Striping with a dual-striper

Ian Stewart-Koster · Post by **Ian Stewart-Koster** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 6:19 pm

Hi Mike- although this isn't strictly 'lettering', it is 'hand done', and someone here mentioned a dual striper at a UK meet a few years ago. Mack brushes used to make them, but there is a hefty learning curve to using them. ON striping forums, many who had them gave up rather than trying to master them.

I have an old Aussie book wherein they are mentioned as being a freak thing of no commercial use, but I've been playing with them for about a year, and used them on a few jobs. I'll eventually put up a proper page of explanations & pitfalls on our website, but for now, here are some movie files from the Aussie Letterheads 2007 meet, of the dual striper in action.

Enjoy!

Warning- some are a bit big-but the smaller ones are a bit fuzzy.

This is a 12 meg file, striping a cart wheel spokes, going both forwards and backwards- there are times when it is necessary to do both ways:

http://www.traditionalsigns.com/assets/ ... 1min12.mpg

This is a shrunk version of that same file- not as clear, but only about 1.5 meg, not 12 meg:
http://www.traditionalsigns.com/assets/ ... shrunk.wmv

This is striping forwards for the whole length of the spoke- about 5.5 meg:
http://www.traditionalsigns.com/assets/ ... short2.mpg

And finally, this is striping around a hub band- it's a 6 meg download:

http://www.traditionalsigns.com/assets/ ... 30secs.mpg

Patrick Mackle · Post by **Patrick Mackle** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 6:47 pm

I used to have some old double stripers many years ago. The stripe spacing was narrower though, and I recall having to use a scrap piece of cardboard to run between them to seperate the brushes after loading them.
Pat

Roderick Treece · Post by **Roderick Treece** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 8:59 pm

Ian,
Thanks for the videos.I couldn't beleave it when I went to your post ,clicked on the link and there you were striping a wagon wheel.Check out the u tube video I posted.I posted it before I looked at your post.

Nice job

Roderick

Ian Stewart-Koster · Post by **Ian Stewart-Koster** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:05 am

Patrick, I wish the gap were less on the three I have- a full half inch is a bit wide for a lot of what i could use it for. I had ideas of inventing a mini thumbscrew with left & right hand threads and two heads so the width could be varied...a project for when I retire!

You're right though about the halves wanting to stick together when you start to palette it. I made a you-beaut holder to keep it apart & straight when not in use. That helps keep them pointing in the right direction.

Roderick, I did a coach a bit like that last September- I'll post photos in your thread!

Kent Smith · Post by **Kent Smith** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 10:58 am

The one that Mike made for me is 3/8" between the hairs and I am certain that he could adjust that center width. They will still make them custom. Dad had one that my greatgrandfather had which had about 1/8" with less hair in it too. I am sure it is packed up around here somewhere. Great video for anyone who has not seen this done before.

DAVE SMITH · Post by **DAVE SMITH** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 2:26 pm

Great videos Ian. looks like an interesting tool ,Very nice work .
Dave

Ian Stewart-Koster · Post by **Ian Stewart-Koster** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 5:44 pm

Kent, I'd love to see a photo of one that narrow (1/8")!

Actually, when I said half an inch wide, I meant that was the width between centres of stripes- there's a 3/8" gap between them depending on the fatness of the lines.

I think Mike has 'put that design to bed' now, though I suppose I could try & split one & clode up the gap, if I were feeling game, but I'm not!

Thanks for the compliments.

Kent Smith · Post by **Kent Smith** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:55 am

Mike told me the last time I saw him that he could make some up custom. I'll have the grandkids look for the old double this summer...hadn't thought of it in years. It was thin like the plastic handle Grumbacher with metal ferrule.

Doubles are mentioned but not pictured in the 1903 3rd edition of Practical Carriage and Wagon Painting by Hillick. It tells of the easy way to lay the two pinstripes outside a broad stripe, using a double which would be even wider than 1/2".

Also,Bob Simpson in Mass. used to have an adjustable metal based double that was cool. The handle was brass and knurled so it tightened to hold the adjustment of the sliding tin sides...U shape. Haven't seen him since 86 or 87 but I sure remember the brush.

Ian Stewart-Koster · Post by **Ian Stewart-Koster** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:04 pm

Kent, thanks for the reply- I've got a photocopy of MC Hillick's book (1906 edn), we made in the 1970s- I think Dover have a modern reprint of it available now though.

I'll try & find some old pictures of some in a couple of old books I have later- it'd be good to see a photo of Bob Simpson's one though.

Kent Smith · Post by **Kent Smith** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:14 pm

Not to overdo this topic but I just found a copy of a Geo.Watson Catalog no.53 which has doubles pictured from Mack. They list 1/4 inch, 3/8 inch and 1/2 inch between the lines at .90, .92 and .96 each. They were the company that packaged the KingCole line of Japan paints. So at those prices you guess the year. At least we know they did make those sizes.