How to paint racing numbers, etc

[BigIrish]

I want to paint some racing number on my bike tank, but don't have a good idea how to go about it. I'm not good enough to do it with a brush, so I need to make a stencil and spray-paint it.

One idea I had was to cover the tank in painters tape, then cut out numbers with a razor blade. Seems like a real pain though...

I went to the old lady hobby store to find some stencils, but they don't have anything that would work with spray paint. It would just run underneath the stencil.

[S

 

[Bonehead]

One trick I have used is contact paper, or sticky shelving paper, as a mask, with the letters cut out either before, or after it is applied. Works best on flat metal, but it can be used on curves as well. The hobby shops use fisk paper, for the same thing.

 

[HOT40ROD]

What bonehead said.

Also if your cutting them on the paint use very little pressure. Try not to cut to deep into the paint. If you do and are planning on clearing tank. Put couple coats of clear over the cut area. Sand the cleared area lightly with 1200 paper. Then clear the hole tank with two coats and wet sand starting with 800 and move up to 1200 or higher. sand until you start to see color as your sanding. Then clear the hole tank again.

Sometime after you clear the tank you can see the cut lines. Taking the steps I listed will help it from happening.

If they are really deep. take some of the color, thin it and brush it into the cuts. It may take a few coats to fill the cuts. Sand it flat with 1200 wet sand paper then clear it. If you are not going to clear it just polish it.


And other trick is after you cut out the numbers or mask the numbers shot the edge of the tape with the same color that you have on the tank. This with help the other color from bleeding out under the tape.

We went pictures after your done.

 

[RoddingRon]

What the guys above said is one way to do it, or you could go down to the corner sign shop (if your anywhere near a city / big town, there has to be a instant sign or signs in 24 or even some mom and pop shop near you) and look through their different fonts until you see something you like. Then ask them to cut stenils or pounce patterns for you. Should only cost a couple bucks. Or you may find something in their specialty vinyl that you may like and just do the numbers in that

 

[BigIrish]

Good ideas, thanks. I will probably get the sign shop to make me some stencils.

 

[blacksheep]

Good ideas, thanks. I will probably get the sign shop to make me some stencils.

If you can't find a sign shop , let me know. I have a plotter for my custom paint business, and can cut the numbers for you and mail them to you. Postage and it's done baby! PM if you want me to do that.

 

[BigIrish]

If you can't find a sign shop , let me know. I have a plotter for my custom paint business, and can cut the numbers for you and mail them to you. Postage and it's done baby! PM if you want me to do that.

Wow - mighty generous of you!! Thanks

 

[blacksheep]

Wow - mighty generous of you!! Thanks

Not a problem . anytime.

 

[Jimmy Wallbanger]

another idea

you can take elmers spray glue and cut out your stencil spray one side and let it dry for a while and itll be just tacky put the stincel on the tank and do light coats. the vinyl letters would be easiest. brush painting is easy if you print off some numbers and trace them on to the tank first

 

[chris blohme]

If you get too messed up with doing it yourself. There are a few guys out your way, pin-stripers mostly, but numbers letters, it all kind of goes hand in hand. I don't know about out your way, but I do numbers and letters pretty cheap compared to pin stripes.

Other wise, practice on a piece of sheet metal with some one shot and a lettering brush. None of us paint slingers started with anything more than that.

 

[jtwilson]

very good i have some tracing paper may actually have2 use it tomorrow lol