How do YOU paint your letters???

[hounddoghundzsa 7]

I have redone six Wheel Horses so far and one thing I have never done is paint the stamped letters on the front of the hood. Mostly because I don't want to booger up the paint job I had just finished. Secondly because I haven't found a good way to get the letters to look "clean and crisp" like some of the seasoned RS members on here. Would anyone want to share some tips on this???

Thanks!

[clintonnut 127]

a piece of foam that is a 1/2" wide and long enough to hold works. It needs to be pretty firm foam.

I used to do that but I have a steady hand and can do it with a small detail brush. It takes about 30 minutes.

Charlie

[Lane Ranger 11,681]

I have used an Elmer's White Paint Pen -fine point. It came out very nice and I used two coats -drying well in between. It has lasted very nice on my 1967 Lawn Ranger . The pens with white paint are hard to find in anything but an art supply store but you may be able to order online.

Here is a look a the result up close:

Further back look:

:)

[Ken B 3,202]

I usually drink a few of my favorite ice cold cools tools first. Then I dig out a fine artist's brush, not a cheap one either. I spray some of the correct color in the plastic cap of a spray can and then I brace my arm and paint away. Always have a clean shop paper towel handy if you stray off course. I like to paint the sides of the letter as well to get the 3-d effect.

[stoneman 10]

Any tips for doing the letters on say . . . the dash panel on a GT 14? :)

[Coadster32 793]

Cigarette butt works pretty well. I've also freehanded w/ a fine brush. Just remember, it doesn't have to be perfect. That's the only way you'll actually attempt it. Stand back 3ft when finished, and then say if you like it or not. Good luck. :)

[horsefeathers 15]

Yea good question!!

I tryed this for the first time couple weeks ago!

I paint, pinstripe, and brush paint cartoons and airbrush!

But... This ain't as easy as I thought it would be!

I used a 1/4" flat red sable lettering brush and 1 Shot lettering enamel.

Reduce the paint just right, a steady hand and good eye! It ain't that easy!

I think that one of those li'l rubber wheel rolers or foam may work great for this!

I'am ging to try that next!

HORSEFEATHERS!

[linen beige 16]

Same way the factory did it. Really thick paint and a hard rubber roller. (think ink roller.)

[Trouty56 567]

I haven't tried it yet but I read on a forum for cars that to paint the white first fairly heavy and let dry for a couple days. Then paint the black over top. Before it sets good, there must be a 'just right' time, take a small sanding block and sand the black off the raised areas.

Sound like it could work?? I like the rubber roller idea myself...

[horsefeathers 15]

Any tips for doing the letters on say . . . the dash panel on a GT 14?

Stoneman,

For those small raised dash letters use a 1/4" flat brush

don't reduce the paint! Load the brush very good and work the paint out

on a glossy magazine ,get the brush dry. You need a dry brush !

and reload this way each time paint stops flowing!

Lay the brush flat against the letters, use short strokes and keep it moving!

After it dryes you may need a second coat .

HORSEFEATHERS!

[ducky 1]

I've tryed to paint them letters 6 times. I've tryed different paint brushes, paint pens, and markers. i haven't had any luck yet.. i was thinking of taping the areas around the letters then try painting them... haven't done it yet.

[hounddoghundzsa 7]

I've used a cigerette before, but wasn't real happy with the results. I think I'm going to look for one of those rollers..........

[linen beige 16]

Another approach for those that don't have steady hands, or don't want to buy a good rubber roller. Paint the area around the letters with a water soluble glue, such as Elmer's white school glue. After the glue has dried, use a piece of DAMP Kraft paper (brown bag) on a sanding block to knock any stray glue off the tops of the letters, giving you a sharp edge. Spray your beige paint and let dry. Wash off the glue used as masking with water and watch the clear edge letters emerge.

Same trick works on the dash lettering as well.

[squonk 44,922]

Another approach for those that don't have steady hands, or don't want to buy a good rubber roller. Paint the area around the letters with a water soluble glue, such as Elmer's white school glue. After the glue has dried, use a piece of DAMP Kraft paper (brown bag) on a sanding block to knock any stray glue off the tops of the letters, giving you a sharp edge. Spray your beige paint and let dry. Wash off the glue used as masking with water and watch the clear edge letters emerge.

Same trick works on the dash lettering as well.

Along those same lines,(no pun intended) I had a co-worker who is an art student paint mine. He used rubber cement and coated the area. scraped the cement off of the flat letter areas. He painted the letters with the same wheel paint I had. Then cleaned off the glue.

[fireman 1,022]

Stoneman,

Check out this thread for painting the dash on the GT-14:

http://www.wheelhorseforum.com/index.php?...=16475&hl=vinyl

[stoneman 10]

Stoneman,

Check out this thread for painting the dash on the GT-14:

http://www.wheelhorseforum.com/index.php?...=16475&hl=vinyl

Thanks fireman . . . that was a big help. I know exactly what to do now. I'm going to pm bob maynard! :)

[hm12460 53]

I've used a "sharpie" in the desired color on the dash of my deere 216 for the really small letters and symbols with good results. it takes a steady hand, good lighting, and good eye sight.

[Suburban 550 28]

After all the hard work to produce two nice paint jobs on both my tractors, I just couldn't see myself messin' it up with my unsteady hands. I hired a professional that letters race cars and other things for a livin' and he charged me $20.00 a tractor. It ended up a job well done and saved me alot of aggravation. :)