race stripes and pin stripes

**jamores23** · 04-25-2011, 11:51 AM

when wet sanding or just machining can you go over the "race strips" for example the ones that come on a shelby cobra the two stripes down the middle? or would you just tape those ?how about pinstripes? tape the off?

**SeaJay's** · 04-25-2011, 12:11 PM

I would say tape them off.

Definitely wouldn't wet sand them unless they are actually painted on. Typically racing stripes and pinstripes are vinyl, so they can't be sanded.

I don't polish over pin striping either. It's just held on by glue and can be ripped off easily.

**jamores23** · 04-25-2011, 12:17 PM

thats what i figured.

**jamores23** · 04-25-2011, 07:58 PM

bump

**5.4 Shelby** · 04-25-2011, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by jamores23

bump

Good Luck. I have asked this question numerous times and never really gotten an answer. My Stripes are very shiny almost like a clear coat. The towelling marks are noticeable. I have tried glazes and they hide the marks some. I would like to polish them out, but, afraid of damaging my factory stripes. I am sure replacements would never be the same.

**93fox** · 04-25-2011, 08:40 PM

From my painting point of view... If they are painted, you can go ahead and sand em too. Its very easy to tell, just rub your finger across them and if you can feel the edge that means they are decals and you certainly dont want to sand them. If you cant feel that edge then it means they are painted. Its very easy to tell. Your best bet is to look at them in the direct sunlight as well, paint will always look alot different than a decal. You may also want to look at the years, i believe the recent models have the stripes painted and not decals.

**5.4 Shelby** · 04-25-2011, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by 93fox

i believe the recent models have the stripes painted and not decals.

Not on the Shelbies. They are Vinyl Graphics. They are not like the older vinyl graphics. They do almost look like paint. very glossy. I absolutely would not sand them. If anything, I would consider a light polish on a soft pad. Probably wouldn't even do that unless one of the pro detailers on here has had some experience with it.

**93fox** · 04-25-2011, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by 5.4 Shelby

Not on the Shelbies. They are Vinyl Graphics. They are not like the older vinyl graphics. They do almost look like paint. very glossy. I absolutely would not sand them. If anything, I would consider a light polish on a soft pad. Probably wouldn't even do that unless one of the pro detailers on here has had some experience with it.

Yea you might not want to sand those. I guess the one shelby i saw the other day had them actually painted because it had metallics in it and you couldnt feel that hard edge.

**5.4 Shelby** · 04-25-2011, 09:34 PM

Originally Posted by 93fox

Yea you might not want to sand those. I guess the one shelby i saw the other day had them actually painted because it had metallics in it and you couldnt feel that hard edge.

A lot of guys removed the vinyl and had them painted on. Have thought about it. Kinda hate to screw with my factory paint though.

Mine do have a metallic look to them. The edges are obvious though.

**C. Charles Hahn** · 04-25-2011, 09:40 PM

Originally Posted by 93fox

From my painting point of view... If they are painted, you can go ahead and sand em too. Its very easy to tell, just rub your finger across them and if you can feel the edge that means they are decals and you certainly dont want to sand them. If you cant feel that edge then it means they are painted. Its very easy to tell. Your best bet is to look at them in the direct sunlight as well, paint will always look alot different than a decal. You may also want to look at the years, i believe the recent models have the stripes painted and not decals.

I would stipulate that if you're going to sand painted stripes, you need to make sure they're buried under clear coat. If they're just on top of the clear, you might end up sanding them right off the car. It isn't always as obvious as you might think.

Originally Posted by 93fox

Yea you might not want to sand those. I guess the one shelby i saw the other day had them actually painted because it had metallics in it and you couldnt feel that hard edge.

You might have seen a car that had them custom painted, but for the most part manufacturers are using vinyl -- painting on stripes in the factory would be far too costly in this day and age. It's surprising how much better quality the vinyl films available these days is; some of it mimics the look of paint very well.