correct process for painting stripes?

[kortensi]

Hello all,

I have a question about how best to paint stripes.

I have attached some pictures of what I am planning to do below.

My project is a 1971 Corvette. I am thinking of the primary color as 2007 LeMans Blue with either a charcoal grey or off white stipe.

I have done a bit of research and I have found about 3 primary ways that people are doing this. I wanted to see what the general consensus on this forum is. Let’s assume that I have already prepped the car, sprayed the epoxy, primer, and sealer and I am ready to go with color.

Option 1 – Spray the stripe color along the hood, roof and rear until you get full coverage. Use the 3M fine line tape to cover the parts of the stripe you want to keep. Then spray the blue until you get full coverage. Remove the tape and clear it all.

Option 2 – Spray the whole car with the blue, tape it off with the fine line tape exposing only where you want the strip to be. Spray the stripe and then remove the tape and clear everything.

Option 3 – Spray the whole car with the blue, spray 2 coats of clear. Tape it off with the fine line tape exposing only where you want the strip to be. Sand with 600 wet. Spray the stripe and then remove the tape and clear everything 3 times.

or something like this

Thanks for reading.

KO

 

[NYTrainer]

I've done stripes like your pics show countless times on Chevelles, etc. and, when you are painting the whole car, your option #1 is the way I have always chosen to do them. A little tricky sometimes to reverse tape but easy enough to figure out. Not sure you are asking but here's how I would do it...
I'd mask car and shoot the stripe color to coverage in the areas where you want the stripe to be. On the immediate edge of the wide stripes you will place fine line tape (let's assume 1/4 inch gaps) so the outside of the tape edges are the final width dimension you want the larger stripe(s) to be (ex. if your main stripe is to be 16" the outer edges of the fine line tape placed will be 16" (when later peeled off it will obviously be the stripe color you had taped over).
Once that layout is completed you will abut another length of 1/4" fine line tape right against the first tape completely around the perimeter (this piece will later be removed prior to shooting main color). A third length of 1/4" fine line will then abut the other two. You can now pull out the (2nd) middle piece of tape, mask off the larger stripe(s), re-mask the car and shoot the main color. Re-mask and clearcoat entire car. Applying a flowcoat, after sanding the first coats of clear with 800, will help bury the edges of the stripes.
A couple of things are assumed like proper paint prep, flash times for what paints you are using, etc. I might also consider using an intercoat clear between base colors. Also I prefer the blue 3M tape over the standard fine line tape especially with 3/16 or wider border stripes.
Seems like a lot of work and it can be. I think option # 1 is easier in the long run (less masking for ex.). Also I don't like the stripes sitting on top of the main color like option 2 & 3. The stripe edges, I have found, hide better in the clear with option # 1.

 

[Jim C]

my first choice to do any kind of masking is always #1 if you can get away with it.