Painting Flames on a Tank

Painted flames and motorcycles seem to go hand-in-hand. Although practice is required in order to effectively paint flames, you can also use pinstripe and airbrush techniques to accomplish the task. In the end, you will have painted flames that will make you proud.

Things You'll Need

• 3/8-inch painter's tape
• Razor blade
• Automotive paint
• Paint sprayer
• Air brush gun

Instructions

1. Lay 3/8-inch wide painter's tape on the tank so it resembles the look of flames and creates the pin striping. Use pictures from a flamed gas tank as reference. Start your flames wide at the front of the tank and taper the tape to a point. The tape will bend easily, so take your time to create a flame pattern you are happy with. The outside edge of the tape will make up the outside lines of the flames, and the inside edge of the tape will become the inside edges of the pinstriped flames. Ultimately, the flame design is up to your artistic ability.

2. Inspect the tape for any raised edges that could allow paint to flow under the tape. Press the edges of the tape down with your finger to prevent the paint from bleeding under the tape.

3. Cut the tape that creates the tips of the flames with a razor blade to sharpen the flame points. Trim any excess pieces that you see. Cut lightly to prevent cutting into the motorcycle tank's base coat. It is best to use a sharp razor blade when cutting tape; this helps ensure you do not need to press hard to cut the tape.

4. Spray the tank with automotive paint. Use your preferred method of painting. Most painters use a HVLP, or high-volume low-pressure, paint system. However, you can use a basic air compressor driven painter if you choose. Follow the directions listed on the paint can for mixing, air pressure and drying times as they will differ per paint manufacturer.

5. Peel the painter's tape off the tank. Use the tip of a razor blade to peel the painter's tape up slightly and carefully peel the tape off. Even though the paint is hard, it is still relatively soft. If you simply pull the tape off, it could pull the paint with it. Take your time when pulling off the tape.

6. Fill the cup on your air brush gun with a paint that complements the colors of the tank and the colors of the pinstriped flames. Adjust the air gun until you obtain a straight spray pattern with very little overspray.

7. Add light lines of paint around the inside of the pinstripe to create a three-dimensional effect on the flame. Again, this process is completely up to your creativity. The more lines you add, the more three-dimensional your pinstripe will appear. The fewer lines you add, the more the pinstripe will appear as tribal flames.

References

• Wood Graining: Flames How To:
• Art Imagination: Paint Pinstripe Flames The easy Way
• "How to Create a Factory Guitar Finish with Just a Few Spray Cans" John Gleneiki; 2004