DADDYGRAPH

Pin striping is the application of a very thin line of paint or 
other material called a pin stripe, and is generally used for 
decoration. Fine lines in textiles are also called pin stripes.
 
Pin striping can be seen all over the roads with custom choppers, 
such as Orange County Choppers, Indian Larry, and West Coast 
Choppers. Pinstriping motorcycles has been around for a long time. 
Kenny Howard, also known as Von Dutch, a pioneer of the Kustom 
Kulture lifestyle, became known as one of the original hot rod 
pinstripers.

In automotive body work, pin stripes are a thin vinyl tape or 

paint. The tape versions are adhered directly to the painted 

surface in the pattern desired, while painted ones are done by 

skilled artists with specially angled brushes. The paint used by 

the vast majority of stripers is a brand by the name of 1 Shot 

although large companys such as House of Kolor also make 

striping enamel.

The goal of pin striping is to enhance the contours of the 
surface, and the lines are generally of a complementary color. 
In any other form of decorative pin stripes, the goal is the 
same.
Pin stripe décor is also applied to motorcycles, trucks, boats, 
and surfboards.

In the 1950s Von Dutch first utilized the techinique in 
California. He created many designs which are still popular 
today. There are countless brush artists who carry on the 
tradition — The Doc in Compton, Preacher (Peter McDermott) 
in San Antonio Texas, Steve Kafka in Arizona, Victor in Nebraska,
 MWM from Hot Rod Surf in San Diego, to name a few.
The technology used by contemporary stripers is much easier in 
the 2000s than in the '50s for those learning the craft. Mack 
makes several swords, and Steve Kafka designed brushes which 
has made the swirls and complicated designs much easier to do.
 
Most stripers even stripe toilet seats and office furniture--
pretty much anything that will hold still. Stripers can often 
be seen demonstrating their craft at car and motorcycle 
shows.