One trend that never really went away but is now more in the spotlight 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. Since we're 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's starting a school of custom painting called Kolor Kings. After a little begging on our part, he agreed to give us a one-on-one class on how to pull lines.
If you're 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 such as One Shot are good for interior or exterior use on metal, glass, or wood. Their flow characteristics ensure the virtual absence of brush marks and provide a clean, sharp edge. The enamels 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. Synthetics, which are man-made of either nylon or polyester, are very durable and are easier to clean but don't carry color as well as the 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 shaft of the hair.
1.Here is Steve's basic setup...
1.Here is Steve's basic setup and what you will most likely need. The two main tools required to stripe would be the brush and the paint. Steve says, "Pick up a few brushes or daggers in assorted sizes (he recommends Mack brushes) and some One Shot paint.
2.First thing we needed to...
2.First 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.
3.With your fingers, remove...
3.With your fingers, remove the excess material; you want the hairs of the brush to be loaded completely with color but not so much that it wont stay sharp when your fingers come off the end.
4.Now that Steve prepared...
4.Now that Steve prepared the brush, he told us to pull a few lines. We placed it between our thumb and index finger with the end of the brush where our thumb meets the palm. As you can see, the first line we pulled (top) was basically horrible. But as we got more comfortable, the lines became more consistent and straight, and by the last one (bottom) we were doing OK.
5.Steve looked at our lines...
5.Steve looked at our lines and told us our biggest problem was keeping the brush at the same distance from our panel. The higher the brush is, the thinner the line it will produce. We were inconsistent in that, so our line got fat and thin. Steve recommended that once we got the brush set in our hand, to basically lock all our joints and then use a piece of tape as a guide to keep us straight.
6.Here is another view of...
6.Here is another view of how to properly hold the brush. Note how he uses three fingers to base his hand. This is the best way to keep the lines consistent, and if you get in the habit of using this technique, good results will come sooner.
7a.After you get comfortable...
7a.After you get comfortable with straight lines, it's time to tackle curves. To produce a good curved line, you have to designate one of your base fingers as the pivot. Find the comfortable spot for your pivot finger and start. As the line curves, you will need to swing out your elbow and maybe even take a step and move your whole body to make it all the way around. Steve made it look easy and put down a near-perfect half circle compared with our lame line next to it.
7b.
7c.
8.If you're laying something...
8.If you're laying something out that has straights and curves, Steve recommends pulling the straight lines first and then connect the ends. That way if you blow it you can just wipe off a little bit and keep trying.
9.Another cool training technique...
9.Another cool training technique Steve showed us to make those symmetrical patterns is to make a pounce stencil. First make sure the area you want to stripe is cleaned with wax and grease remover.
10.A pounce stencil is made...
10.A pounce stencil is made by drawing a design on paper and then punching holes along the lines with what looks to be a cowboy spur on crack.
11.The holes will allow powder...
11.The holes will allow powder to go through and stick to the paint. Steve applies the powder by pouring some into a folded-up paper towel and then patting it over the stencil or pouncing it.
12.Now you have a perfect...
12.Now you have a perfect guide to follow and really hone your skills.
13a.When pulling long lines...
13a.When pulling long lines on new paint, you might find your hand kind of sticks instead of gliding down the panel. To cure this, keep some baby powder handy; it works great and won't damage your paint or stripes.
13b.
14.When you've mastered the...
14.When you've mastered the brush, you can start designing pieces such as this one Steve threw down on our cover truck.
15.When you're done practicing,...
15.When you're done practicing, make sure to clean out all the paint from the brush, then load it up with a light oil such as vegetable oil, as this will keep the brush pliable. It may gum up if left for a really long time, but you should be using them once a week while you practice.
16.We are just beginning to...
16.We are just beginning to stripe and will keep following these instructions 'til we can show you our work with pride. Until then, we'll leave the critical stuff to the professionals.