Did you know pinstriping has a long history? Even before the invention of
automobiles, pinstriping was used as an ornamental decoration for horse and buggy
carriages.
Custom pinstripes started appearing on automobiles in the mid-1950s. Although pinstriping
had been on cars long before that, the last American car to appear with auto pinstriping
had been made by General Motors in the late 30’s.
For those individuals with muscle or sports cars, customizing their ride is an important
part of owning and showcasing the vehicle, and pinstriping is a final touch.
Pinstripes are commonly painted in two colors: one that sets off the body color, and
another, thin line, in a color contrasted with the stripe to make it stand out.
Mechanical pin striping is the best way to stripe larger vehicles- trucks, vans, or
station wagons. The benefit is it lays down stripes of constant width, letting you focus
attention on getting the stripe oriented properly along your working surface. You can set
up your stripe lines using magnetic pinstriping strips with center grooves designed to be
paint templates. They hold fast to steel surfaces, and can also work as guidea for your
hand.
Striping with stencil tape is also popular. There are several types of stencil tape that
are suitable for auto pinstriping applications. Stencil tape striping uses brushes, and a
specialized pinstriping brush is an essential ingredient in a successful project. Stencil
tape allows you to apply different color stripes without needing the other stripes to dry.
Freehand pinstriping is the most difficult method, requiring the most practice to master,
but permits unrestricted creativity. The simplest plan for a freehand striping newbie is
to lay a strip of masking tape down approximately a quarter inch from where you want the
finished line to be, and then use this tape as visual guiding for your stripes. Whatever
you do, don’t use regular masking tape, or your pinstriping paint will bleed under
the edge. Get some auto body masking tape from an auto supply store.
No matter what method you use, pinstriping is one of the finest ways to make your vehicle
distinctive. Just like anything else worth doing right, practice makes priceless results
but having the best equipment you can get your hands on helps too.
About the Author
Carlo Morelli is a contributor to Caroom.us where
you can read more about pinstriping
