Customizing Your Car: Pinstriping Basics

Did you know pinstriping has a long history? Before the invention of automobiles, pinstriping was used as an ornamental decoration for horse and buggy carriages.

Custom pinstripes started appearing on cars in the mid-1950s. Although pinstriping was on cars long before that, the last American car to appear with auto pinstriping was made by General Motors in the late 30's. For those individuals with sports or muscle cars, customizing their ride is an important part of owning and showcasing the automobile, and pinstriping is a last touch.

Pinstripes are generally painted in two colors: one that puts off the body color, and another, thin line, in a colour contrasted with the stripe to make it stand out.

Mechanical pin striping is the ideal way to stripe bigger vehicles- trucks, vans, or station wagons. The advantage is that it lays down stripes of constant width, permitting you to concentrate attention on obtaining the stripe oriented correctly together your working surface. You may set up your stripe lines using magnetic pinstriping strips with centre grooves designed to be paint templates. They hold fast to steel surfaces, and may also function as guidea on your hand.

Striping with stencil tape is also common. There are lots of types of stencil tape which are acceptable for auto pinstriping applications. Stencil tape striping uses brushes, and a technical pinstriping brush is a vital ingredient in a successful project. Stencil tape permits you to apply different color stripes without having the other stripes to dry.

Freehand pinstriping is the toughest method, requiring the most practice to master, but allows unrestricted creativity. The easiest strategy for a freehand striping newbie would be to put a strip of masking tape approximately a quarter inch from where you want the final line to be, then use this tape as visual counseling to your stripes. Whatever you do, do not use regular masking tape, or your pinstriping paint will bleed under the edge. Get some auto body masking tape from an auto supply store.

Regardless of what method you use, pinstriping is one of the best ways of making your car or truck distinctive. Exactly like anything else worth doing right, practice makes priceless outcomes but having the best gear you can get your hands on helps also.