Thread: Any other pinstripers here?

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How do you usually charge for a pinstripe job?

I'm not sure, i've only done stuff for me...

IRIE...

Trial and error. Keep track of your time. Tell your customer they are getting a discount for your getting your name/work out for people to see. That way if you find your undercharging you don't set a president if he sends his friends over for a low dollar deal. When I started sign painting I worked for the experience at first. If I didn't come out too good on the price from time to time @ least I was gaining valuable experience. It's hard to put a price on experience. Once you build a good reputation the rewards will follow. Just my 2¢

Pro70Z is right. A lot of people tell me that when they first started out their business they started out cheap to the point where they really didn't make too much money AT ALL until they got a good rep. etc. Just don't wanna lose money that's all, get your materials money back and the electrical or whatever utilities you need back and then earn a little on labor.

What would it cost to stripe a 40 ford coupe along the stainless trim on both sides ( lets say about 15 feet on both sides and a bit of fancy work above the tag on the deck lid ( too vague?) . Just a ball park . thanks Darin

Originally posted by FMXhellraiser
they started out cheap to the point where they really didn't make too much money AT ALL until they got a good rep. etc.

When i'm done with a few projects and have some free time, I am gonna work more on my pinstriping.... I got a good idea for the beginer who might be afraid of working on someone else's car: Demo derby cars! Offer to pinstripe some demo derby cars for free. Then you can get some experience working on other peoples cars.

Good idea?! Huh?!!?!

IRIE...
OH and to Darin -- shop around. Like we were saying - you can spend an ungodly amount of money or you can get a beginer to do it cheep.... Make sure to ask to see previous work.

Goodluck!!!

Where do you get all your materials at for pin striping and how much money should I save to start doing this? This is another thing I wanna add to my list of "To Do's" for this summer. On top of that I plan to do a lot of air brushing and do way more powder coating.

Im new to the board, but I started to teach myself when I was in body school, got out of it for day to day reasons as well, but I'm slowly getting back into it.
JD

Originally posted by FMXhellraiser
Where do you get all your materials at for pin striping and how much money should I save to start doing this?

Get the brushes from eastwood. Get a video while your there, it'll go over the process. I use the oldschool "1 Shot" paint it works really great but is very expensive. Eastwood sells that paint too, but I found it at a local art supply.

I started off with a pen and a .50 cent doodle pad... I filled 2 of them suckers before I even touched the paint. You have to understand the form of it first. Then you must learn to do it with the brush.

IRIE...

Originally posted by FMXhellraiser
Where do you get all your materials at for pin striping and how much money should I save to start doing this? This is another thing I wanna add to my list of "To Do's" for this summer. On top of that I plan to do a lot of air brushing and do way more powder coating.

Eastwood is a very good source for one shot enamel and brushes they also have several books, Some local art supply joints carry one shot and brushes also,as far as different colors, I usta buy black,white,red ,yellow & blue and could mix em for different shades & colors to save money and I usta use an old peice of window glass to practice on cuzz I could just use a razor blade to clean it off.

Thanks for the info guys and the glass idea is GREAT. I will definetely get me a few books and videos. I have only 100 bucks left and that needs to last me another month for gas money until I can get me a full time job and then I will get all that stuff.

AWSOME job! you guys are good. Any tim eyour in Albuquerque and wanna do some work, I got a 59' fairlane that could use some Pin Strippin'

I would like to start a small Fabrication business when I get back to the states. 6 more months, looking foward to it. I still have about 5 years left till my 20 year mark. The advice that Pro gives is pretty much good towards anybody starting up. I appreciate that type of advice. Lucky for me I will have a full on income while I start up out of my garage.

IRIE, where in SE MASS are you located. Sound's like you might not be too far from me.

well i'm an old custom painter . been at it for almost 40 years. you have to do some stripping almost daily to keep you edge.
different colors have different pigments thus they " pull "different . too much reducer and you loose control of the brush. not enough and it will drag. this is the key to stripping. i use very little reducer. just enough to keep the brush fresh. when i was younger i rented a house and pinstripped everything. door jambs, ice box,stove. landlord got really po'ed but thought it was cool. spend your practice time on thinning. it is your biggest hurdle. hope this helps. i wish i had more time to stripe but i just have too many irons in the fire.