Pintsriping questions...

[VonYinzer]

Any stripers out there who can reccomend the best brushes to buy to start out?

 

[Rocan]

Any stripers out there who can reccomend the best brushes to buy to start out?

im curious too! one of those arts i need to learn...

 

[DrJ]

Pro pinstriping brushes aren't cheap. I assume everyone starts off with a set of Macks in various widths and a can of One Shot enamel.

 

[VonYinzer]

Ya thats my assumption as well. I was just going to buy a mid priced set of Macks and start there, but I didnt want to spend the money if they were garbage.

 

[DrJ]

Well there's no such thing as cheap economy pinstripe brushes. They are a very specialized tool that sell in low volumes. The Macks are decent quality enough for your first set. A good striper can get pro results with Macks but a not so good striper can't do squat with the best brushes made. It's really the skill of the user that determines the quality of the lines.

 

[VonYinzer]

Understood...

Im really not looking to get into striping as much as Id like to be able to do some basic line work and outlining on the 350 chop. So Im thinking that the Macks should be just fine.

 

[Aetsh]

Nice little tutorial..

http://www.customclassictrucks.com/techarticles/0609cct_how_to_do_pinstriping/index.html

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MACK-Sword-Striper-PINSTRIPING-BRUSH-20-SERIES-Size-00-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2c56b32adaQQitemZ190433143514QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools

Green wrapped, Mack 00

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1-4-pint-One-Shot-pinstriping-enamel-Black-/290174426725?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item438fbe5e65

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1-4-pint-One-Shot-pinstriping-enamel-Bright-Red-/290174426111?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item438fbe5bff

Coupla paints.. The paints CAN get expensive, just due to shipping... Find a local sign shop, and ask if they sell 1-shot paint..WAY cheaper that way.. We have "Bud's sign's" in Youngstown, and for the 1/4 pint price on ebay shipped ($15), I can get 1/2 pints for that price, and don't have to wait for shipping time..

My Mack just fell apart after 1 year of use, or I'd bring my box down for you and you could try out laying a few lines this weekend... Maybe I'll stop at Bud's on friday and grab a brush

Another AWESOME place with good prices, is Kingpin Tattoo supply, They have a full line of Mack and 1-shot stuffs

http://kingpintattoosupply.com/pinstripingsupplies.aspx

Actually, their 1/4 pints, are cheaper than ebay, and they'll combine shipping for you which in the end will be cheaper.

I do strongly reccomend getting AT LEAST 2 colors, other wise, you'll get bored quick.. You can get 1 can, and start laying lines that way, but you will get bored quick, plus they really start "coming together" when you do 2 color pieces ;D

 

[hurricane7]

All good info above.

If you're planning on any tight radius curves, you may also want to get a scrolling/script brush. Making tight turns with a sword can be a pain in the ass!

1-Shot is definitely the best flowing enamel for striping, and "over topcoat" apps. There are other, faster drying striping paints available from House of Kolor, SEM. If you're going to clear over the stripes, those may be the way to go, but they aren't as opaque. Some clear coats have an extremely undesirable effect on 1-Shot!, though I've used PPG DCU2042 over it without any problems.

Grab a piece of glass, load up the brush and practice, practice, practice!

 

[baader]

Start with a regular sword and when you can lay lines with it, you can start finding your own style and different brushes.
If you can pull a tight curve with a blue mack, you can do that with pretty much any brush.

Kafka stripers are the easiest to get good curves with, I use mostly Kafka and some daggers.

 

[Uncle Ernie]

I've thought about doing more. You really appreciate skills after you've tried something yourself.

When I saw this fender, tears welled up in my eyes and my throat got real thick.
It looks so simple- but I know what it takes to get that kind of clean, tight curve. It's so perfect...
This guy is cheap, too. I feel dumb even trying now.

 

[Aetsh]

Agreed..As simple as that looks, It'd be a MF'er to get perfect!

 

[MarcW]

I like my macks although all I've really used is the "00". I got a set from eastwood with 3 brushes and 2 half pints of one shot for pretty cheap about a year ago. You got to pick your colors, also came with a dvd reproduction of a tutorial from the 80's!!


That fender is amazing!!

 

[Swagger]

I have used both Mitch Kim and Brad Bertram for striping work in the past. Both do amazing work and the thing that comes to mind now...they both make their own brushes at least on occasion. That's going to be beyond the beginner, but I think it's cool that it always comes back to making your own!

I too bought a basic setup from Eastwood and it's a decent place to start learning....

 

[ryanglade]

I just started learning also. I found a local sign supply store and went in I ended up buying a blue mack and a kafka. I will say the kafka brush is way easier for me. I feel that I can control it better, I have seen people pull off some AMAZING work with a mack, but it is harder for me. I want to get another brush or two and keep trying but I am still way in the beginner stage that I feel weird even giving an opinion.

 

[Uncle Ernie]

Why do you like the Kafka more than the mack?

 

[ryanglade]

The mack is a "sword" It is shaped very full with a "blade".

The Kafka is kind of a scrolling brush, the bristles are still long but the brush is thin and seems to move better for me. I was trying the mack and having a hard time and then I tried the same practice strokes with the Kafka and it just seemed to flow better for me. I still suck but I suck a little less with the kafka.

 

[baader]

The thing with kafka is that you don´t have to roll the brush, it´s way easier to get tight curves.
Getting clean sharp connections is easier with a traditional brush.