Tips on buying new and used cars contact | privacy | partner sites | free website content
Home » Misc. auto tips

Auto articles

» Buying a car

» Selling a car

» Auto maintenance

» Auto insurance

» Auto safety tips

» Misc. auto tips


Car games

» Rural Racer
» Park a lot 2
» Formula Fog

The three basic methods of car pinstriping

Before we talk about the different auto pinstriping methods we need to cover a couple of basic points :

1) Pinstripes are usually done in two colors: one that compliments the body color, and another, thin line, which contrasts to make the stripe stand out. There are no rules: color choice is a matter of personal preference .... and imagination !!!

2) Make sure the surface to pinstripe is absolutely clean. Get rid of all residue with a good pre-surface preparation product

OK, now to the different auto pinstriping techniques :

Mechanical Pinstriping

A mechanical auto pinstriping is the best for striping long areas like trucks, vans, or station wagons. The main advantage is that it puts down stripes of consistent width, letting you concentrate more on keeping the contour of the stripe aligned along your work surface. The Buegler pinstriper and accessories are one of the preferred by body shops and pinstripers for their high quality construction and consistent operation. The easiest way to use a Buegler striper is to set up your stripe line using a magnetic auto pinstriping strip. It adheres firmly to steel surfaces, forms mild curves, and has a center groove designed with the Buegler's guide arm in mind. The strip can also act as a guide for your hand.

Striping with Stencil Tape

There are several different stencil tapes that are suitable for almost any auto pinstriping application. Stencil tapes let you lay down stripes of different colors without waiting for the other stripes to dry.

Stencil tape striping requires brushes: the pinstriping brush is the most important element for an excellent final result.

Freehand Striping

This auto pinstriping method is the most advanced one and requires the most practice to master, but offers unlimited flexibility. The easiest method for the freehand striping novice is to lay down a strip of masking tape about ¼ inch from where you would like the line to be. Use the tape as a visual guide for your stripes. Do not use standard masking tape for edging pinstripes. the pinstriping paint will seep and bleed under the edge of standard masking tape. The pinstriping can be as plain or as fancy as your patience and level of skill allows.

Regardless of the design, pinstriping is one of the best ways to make your vehicle very unique. Like anything worth doing right, practice will make worthwhile results .... and having the best possible supplies is critical too.

About the author
Marc Deschamps is the editor of CarAccessoriesMagazine, a free online publication dedicated to automotive accessories, car care and related topics. Other articles full of information, tips and advice can be found at http://www.car-accessories-magazine.com.

The above article is free to distribute by any media as long as links are maintained.

marc@car-accessories-magazine.com


Latest auto articles

» Safety rules to consider when doing car maintenance yourself
Working on a car involves several risks which you should be aware of and prevent before actually starting the job.

» What to do when a cold engine is hard to start
Starting a car with a cold engine can be very difficult sometimes and it can become a real obstacle for those who live surrounded by extremely cold weathers.

» What to do when a hot engine is hard to start
Although usually engines exposed to cold weather is the most known problem related to car starting difficulties, hot engines might bring obstacles as well.

» Should a new set of tires be balanced
Many times people who buy a new set of tires wonder if they should have them balanced or not.

» Tips on which type of motor oil to choose
The first thing you should always have in mind at the time of choosing a motor oil is to choose one which respects the indications from your car owner's manual.

» What to do when the car is pulling to one side
If your car is pulling to one side it might be very uncomfortable to drive as well as you might not know what to do about it.

» Learn what the EGR valve is
As a general definition we can tell that the EGR valve is part of the exhaust emission control system of the car.

» What to do with a loose steering
A loose steering is not only uncomfortable for the driver but also is a risk to his safety as well as to the safety of all the other vehicles around him.

» How often to replace spark plugs in the engine
Spark plugs have a central role in the car functioning since your car depends on them for starting and running.

» What is the MAP all about?
MAP stands for Motorist Assurance Program and is a consumer oriented program created by the AMRA or Automotive Maintenance and Repair Association.

» How to change a tire without help
Learning how to change a tire can be one of the most useful things you could learn regarding your car.

» Why and how to check the antifreeze or coolant level
When extreme temperatures are near, it is very important to make sure that the cars antifreeze or coolant level is correct.

» What are leak down tests for?
A leak down test is a kind of compression test which allows measuring the ability of the cylinder to hold compression.

» Tips for replacing the clutch yourself
If you wonder if you can replace the clutch yourself, you should first consider how much knowledge you have regarding how to do it and the car pieces involved.

» Learn how to change the oil filter
Before you start following the procedure for changing your car's oil filter you should make sure you count with the elements necessary for it.

» Why does a car engine overheat?
There are many different reasons that can cause an engine overheat, but they all have in common three aspects.

» What does the PCV valve do?
The PCV valve is a control device which sends partially burned gases that come from the engine's crankcase to the combustion chamber.

» What is the choke exactly?
Although we might have an idea of what the choke is, often we don't really know how it really functions or what its exact purpose is.

» What to do when your car brakes are squealing
Brake squealing is a very common problem which might not only affect your car but it might also end up giving you headaches each time you drive.

» Learn how to choose the right fuel treatments for your car
Choosing the right fuel treatments might be the difference between your car mechanism's receiving bad deposits or not as well as it could reduce the engine's wear or increase it in case it was wrongly chosen.

» Some tips regarding how to change your car's battery
Keeping your car's battery in well shape and making sure it functions properly is very important for the overall functioning of your car.

» Some guidance on how to change your wiper blades
Although it might not be one of the car parts you might have to change very often, wiper blades can become a problem at the time of doing so.

» Learn how to properly check tire pressure
Tire pressure is one of the things a car needs to have checked most often.