| Custom Flame Graphics |
| Custom Flame Graphics |
From "Trade School"
episode DTRS-101 |
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To sport a truly tricked out ride, consider painting flames on your vehicle. This process is done after the base paint has dried, and before the clear coat is applied. The technique described below can be used to create many different flame patterns. "Ghost" or "phantom" flames are achieved by applying a light coat of pearl paint ....
TIPS FOR FLAME-SHAPING: - This process saves time and energy by "copying" one half of the pattern to the other half of the vehicle.
- Visualize the desired flame style, and how long from the front they will extend.
- A good rule of thumb is to keep the width and length of the individual "flame tongues" relatively uniform.
- A key to shaping the flames is to visualize a "tear drop" shape between each flame tongue. Basic Tools:
Fine Line Tape
Masking Paper
Transfer Paper
Sheet Paper
Crayon
Carpenter’s Chalk
Pouncing Wheel 1. Clean the area where the flames will be laid out with a grease and wax removing solution and a tack cloth to remove oils and dust. 2. Bisect the hood, from grill to windshield, with a strip of fine line tape. Using this line of tape as a marker, lay out the first "tongue" of flame. This first tongue is the only one that initially crosses the centerline and should be as symmetrical as possible.
3. Continue using the fine line tape to lay out flame tongues on one side of the hood and along one side of the vehicle. (It may be easier to stagger the major flame tips further along the sides and then go back and fill-in the rest of the tips). For aesthetic reasons, consider varying the directions of the flame tongues, and cross the flame tips every so often. Continue this process on one half of the vehicle until the desired effect is achieved.
4. Carefully, use a razor blade to cut away any fine line tape where flame tips intersect. Extreme caution is urged because a razor can easily damage to the base paint.
5. Transfer the flame pattern to paper. Starting from the center of the graphic, use masking tape to secure a large piece of sheet paper over the side of the vehicle with the flame pattern. Begin rubbing a dark-colored crayon along the underlying fine line tape to create an impression of the pattern. Secure as many additional sheets of paper as necessary, overlapping at about half an inch, until the entire half of the vehicle’s flame-pattern is copied with the crayon onto paper.
6. Carefully remove the paper from the vehicle. Lay each sheet of the transfer paper on a worktable over a large piece of flat cardboard. Using a pouncing wheel, carefully roll the needle-sharp protrusions directly over the crayon lines. This creates tiny perforations along the copied flame patterns. (Go slower around the curves if necessary. Continue this process until all crayon lines are perforated. (If necessary, double check by holding up to a light source)
7. Return each sheet of the now perforated transfer paper to the other half of the vehicle. Flip the first sheet of perforated paper over and secure it to the vehicle with masking tape (this should appear as a "mirror image" of the original section the flame pattern). Rub a sock filled with carpenter’s chalk along the perforation lines. The chalk will filter through the perforation holes and leave a symmetrical likeness of the original flame pattern. Continue this process until the rest of the flame pattern is chalked onto the other half of the vehicle.
8. Adhere fine line tape along the chalk guidelines. Continue this process until the symmetrical flame pattern is complete. 9. Apply a strip of transfer film over the flame pattern. Transfer film has one sticky side, but won’t damage the base paint. Remove all air pockets with a putty scraper or similar tool. Continue this process until the entire flame pattern is covered with the transfer film.
10. Very carefully cut and peel the transfer film away from the soon to be painted areas. Using the visible fine line tape as a guide and a buffer, gently cut through the transfer film using a razor blade. Pull off the transfer film to expose the flame pattern to be painted.
11. If not already done, mask off the rest of the vehicle to avoid any overspray.
SAFETY ALERT: Even with access to a ventilated spray booth, a respirator must be worn when painting to avoid inhaling dangerous fumes.
12. Using the HVLP spray gun, paint over the exposed flame pattern. A light coat of pearl paint is used to achieve a "ghost" appearance. Allow this coat to flash for 20 minutes. Carefully remove the transfer film and the fine line tape after the flame paint has dried. The difference in color between the ghost flame graphic and the base coat is very subtle.
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