Pinstriping Tricks

Pinstriping is very thin lines of paint or tape material, usually applied to the painted or finished surface of a surfboard, motorcycle, truck, boat, car, or other item. Pinstriping is done to add decoration and to create a custom design. It takes a steady hand, a little artistic talent, and lots of patience to apply pinstriping properly.

Practice

Alan Johnson, in his book, “How to Pinstripe,” has good advice – if you want to learn how to pinstripe, go buy a gallon of lettering paint and a few brushes and practice. When you “get to the bottom of the can,” you’ll know how to pinstripe. The art takes lots of practice, and the only way to get that is to just do it. If your chosen method of pinstriping uses tape instead of paint, get yourself a case of pinstriping tape and practice with that.

Observe

Go to car shows, trade shows, and seek out pinstriping experts. Ask questions, read books, learn new strokes, and practice some more. If you can get an apprenticeship with an expert pinstriper, that’s even better. Don’t expect to learn everything at once – but keep learning, and watch the experts. You learn how to do something by watching someone who knows how to do it. Learn the technique from the experts, and apply what you learn to your own work.

Tools

Make sure you have the right tools. If you don’t have the right paintbrushes, paint, or tape, you can’t do a proper job at pinstriping anything. Ask the experts to recommend their favorite tools. Try out a bunch of different brands or styles until you find which ones work best for you.

Surface Prep

No matter if you plan to pinstripe an area using tape or paint, proper surface preparation is indispensable. Make sure the surface is clean – rubbing alcohol does the trick – and dry. The air temperature of the area or room in which you are working and the surface of the material on which you plan to pinstripe should be between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. This is to ensure proper adhesion if you’re using tape, and for proper paint curing in the case of painted stripes.

Technique

If you are applying pinstriping tape, have your pattern close by. If you are using a stencil, transfer your design onto the surface and lay the tape over that. Or you can apply your tape freehand – easy-peel tape works to act as a guide if you need help keeping your lines straight. If you are painting your pinstripes, you can go freehand or use a stencil and easy-peel tape or powder to mark beside where your lines will go. To keep your lines consistent, make sure you keep your brush the same distance from your surface.

References

• How To Pin Stripe; Alan Johnson; 2007
• Pinstriping By Rocky Jr.; Learning How To Learn Pinstriping