Prepare to pinstripe

• Published in: Automotive Body Repair News 2011-07, Vol.50 (7), p.26
• Main Author: Pivoda, Fay
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adhesives; Automotive repair services; Guidelines; Paints; Practice exercises; Vocational education
• ISSN: 2166-0751; 2166-2533

Step 1: Collect the proper tools. Obtain a good pinstriping brush like a Mack Series 10 Sword Striper brush (size 00), 1-shot paint, odorless mineral spirits, brush oil, a palette, practice surface, drill sheets, stir sticks, paper towels and razor blades. Step 2: Prepare your brushes. Begin by oiling the brush with straight motor oil and rinse with mineral spirits. Most often the brush will need trimmed slightly before it is used. This can be done by flattening the oiled bristles of the brush on a firm surface and using a new single-edged razor blade to trim off the tips of the longest bristles. Step 3: Practice correctly holding the brush. This is critical because it affects the angle, pressure and the ability of the pinstriper to roll the brush in his hand. To hold the brush correctly, place it between your thumb and index finger above the green wrapping on the brush called the ferrule. You will use your other finger as a bridge/guide to maintain a consistent distance on the painting surface/panel. Also, be sure to examine your brush - there's a flat and curved side. The flat side faces left and ensures the sword of the bristles is formed properly with the longer bristles at the top and shorter ones at the bottom. Step B: Practice pulling lines. Hold the loaded brush in the proper position and pull lines from top to bottom or north to south. Pull your hand/wrist/arm as a single structure without moving the individual parts. Your brush needs to remain at a constant position to the surface/ panel because any variances will show up in the line. An easy practice exercise is pulling two lines next to each other and trying to duplicate the space between them with every next line. A pinstriper needs to draw thousands of lines to achieve the consistency and muscle memory required to move to more advanced lines. Also practice left to right straight lines, right to left straight lines and all directional curve lines.