Any Tips for Fine-Detail Painting?

[sigfan]

Hi, Guys.

I am trying to paint the brake lines on the undercarriage of my Firebird, and I'm using a 20/0 brush, but I'm not happy with the results. Even with such a tiny brush, I am not able to keep the paint only on the brake line, resulting in a "line" of paint on the undercarriage, rather than a crisp brake line.

I know it's almost time for bifocals, but I'm not even sure that's the problem. What do you recommend for an area like this -- or for a dashboard (another problem area for me). I keep thinking there is something better than a brush for stuff like this -- maybe a super ultra-fine paint marker or something -- but I'm not finding it.

Thanks!
sigfan

[Eric Cole]

I don't know about most people but for me using a very small/fine tipped brush to paint something like a brake line doesn't work well. I find it very difficult to follow a thin molded line with an equally thin paint brush. It's hard to keep the brush from "skipping" from side to side on the part being painted.

I use a larger brush than what you might consider but one that still comes to a fine point and then I load the brush with only a small amount of paint and drag the brush over the part sideways. In other words instead of trying to pull the tip of the brush parallel along the brake line hold the brush perpendicular to the part and drag the brush sideways. It's much less likely to slip off the part being painted.

[sigfan]

Thanks, Eric.

I tried again with a 3/0 brush, and it worked better. I still have to go back and do a little scraping/touch-up, but it will look OK. Not like the stuff I've seen at the meetings, but maybe good enough for my first car in 10+ years. The dashboard is still a bugger, though. It has little indentations for the gauges, which I painted black. I wanted to try and "clean up" the outer rims of the gauges, but that's just too fine. I may need to leave well enough alone in this case.

sigfan

[Zoom Zoom]

Thanks, Eric.

I tried again with a 3/0 brush, and it worked better. I still have to go back and do a little scraping/touch-up, but it will look OK. Not like the stuff I've seen at the meetings, but maybe good enough for my first car in 10+ years. The dashboard is still a bugger, though. It has little indentations for the gauges, which I painted black. I wanted to try and "clean up" the outer rims of the gauges, but that's just too fine. I may need to leave well enough alone in this case.

sigfan

For gauges, it's easiest to paint them black, then take a sharpened silver Verithin or Prismacolor pencil and lightly draw over the engraved lettering, it picks out the fine engraving and is pretty easy to do. It's also an idea for the brake lines. Michael's, Hobby Lobby, Office Depot, Pearl Art Supply...any good art, craft, or office supply place should sell them. While there, get a .005" Pigma Micron fine tip pigment liner pen. That can help pick out fine details, clean up black edges...good for panel lines and filling in black areas of chrome grilles. You don't have to use paint/paintbrushes for fine detail.

[sigfan]

Thanks for the tips, Bob. And for "naming names." I will look for those specific products this weekend.

sigfan