khatfull

Anyone have a strong opinion about the brand of paint pen to use for lug lining?

Oil or enamel...will be going over powder and will be clear coated after decal application.

I've heard Testors. What about Sharpie, others?

khatfull

And what nib size if anyone has experience with a certain brand?

cdmurphy

I'm not sure paint pens are the best bet. Back in the day, I've heard they used long pinstriping brushes, or a drafting nib to get a definite, fine line. Now, I've heard a number of pros use a "Kemper Fluid Writer" like this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000YQM5CQ

I've used this, and it works very well. They also have a "small" size, but I had trouble with even the large clogging if left too long between lines.

FBinNY 

It might be had to control a paint pen working in an angle like that.

I've used fine paint brushes or nail polish applicators. But the guy I knew who was a true artist with this stuff used paper matches cut and trimmed to shape.

The Golden Boy 

I used a Testors.

If you do that, you can trim the tip to make it more fine tipped. I figured this out much too late.

Slightspeed

I got a Sharpie Paint Tube in gold at Joann's craft store for touch ups. I had the bike painted and striped by a pro painter, but needed a few touchups, and the pen worked great. They come in a two pack for a few dollars, can't remember, but it wasn't much.

eom 

Velobitz Lug Lining Pen for Rebuilds and Restorations, Create Classic Lug Lining

I bought one. Gonna try to put the GF to work with it. I'm no artist that's for sure.

Seems to be worth the price to me. Shipping was very slow. When I contacted the seller he advised that Customs had been causing delays but offered to ship another right away. I waited for the original and it showed up in a few days.

My .02

Salamandrine 

I used a Sakura Pen-Touch gold pen from an art supply store on my PX-10, supplemented by Testors gold paint with a lining brush (they match well). The Sakura pen does this job nicely.

FWIW and IME the pen is superior to the brush for this task, and I am very familiar with brushes -- have a BA in studio painting. I think unless you happen to be an old timer hot rod pinstriper, using a brush will be sloppier.

Essthreetee

+1. This was what I used on my Bianchi. It worked great. I also used it on an Arabesque group to highlight the engravings. Also turned out nice. I would post pics, but photobucket has them on lockdown.

Schwinn me

That Sharpie looks like it did a good job although the lines appear to be on the too heavy side. Is that as fine line as it comes? I used the large size Kemper with good results with Finesse pin stripping paint slightly thinned with mineral spirits. This paint appears to be exactly the same as One Shot paint which I also used in the past. The guy I bought the pinstiping masking tape from sold the Finesse as well so I went with it. Once dry it stands up very well to the finger nail test, it cannot be easily scraped off, actually it takes quite the effort.

I haven't tried Testors or other paints not specifically specified for pinstriping, I assume paints made for pinstriping have the drying qualities that you would need for this type of work. I never skimp on my repaints.

I have some very good tips for offset lug pin striping, plus regular lug lining for those like myself with no previous experience and shaky amateurish hands here.

https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/ho...-finish.87859/

randyjawa 

I used Testors red to achieve this but the black is automotive tape...

zammykoo

I haven't tried lug lining but have had good luck with sign painter's paint "1 Shot" in gold enamel. I used a sword striper brush (used for pinstriping) and it helps control the thickness of the lines.

randyjawa 

While on this subject, how do you get panels or lines to perfectly circle a tube, ending up square and with ends meeting perfectly? I tried to paint up this Torpado and, even though it is what I really wanted, the panels looked awful...



So, I had to settle for this, instead...



But I do need to figure out how to do panels. When my Rabeneick 120D finally reaches me, I intend a full repaint, unless I can determine that the black was original...

phoog

I've used a tipp-ex pen, which I emptied and refilled with enamel, worked pretty well

zammykoo

Randy, what are you using as your mask? I like to use frisket film or adhesive vinyl as my mask when I spray paint for crisp edges. I have found masking tape (or any paper based masking material) to give sloppier edges, maybe because the wet paint bleeds into the fibers and lifts the edges.

As for getting the mask ends meet perfectly, you can mist the tube surface before placing the film down. It will be more forgiving and let you shift it around until aligned, then let it fully dry for adhesion. This is a trick I've learned in my vinyl cutting hobby - and of course, it will only work on smooth surfaces.

randyjawa 

[MENTION=413389]zammykoo[/MENTION] - that is helpful and I will certainly give it a try. You are right about the masking tape - pooey stinko! My guess is that the film or adhesive might be good to mask lug work, especially fancy lug work, as well.

Again, thanks for the heads up on this.

dweenk

I have used a brand named "Painters" from Michaels. The Fine tip size worked well.

dedhed

Interesting. I have at least a couple of those in my old drafting sets from when we actually drew plans on paper. Might be faster and easier to buy a vintage drafting set.

Duke7777

I've been very happy with the results I got with the Sharpie Extra Fine paint pen. The flow is good and controllable. It dries to the touch quite quickly, but you can still wipe it off within an hour or so using a cloth dampened with thinner. It's also easy to add a second coat if you want more density. I used pieces of aluminum angle (3/4 x 3/4 x 1/16) as a straight edge for doing the longitudinal box lines, and a heavy plastic zap strap wrapped around the tube as a guide for the circumferential box lines. The main problem is that it actually looks a bit too good - you can tell it wasn't done with a brush.

gaucho777 

[MENTION=384338]Duke7777[/MENTION], Well done! I've only done one simple frame with a fine brush, but nothing as intricate as your examples. I like the authentic, slightly-inconsistent look of brushed lining for manageable projects, but would definitely consider a paint pen for more challenging projects like yours. Your seat stay cap details and pinstripes turned out great!

The Thin Man 

I found paint pens inconsistent and just plain too clunky for me. So now, for lug lining I use the Microbrush. These were apparently, originally designed for dentists and feature a thin, bendable, plastic applicator with a tiny, non-linting microfiber head that suspends the solution with no dripping or spilling, like brush tips can sometimes do. They are one-time-use only but incredibly precise, especially since I buy them in both Super Fine (1mm) and Regular (2mm). They are incredible for lug lining and small touch ups. Check your local hobby store. That's where I picked mine up at.

greg3rd48 

Wow those look great!

Dfrost 

I found this “Gundammarker” at my local hobby store, and the gold color was a good match for the existing lug lining on the 1979 Miyata 912. I used it to re-line the fork crown after it had been modified by [MENTION=381793]gugie[/MENTION] with brazed on centerpull posts.

johnnyspaghetti

I'v been doing experimental practice on my old Raleigh suff. I am not a pretending to be a pinstriper, just seeing if I can do it.
The answer is yes, I'm just not that good at it...

Just forget about the Bic.

The Sharpie gold permanent marker worked well at first but the tip started to fuzz an lay too big a line. It was $3 also the paint easily would rub off after drying and would need clear coating if you want it permanent. The gold was easily removed w/light solvent if I got it wrong.

The Testors brand paint pen gold paint was far superior. It will put down a 1/16 nice line the gold presented itself much brighter. Its about $5 but no single pens were found at Micheal's and I bought a three pack gold-silver-black $14. It has a felt marker type tip that the point is aprox. 1/16" but if you turn it 90 degrees it is close to 1/4" I was striping old fender using the shadow of the OEM stripe.

The Testors brand is the deal IMO based on my limited experience.

Charles Wahl

There was a thread I've saved since 2009; unfortunately, Rabid Koala's photos have been "bucketed", but the upshot seemed to be:
DECOCOLOR PAINT MARKER, EXTRA FINE

I have a few of these, and they worked pretty well for lug lining.