Paint is drying on my tank

[JerseyBomber]

Just finished painting my tank tonight and I have discovered two very important things:

a. Flat black with a metallic flake red stripe edged in bright silver pin-stripes has to be one of the most beautiful combinations I've ever seen.

and b. I can't pin-stripe for shit.

Kinda bumed after all the prep and effort but im not about to redo it; it will serve as a lesson for next time.

The seat will be done to match the tank but in vinyl. Im very open to opinions on that, whether or not vinyl is a good idea on a hump-back seat pan.

 

[CanadaDan]

Would love to see better pics!

If you tape off the stripes and widen them a bit they'll straighten right out.

Kudos for doing your own paint man!

 

[HerrDeacon]

I know what you mean about stripes, what a pain. I just taped off mine last night and painted it. Will take off the tape tonight to see how it worked out. I had a really hard time getting everything straight though. Crossing my fingers for the unveiling tonight.

Dan's idea sounds great, that should work good.

 

[Tim]

Is the tape supposed to come off when the paint is still wet or dry? I thought it was supposed to come off while still wet.

 

[Canuck Plumber]

I left mine till it was just past tacky. Did you use the plastic pin stripe tape? Works really good. Leaves a cleaner edge.

 

[HerrDeacon]

When I did my seat I waited until it was dry (next day actually), worked out fine. After I removed it I just wetsanded to remove the raised edge and then clear coated it. Now you have me worried though.

I used normal painters tape for the outside lines, but I have two smaller inside stripes and I used vinyl tape for those. Creates a nice line but you have to be careful that you don't stretch it when putting it down as the width of the line narrows a bit then. Creates an uneven width line.

 

[locOleoN]

Just finished painting my tank tonight and I have discovered two very important things:

a. Flat black with a metallic flake red stripe edged in bright silver pin-stripes has to be one of the most beautiful combinations I've ever seen.

and b. I can't pin-stripe for shit.

Kinda bumed after all the prep and effort but im not about to redo it; it will serve as a lesson for next time.

The seat will be done to match the tank but in vinyl. Im very open to opinions on that, whether or not vinyl is a good idea on a hump-back seat pan.

Looks great!!.. I like the fact that you did the pinstriping yourself...
In my mind, it has more merit!!...

 

[JerseyBomber]

Thanks for the encouragement everyone. I used tape to make the stripe but I free handed the silver. Tonight I will tape it again and fix the silver. I just have two questions:

What kind of tape should i use on the red paint? I REALLY dont want it to peel up

Will flat black still be flat if i clearcoat it?

Thanks to everyone for their comments.

 

[rudy]

Thanks for the encouragement everyone. I used tape to make the stripe but I free handed the silver. Tonight I will tape it again and fix the silver. I just have two questions:

What kind of tape should i use on the red paint? I REALLY dont want it to peel up

Will flat black still be flat if i clearcoat it?

Thanks to everyone for their comments.

Looks good. Depending on what kind of paint you used, the red shouldn't peel with masking tape. I've used painter's green fineline for all my painting and striping. I have a Beugler striping tool as well, and it works awesome with a little practice. Never could find the vinyl tape. Anyway, if you clear the flat black with gloss clearcoat, it will turn glossy. There are certain rattlecan clears out there that are also flat or matte finish. You may have to look around for it, but they're out there. As well, you could always just wet sand the black part to make it flat again.