I'm doing a little "no budget" paint job and I have a couple of questions.

I am going to have two different colors separated by pinstriping when it's finished(hopefully). One color will be a pattern separated by the pinstriping from the rest of the body panel which will be another color.

What I need to know is: Do I paint the pattern color first, then mask off and spray the main color, or the other way around? If it matters, the background (main) color is dark, and the pattern color is light.

Also, I bought the pinstriping thinking I would use it to put the pattern on for masking and then remove it and re-stripe the finished product. Am I all washed up? I couldn't find a masking tape that was narrow enough. It's going to be a freehand pattern and it needs to make bends and curves. I don't know how hard it's going to be to peel off the pinstriping though.

Email, [email protected]

I'd say lay down the base color first. Then lay down your top color. Once done you can color sand the line where the two color meet. To get ride of the ridge.

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oddly obsessed with big scoops on little Mustangs

65 coupe 351w C4 Big Boss 429 hood scoop,8" 3.40 TracLoc.

Yeah I was hoping Big D was gonna pop in and give some advice.

I'll have to see if I can find some of that tape now.

My thought is you are doing something like a solid base color, with pinstriping seperating that from say a checkered flag pattern that you are putting on the rest of the car, OR you are making a pattern in a soild top coat that you are outlining in the pinstriping (your basic flame job).

I think either way, i would do the pattern part last, but as mentioned it might be more of a pain to mask it that way.

you said your base is dark, and the pattern is light, dark usually covers light easier than light covers dark.

If you are using a single stage paint and you are planning on striping it, you could roll the tape edge so you have a smoother transition, since you are covering it with the stripe anyway, that way you won't have a depth difference that you might see through the striping, if you are clearing it then that's not an issue.

I'm no expert though, i would consider myself a novice at best

I agree with what everyone else is saying.. Any Auto paint shop should have the 3M Fine Line Tape.. I even saw it in 1/2"..

We've always:
1. laid down the base coat
2. tape your graphics,, flames,, or two tone line,, and cover/mask the the new base coat with tape and paper
3. paint the taped off area
4. Pull the tape and paint clear coate over everything..

By the way.. How's your foot..

quote:

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Originally posted by Big D:
Hey Joe,,

I agree with what everyone else is saying.. Any Auto paint shop should have the 3M Fine Line Tape.. I even saw it in 1/2"..

We've always:
1. laid down the base coat
2. tape your graphics,, flames,, or two tone line,, and cover/mask the the new base coat with tape and paper
3. paint the taped off area
4. Pull the tape and paint clear coate over everything..

But if your small area is light,, I'd probably paint it first,, like Dubz says..

By the way.. How's your foot..

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Just got back from the Basque Dinner House.. Too many Pecan Punches..

What I'm doing is sprucing up my lawn tractor.

Dubz guessed it right, I'm going to try and flame it. Just wish Big D was here to get the flames on it.

I'm gonna paint it FORD blue(says it right on the can) with yellow flames. I bought some black pinstriping to outline the flames when its done.

So I should probably paint the yellow first,huh?

Just not sure if I'm gonna be able to get the flame pattern on it.

Paint the Base Color (Blue) First.. Then tape the design on top of the Blue.. If you paint a coat of White before the Yellow,, it will make the yellow brighter..

Basically follow the steps I put down in the previous post..

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Don
6T6 Fastback
331 STROKER, T-5
Royal Blue Metallic w/SoonToBeNewAndImprovedFlames
http://mustangsandmore.50megs.com/MembersPics/BigD.html
First Time out..
13.384 sec @ 103.388 mph

Here's some flames I painted on my Thermos a couple of weeks ago.. Painted the Blue - Taped the flames and masked off all the blue area I didn't want painted yellow - painted the yellow,, hit the tips with a little red - pulled the tape off and sprayed clear over the entire painted area..

I just wanted to make sure which thermos was mine.. If you notice the dings,, I didn't do any body work first..

That's pretty much the same thing I want to do to the garden tractor, same colors too.

Don I have had several people ask me where I got that shirt

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oddly obsessed with big scoops on little Mustangs

65 coupe 351w C4 Big Boss 429 hood scoop,8" 3.40 TracLoc.

quote:

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Originally posted by mustangs68:
I'm about to hijack...LOL

Don I have had several people ask me where I got that shirt

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Tell them they are FOR SALE and give them my email address.. I am looking at buying a 4 or 6 color silk screening machine..

I've taken digital pics of all the shirts I've created.. (and named the flame after the person I gave it to..) I can take that picture,, work it over in Corel Draw/PhotoPaint,, cut the flame out and make color seperations of the flames ready for printing..

They will be part of my catalog of prints available.. Trust me,, I am getting quite the selection..

What's cool is someone can mix & match sleeves,, chest,, what ever they want.. Or I can create a custom shirt,, but it will soon be for a price $$$..

So,, someone could actually have copies of Sam's Place Printed..

So far so good. Got the rest of the old paint off this morning, sanded, washed, and base coat on(Ford Blue). Took a trip to NAPA(they had the fine line tape). Came home and spent about 3 hours putting on the pattern and masking it off. Wow, talk about tedious.

GOOD LUCK & BY ALL MEANS,, HAVE FUN..

I understand the cost in custom paint jobs now. What a pain to get everything masked off. I can't believe I'm putting this much effort into a riding mower

This was actually a pretty fun project. I had my doubts that I could get a decent flame pattern going, but it turned out ok I think. I can't draw flames for the life of me, but the fine line tape seemed pretty easy to work with.

Didn't use a pattern and did it freehand so it's not symmetrical, but that's what I like about flames...don't gotta be perfect.

http://www.harikkeinter.net/HOTROD-FLAMES.jpg

Or this?

http://www.connerycustompaint.com/flames.html

Here you go:

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oddly obsessed with big scoops on little Mustangs

65 coupe 351w C4 Big Boss 429 hood scoop,8" 3.40 TracLoc.

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oddly obsessed with big scoops on little Mustangs

65 coupe 351w C4 Big Boss 429 hood scoop,8" 3.40 TracLoc.

Realistic Flames or Fire are much more detailed and complicated than taping of a design and painting it.. It takes layer after layer of colors combined with knowing exactly how to use specialty tool,, templates and color combinations..

Some of you may have see the documentary about the guy in Washington State that paints fire flames.. He's done bunches,, especially for a local pizza company,, painting their rigs,, boat and helicopter.. He does good work,, but he's been at it a long time..

Check out the link below for some how to info..

http://www.autobodydepot.net/scripts/depot.exe?pgm=lcgate.bbx&custnum=WEB-CUST++&password=&sesid=0308133729

A good way to practice making flames is to get a hood,, door,, fender,, and some 3M fine line Blue and tape away.. And if you don't like what you just created,, rip it off and do it again.. Buy some 1/4" & 1/8" and see what works best for you.. 1/8" is easier to make loops and turns,, but 1/4" makes smoother and more consistant lines..

It's FUN and like Joe says,, even if you can't draw well the tape naturally flows and makes it easier to create YOUR FLAMES.. Trust me,, there are no two flames that are the same.. Everyone has their own style.. That's what I love about designing flames,, "THERE ARE NO RULES"..

It's just like everything else.. The more you do it,, the easier it gets.. Bet you couln't ride a bicycle the first time you tried..

One final note.. When you're creating your design,, don't have someone looking over your shoulder.. If a friend wants to learn at the same time,, that's cool.. But,, having someone critic your flame as you creating and learning,, SUCKS,, especially when you haven't really tried taping before.. I've actually had to ask friends to LEAVE,, because critisism hinders creativity..

Well, almost. I still need to clearcoat it and maybe a little color sanding, but it's painted and unmasked.

Looks mean for a lawn tractor. The neighbors are gonna think I'm looney.

Just make sure you don't put Clear Lacquer on it.. They sometimes don't mix well..

It's neat when you pull the tape off,, isn't it.. Because untill you do,, it's hard to tell exactly what you have..

Sounds Like You Did A GOOD JOB..

and about the neighbors.. That's all part of the FUN with Flames..

You were asking about Realistic Flames.. Check out the Link Below and see what one of our new sponsors has to offer..

http://www.eastwoodco.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=11335&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=640&iSubCat=640&iProductID=11335

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/iamthewreckingcrew/my_photos

Good Job.. FLAMES ARE FUN..