Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Painting accents around lugs

I've searched and haven't found anything but someone mentioning the nail polish method. Is this the best? Any tips, how long should it last, and can I use acetone if I mess up? Thanks for any help.

i would think the nail polish brush is not only too large but also a POS brush. Not made for laying down nice lines.

paint pen

would a paint pen stay put? I feel like it would smudge real easily, and then it would be difficult to clean up.

Can you could get a nice line from it on such a hard non-porous surface?

paint pen

+1 use the finest point paint pen- it should look good

It doesn't seem like smudging would be a huge issue as it's not somewhere you really touch. I would also avoid putting acetone on your bikes paint.

paint pens or markers for sure. and you can always sharpen the tips of them down with a razor.

You need sign painting brushes, as used for pinstriping, like these:

http://www.dickblick.com/categories/letteringbrushes/

i've done it with model paint. it's enamel so its rock hard when it dries. it's the only way to go.

well i guess nail polish is enamel too....

use nail polish (or model enamel paint) with a nice super thin paint brush..

use nail polish (or model enamel paint) with a nice super thin paint brush..

will these stay there for a good amount of time? and does it matter which one I use?

it will stay for forever unless you sit there scratching it off like a tweaker.. or if you buy crappy nail polish from the 99 cent store.. or, of course, if you crash your bike and hit the ground exactly where you painted it.. but then powdercoat comes off like that too..

Exactly what nail polish is best for track bikes?

Use thin pinstriping/detail masking tape. It is about 1/4" across and conforms to curves easily. You will achieve excellent results.

Unless you're a master pinstriper why bother with the risk of messing up. Find the tools to do it right.

I use a one and five horsehair brush and some model paint to do fine lines. Takes longer, but it works everytime and is totally worth it.

Exactly what nail polish is best for track bikes?

This sums it up nicely. New Sig!

...if someone wants to get a group-buy together I can send a case of NJS nailpolish over.

nail polish sucks for color longevity. automotive touch up or model enamel paint is the answer, far better than nail polish. better range of useful colours for bikes, too.

if you do use nail polish, don't be too concerned about using acetone to clean up messes: it'll be OK if you're fast and careful. as long as the enamel underneath is well set, and hard, it won't be affected by rubbing lightly with acetone, unless you've rattle-canned your frame, or have some other cheap paint on there for some reason, when acetone will be a concern.

Not being a burden, but I really do feel that the aforementioned pinstripe tape is the answer to prevent ****-ups. One mask across the high point of the lugs, another however deep away you want it, following the contours.

A $5 roll of this stuff should prevent you from even thinking about acetone.