Powder Paint Fine Lines

SaltyBuckster

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I was an automobile bodyman all of my life.Then a production manager for the last 10 years.Fine lines in car painting is a must,these lines on my jigs really don't pass my quality control tests that I have been so accustomed to for the last 32 years.How do you guys make a fine line when powder painting?At least closer then mine are.
 

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CrappieHappy

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use a steady hand... lol you could use that poweder paint tape that is heat resistant possibly... I usually just dip the jig in the second color holding it by forceps, or use a paintbrush dipped into the second color and apply to the jig with the paint brush...
 

blt

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No need for a "perfect" line. I use the paint brush method. Dip into fluid bed white, dip into the second color, hold above the area where you want it, tap,tap,tap. Distance from jig will vary with how big the area is you want to paint. For those lips I do in orange, it takes me 3-4 dips into the jar...just the tip of the brush, quick tap to get the excess off, hold id about 1/2" from the lips. To do the top part a second color, bigger brush, load it up, hold about 4" from minnow head. Takes several dips of the brush. The more detailed, the closer I am, and the less paint on the brush. Less is better.....you can always add more. I also keep going back and forth between the paint and the air gun when needed.

Are you using a fluid bed? A fluid bed with the second color in it will leave uneven lines from the ionizing of the powder, and the contours ot the minnow head. I hope I explained this well, I'm better in person lol.
 

toadfrog

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I use a spray gun for powder and stencils . ( If I plan on trying something fancy .) The problem is no time . I haven't got to do any cool stuff in so long I'm about to croak . Pun intended .
 

blt

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Fats, pretty much, he does the same thing I do. Base coat, paint brush to tap tap tap, back over the heat gun in between to keep temps to where they will hold the paint.
I learned from him at Tackle underground. He also sent me several files that I looked and learned from.

One of these days Toad, I'll get that air brush out that I have had for several weeks and give it a try.
 

SaltyBuckster

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I was trying to make it easy and just dip the thing a second time,lol.Well,we saw how that worked out.I'll try my usual tap,tap,tap.
 

toadfrog

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blt It is a learning process with the powder gun . Actually it is a pain do to over spray . Crank it down until it just barely spits powder work from there . Also be sure you have a moisture filter in the compressor line .
SB if you want to go with black lines just use high temp spray stove and grill paint . It comes in other colors , black is reasonable in price the other color are not so reasonable .
 

cadman

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Straight lines are nearly impossible with powder paint. I have tried almost everthing from tape to metal and the problem is that anything that needs powder paint has to have heat to hold it in place so the paint can be reheated and anything that you stick on powder paint will leave a negative impression. So I don't have a current solution for the average hobbyists like us. If you are fortunate enough like me our company has a electrostatic spray system, which everything is applied on cold and then put in an oven. With that system you can use high temp tape and the lines come out perfectly straight. However I do not like perfectly straight lines on a jig. It looks very un-natural. Always try to blend one color into the next.

I have begun to use my air brush to do fine details and lines over powder paint, with some success. However it is a very slow process.

Some other processes that look good are, clear decals(like the ones we had when we put them on our car models). You can make your own. Also pin striping tape works very well. Just make sure you clearcoat everything to keep it from coming off.

I powder paint like all the rest of you with regular powder paint and a brush. The fastest and the easiest.
 

Lost Pole

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Wasn't Russ getting some clean lines on his blades with the tape he was using?
Guess it'd prob be more time consuming with a jig head and adjoining colors though.
 

LedHed

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You can always try "powder water" CC has it and PBTP has it as well. Also, there is embossing fluid - first saw it on tacklemaking.com. Just make sure the stuff is dry before you cure!
 

AtticaFish

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I do have some heat resistant tape that will give you straight lines, but has some limits. Smooth spinner blades worked the best and not sure how well it would curve around a jig. The tape can not got on top of other painted areas either..... if you re-heat it with any paint UNDER the tape - you end up with a mess of a spinner blade. :P
 
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