how do i create smooth clean pin stripes
hold the tape roll firmly in your left hand and while keeping the line tight, use your right hand to lay the tape in a good curve. just use your fingers to push the tape down onto the blank, running them along the tape while tracing your intended pinline as your bending it around the outline of the board and you should be all set. it takes a little practice, but you’ll get the hang of it.
I use my rail tool with a pencil in it to lightly scribe my line, then tape it off as described above. The rail tool just guarantees that the pinstripe is an equal distance out from the rails all the way around the board…
I SHOULD have used a rail tool, but… I never used one even on the original lam lap.
The pinstripe ideally should sit right atop the lap line, hiding it, for a perfect integrated glass job.
I’ve found a pencil line as suggested is great for early career pinstriping, but in the end, after over 50 boards, a cleaner pinstripe can be laid down with just the trueness of the human eye.
This is what I do: Get some narrow tape from an automotive paint store (1/8, 3/16, 1/4) and lay it down along your lap line or mark one with a tool. Lay 3/4" masking tape first along the outside edge and a second run along the inside edge of the narrow tape. Pull off the narrow tape and you have a perfectly spaced line ready for resin or paint. Note that if you’re going to paint, automotive paint places carry special tapes (expensive!) that will not bleed under.
The automotive tape is the way to go. Some people use plastic tape. There is also expensive pinline tape that lets you lay it down then remove the center strip. Or you can attach your ink pen to the rail tool freehand or after taping.