Re: [CR] striping frames...

I know this is OT from lug lining, but I'd like to share a technique. My grandfather freehanded many a pin stripe. Never used a roller tool like this. His technique for complex designs or complex surfaces was to do a mock up on paper and tested the fit, alignment, etc. Then he removed the paper used a tracing wheel (like this http://missourifamilies.org/learningopps/learnmaterial/tools/toolsjb/tools400/tracewhlsqr400.jpg) to perforate the lines. The paper was then re-applied to the surface and, depending on the base color's value, either chalk or charcoal was rubbed onto the lines and transfered to the surface. These lines, although faint, were all he needed to paint freehand paint stripes. And I can't say for sure, but the chalk and charcoal did not mix with the paint nor interfere with adhesion.

I agree with Charles. There is a certain liveliness not found in the mechanically applied stripes. IMHO, practice is more valuable than this tool. Seems there is no easy DIY weekend solution to (high quality) pinstriping.

-- Garrett Belmont Los Angeles, CA

On Wed, Sep 2, 2009 at 7:44 PM, Charles Andrews <chasds@mindspring.com>wrote:
> Pablo Brena wrote:
>
> "I recently got a lugged frame, but I changed my mind about the detailing
> line in the lug edges,
> currently is black and want to change it to gold.
> Returning it to the builder is not practical and local car paint shops
> haven't been very helpful.
> Is it possible to do it with a paintbrush? In such a case what sort of
> paint should I look for?
> Any advice would be appreciated."
>
>
> You may need this:
>
>
> http://ebay.com/<blah>
>
> (No relation to seller).
>
> Emanuel Lowi
>
>
> &&&&&&&
>
> that looks like a cool tool...but, there's an interesting problem with
> tools like this. I was reminded of the problem recently when I had a 1950s
> Rene Herse tandem frame pinstriped and logo'd by our local striping ace. He
> applied the paint with a couple of special brushes. He used masking tape as
> a guide, but otherwise was free-handing the stripes with a brush...and they
> came out quite beautifully. Brush-applied stripes have special qualities
> that cannot, as far as I have seen, be duplicated by a striping wheel or
> pen. There is a difficult-to-describe liveliness to stripes done the
> old-fashioned way. The stripes vary a little in thickness, which is
> probably part of the effect.
>
> This liveliness is best seen on the old swiss bikes with the elaborate
> pinstriping. It may well be that they were using a wheel-tool to do this
> stuff--I have never been able to find out for sure how it was done. I'm
> guessing it was done like the old Schwinn paramounts were done, with a
> brush, mostly freehand, and probably quite rapidly. The Schwinns and the
> swiss bikes have that look...as if the stripes were done very quickly.
> Perhaps not, but that is the visual effect, to me.
>
> What I have seen is a airy liveliness to the striping on those old Swiss
> frames, while more modern repro striping often looks dead somehow---too
> thick maybe? To uniform in proportion perhaps? done too slowly, without a
> certain art?
>
> I dunno. I just know the old originals often look more entertaining than
> restorations when it comes to striping...but I'd love to be convinced that
> good striping in the old style can still be done. The guy who the Herse has
> made a career of it, mostly does cars and trucks, and he is a true artist.
>
> Charles Andrews
> Los Angeles
>
>
> "everyone has elites; the important thing is
> to change them from time to time."
>
> --Joseph Schumpeter, via Simon Johnson