Paint for Striping

[newbie]

Happy Holidays to Everyone !!!!
I'm making progress on my first paint job. I now have my base color down and 2 coats of intraclear, on top of my epoxy primer. So far it looks good. I bought a cheap airbrush and played with that (I'm not artistic...at all) I won't be using it.
I'm doing (should say attempting) to do a very basic ripped look. I'm going to try using a brush for my trim where the two meet. My question is (assuming you haven't fallen asleep at this point) is there a way to thicken the paint or not thin it so I get better coverage. It seems like once I take a base and add my reducer it's awfully thin to brush on, and actually cover the color underneath. What will happen if I don't use a reducer in my HOK, or is there a product more suited for what I want to do? HELP
Thanks,
newbie

 

[newbie]

Another Question:
Once I've sanded my intercoat clear and taped it off, what can I wipe it down with to get oily finger prints and such off?
Will wax and grease remover hurt it?
Thanks again,
newbie

 

[John Pierce]

I'll give a stab at both questions:

1) you can use a wax and grease remover on intercoat, no problem.

2) I've done some striping with a regular base coat with just a touch of reducer in it, but the purpose-mixed striping paints from HOK or Xotic and some reducer seem to work better; I think they are a little thicker. With regular base coat you *might* be able to get away with no reducer at all, but it will take a long time to dry and the brush probably won't load up with paint properly.

I like to keep my paint and reducer in separate jars next to the part I am working on. Then, I dip the brush in the paint first, then the reducer - pull the brush back and forth on a piece of paper to build the palette, then pull a line...

Your mileage may vary,
JP

 

[newbie]

John,
Thanks for the info. Another simple question: Will good masking tape hold a paint edge as good as blue line tape. I know it's not possible to bend it.
Thanks,
newbie

 

[Burnt]

What kind of paint are you using to strip with? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif Are you using a HOK base coat type paint or their pinstriping paint? There is a big difference. The base coat type paint dries to fast and won't cover well. I have never used HOK striping paint, I use ONE SHOT and it covers in one stroke. It has lead in it so it will dry slow and flow real good. It is an enamel base paint and requires a couple days or so to dry before clearing.

 

[Mongo]

If you mix the hardner from your clear in with the Oneshot then you can clear within minutes.
I know, I've done it. I waited 1/2 hr and then shot the clear to her. No problem

 

[Burnt]

Never thought of that, but it seems it would dry to fast and not allow the OneShot to flow out to get rid of the overlaps. Next time I will give it a try.....thanks