work this into the paint.I flip the brush over as I palette back and forth to get the paint distributed evenly in the brush.Ideally the brush should go through the paint with just a hint of hesitation.When you think you have it right,test it on the palette.The line should not spread out sideways when you put the tip down;if it does the paint is too thin and will need more paint added.Too thick and you need to add thinner.
To pull a long line(I'm left handed so I pull from left to right)I place my left foot down and lean all my weight on it as I lay my small finger on the bottom edge of the magnet and the tip of the brush about 1/2"above the magnet and start pulling the line slowly but evenly as I gradually shift my weight from my left foot to my right.PPOC had the breathing thing down but as you do it it happens automatically.The theory behind this is as you slowly exhale all your muscles are relaxing.
Using this technique you can pull a line about 2 1/2 feet before you have to lift the brush.One more thing:as you are pulling the line,don't put pressure on the guide with your finger as this has a tendency to induce shaking in your hand.The lighter the pressure the better.
To put the brush back onto the line,assume the previous position and drop the brush gradually onto the line about 3-4"from where you stopped and gradually bring the brush down until it is at the proper width.You may have to go back a couple times initially but with practice it will come naturally.
Repeat this procedure until you reach the end.If the paint is thinned properly and the temperature and wind are favorable,you should be able to run a line the entire length of the car with out reloading the brush.It may sound impossible but it is true.
I know this is by no means a complete how-to on striping but there are some good basics here;the rest is up to YOU!
KEEP THEM BRUSHES WET!!!

 

Ray, that was great!

Well boys, there ya go. It don't get any better than that.

Now go have at it and practice, practice, and practice.

Joel

 

Here's a tip for steadying your hands, taught to me by my college Photography professor. Have a beer before you begin. Note: a beer, not 2 beers, or 3 beers. A beer. Seemed to work ok, cause none of my photos ended up blurry.

-Jeff

 

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Here's a tip for steadying your hands, taught to me by my college Photography professor. Have a beer before you begin. Note: a beer, not 2 beers, or 3 beers. A beer. Seemed to work ok, cause none of my photos ended up blurry.

-Jeff

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Being as how alcohol is a depressant,it's possible that it might work on someone who is by nature a little apprehensive.I'm glad someone brought this up because I would like to talk a bit about the relationship of alcohol consumption versus painting ability;I doubt there is one.
I have heard stories related about mythical sign painters who had to consume X amount of alcohol before they could even pick up a brush.I put these tales in the same catagory as the infamous 32 roadsters left in a barn while the owner went off to war,etc. etc.;mostly tales and almost without question lofty ones at that.
I have heard people who I don't even know say to others:"Oh yeah I know Ray;he has to have a couple of six packs before he even starts to paint!"Well let me say this:that's pure BULLSHIT!
In my 48 years of painting,I have painted exactly 2 times while drinking and neither of them stayed on the vehicle after I sobered up!Alcohol(or weed)is NOT going to make you a better painter;PRACTICE IS!Write this on the blackboard 100 times!
I would like to see just ONE person who can paint better drunk(or stoned)than sober and I have been searching for that person for a LONG time.
I think you can trace the origin of this myth to a couple of sources:One is that certain people who were pretty fair sign artists in their own right as they worked with paint(mostly lacquers in early times)became chemically dependent on the fumes and required them just to go through a day without pain and headaches,etc.,and I think you would find that their quality of work declined as their dependence on chemicals or alcohol increased.
Another possibility is that some of these people who took up the profession were itinerant laborers who probably drank to keep themselves from feeling the pain of a hard life and were possibly assistants to actual sign artists.People would see them working with a sign artist and figure that they were one also.
The only time I saw an exception to this(and on reflection,it may not have been)was my ex-wife's cousin's husband.Actually I think it was just self-induced dementia.
He was a college graduate who worked as a speech therapist with hearing impaired children and stumbled onto LSD(they lived just outside of Harvard Square in Cambridge Mass where you could buy anything in the early 70's),took it continuously for about 3 years(never quite coming down)and did these incredibly detailed paintings which seemed to have a recurring theme(spirals and demons).He lost his job,devoted his whole time to painting,and could not carry on an intelligent conversation with anyone,even his wife and 4 children.
The last time I saw him was at a birthday party for my wife's grandmother.He had shaved his head and was sitting with his back to a wall on the floor in the living room.I managed to find out through his wife that he was convinced computers were taking over the world(this was about 1975)so he was practicing how to talk like a computer.All afternoon he sat there making noises like a machine running.
The last I heard of him was that he had lost his eyesight and had to be institutionalized.A very sad end for someone who was so talented.
Anyway this has gotten way off track.I just felt I had to make a statement about drinking and painting.Take it for what it's worth.

 

Ray, thanx for that.

I can also say that since I gave up the booze, partying is a lot more fun and it hasn't had a detrimental affect on anything else I do.

 

BUY THIS BOOK!!!!...Pinstriping and Vehicle Graphics..by John Hannukaine...I have a stack of books and literature about the subject...but this one is the best'

 

Hey safarinut was that guy missing an ear by any chance? Anyways, thanks for all the info you guys. Just tried tonight for the first time. Very difficult hobby you guys have. When you guys reload your brush do you dip it in the can every time and then fan out the brush on paper or use the edge of the can?
Chris

 

If your sticky fingers won't slide smoothly across the surface,
get a small bottle of cheap Baby Powder,
and put some on the fingers that touch the surface.
Not the fingers holding the brush.

If your right handed,shake some powder into the palm of your left hand,
then transfer it to the finger tips of your right hand.

 

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When you guys reload your brush do you dip it in the can every time ...

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Put a couple CCs of paint in a plastic medicine cup,and work out out that.


There is lots of good info in the archives,and the TechOmatic.

 

Wasn't there a tip somewhere in one of these pinstriping threads about using those light weave cotton gloves (like the ones photographers use for handling film), but you would cut the forefinger and thumb out for control... in order to prevent drag?

I like to use the special gloves for billiards (thumb, forefinger and middle finger covered) when I play pool, so I imagine the reverse would work well for pinstriping.

 

Ruttencutter, thanks for starting this post. I always great hearing how others do stuff.
Mr Carps so you get your artistic ability from your daughter? MMMMMMMM hope she doesn't become an art critic, will have to recall most of the works I have given you,if she does.
Actually Mr Carps, I am impressed that someone actually listens to what I have to say! Geoff aka whodaky

 

I have done exactly two cars while drunk......I hated the out come of one and the other was well ok, both at car shows, both for free (well the beer was supplied),....although I joke about it you've got to remeber that achohol inpares your judgement (just try and pull a consistant line when you can't tell how close to the car your brush is) The last ride I did I had had about 7 beers and was feeling good but not that far gone so it turned out ok but the lines didn't last as someone a bit more drunk than me rolled over them before they were dry (I couldn't even bare to look). Moral of the story is yes I can paint while drunk no I can't paint well while drunk(or sober). I paint all the time drunk, sober, tired , wired ....whatever......however it works best for you just make sure you keep pulling them lines and make progress...every line you pull will be better that the last..........

 

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Actually Mr Carps, I am impressed that someone actually listens to what I have to say! Geoff aka whodaky

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Hmmm, no good ya tryin to communicate with my kid then.

Funny thing is here boyfreind, 6'2" long ginger hair with a plait, wears long black overcoat and top hat, thinks I'm weird.

 

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I (just try and pull a consistant line when you can't tell how close to the car your brush is)

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Geez, I have that trouble sober (damned multifocals) can you imagine the mess I'd make if I got stuck into the grog?

 

Well, this is Scott's (the one who started this post) wife. I finally decided to join myself. = ) I just wanted to thank everyone for all of the helpful information. I have my shopping list now and I think he and I might go out tonight, if we get the chance to, and get everything needed to get started. Last night we visited Bugman and painted an old hood. That was a LOT of fun! Besides being a cool metalic purple color, I now have something big to practice striping on...when I get that far. Anyway, I am excited to get into it and start painting. Thanks again for everything!

~Lizz

 

good to see ya here and I fully expect to see your work on Friday...........

 

I have a pinstriping workshop coming up and all of those questions will be answered and more this coming November!!!
The info is on our website at www.jchetzstudio.com
Thanks,
Wetpaint