Pin striping

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pin striping is the application of a very thin line of paint or other material called a pin stripe, and is generally used for decoration. Fine lines in textiles are also called pin stripes.

[edit] Motorcycles

Pin striping can be seen all over the roads with custom choppers, such as Orange County Choppers, Indian Larry, and West Coast Choppers. Pinstriping motorcycles has been around for a long time. Kenny Howard, also known as Von Dutch, a pioneer of the Kustom Kulture lifestyle, became known as one of the original hot rod pinstripers.

[edit] Vehicles

In automotive body work, pin stripes are a thin vinyl tape or paint. The tape versions are adhered directly to the painted surface in the pattern desired, while painted ones are done by skilled artists with specially angled brushes. The paint used by the vast majority of stripers is a brand by the name of 1 Shot although large companys such as House of Kolor also make striping enamel.

The goal of pin striping is to enhance the contours of the surface, and the lines are generally of a complementary color. In any other form of decorative pin stripes, the goal is the same.

Pin stripe décor is also applied to motorcycles, trucks, boats, and surfboards.

In the 1950s Von Dutch first utilized the techinique in California. He created many designs which are still popular today. There are countless brush artists who carry on the tradition — The Doc in Compton, Preacher (Peter McDermott) in San Antonio Texas, Steve Kafka in Arizona, Victor in Nebraska, MWM from Hot Rod Surf in San Diego, to name a few.

The technology used by contemporary stripers is much easier in the 2000s than in the '50s for those learning the craft. Mack makes several swords, and Steve Kafka designed brushes which has made the swirls and complicated designs much easier to do.

Most stripers even stripe toilet seats and office furniture--pretty much anything that will hold still. Stripers can often be seen demonstrating their craft at car and motorcycle shows.

[edit] Textiles

A pattern of very thin stripes running in parallel found in cloth are also called pin stripes. Although found mostly in men's suits, any type of fabric can be pin striped. The New York Yankees baseball team uniforms have had pin stripes for nearly 100 years.