[suedespade]

Alright, I've already looked through the forum at all the flame painting threads and none answer the question I'm asking, so here goes.... What is the best way to lay down flames when actually spraying the pinstripe and not free handing them? I know that you spray your pinstripe color first and then lay out your flames with whatever size tape you want your stripes to be (typicaly 1/8"). But is it best to spray the stripe base color and then clear it and then wetsand and layout the flames, or just lay down the base and then the flames without the clear. Ok, after that then is it best to shoot the flames first and then the outside color, or the other way. And should each be cleared and wet sanded before the other is shot or wait till the end and pour on the clear to smooth out those edges and then a final wetsand and polish????? The only reason I'm wanting to do it this way is cus I haven't done any pinstriping myself but I know how to paint and I'd like to do this whole thing from start to finish myself.

Any help is much appreciated and a big "THANKS" to all in advance!

[BT61]

The way I'm doing it (right or wrong) is BC/CC entire car. Color sand, mask flames, shoot pinstripe color, clear coat, mask pinstripe, shoot flame color, unmask and clear coat. Color sand and buff entire car. By clear coating between colors you can fix any mistakes caused by tape lift or overspray.

[Kevin45]

Suede...Rush right out and pick up a copy of Street Rod Builder. There is a large article on Flame Basics. The paint, color, and layout ideas. About a 10 page step by step article.

Kevin

[jwart]

I paint custom bikes everday. i would spray base coat & inner coat clear ( means no catalyst in this type of clear but needs to be catalysed clear coated) choice then on your painting experience
1: easiest if spray your strip color on edge of tape line for flames as this helps build up. most stripe jobs are solid color- if any tape lifts/bleeds you can easily touch up. then tape off pinstripe with 1/32,1/16 or 1/8th tape to your discretion. shoot your flame colors- plural as fades can make flame job. peel, paint, & clear 3-4 coats. 1st 1-2 coats spray panel up to your flame but not on them, come back on next 2-3 coats over everything to help level it all. after dry, wet sand with block to cut down edges & any excess orange peel. rub out or reclear again.dry wet sand again staying away from edges & gaps. buff till you see your smiling face & no scratches putting wrinkles in your reflection.

2: paint thru flame job & clear.-if it is mettalic, pearl, or color changing type of paint. solids can normally be taped off without clear do to easy touch up if any. tape off stripe - optional 3m fine line tape #06314 has 8 pullouts all together so you can pull to choice creating multi line & spaced stripes. this can really give a pro look on bigger surface like car panels. back to clear & rub, or clear sand clear sand & rub for show quality. keep it glossy jw