striping 3/4 inch line

You need to know the floor surface condition. Is it a broom or trowel finish? Is their a straightness specification? Is this striping on a topping of some sort? if so, is there sand in the topping? Are they specifying the type of paint you have to use? Is there surface prep involved? If a computer will be following 3/4" lines, what is the line width tolerance? What are the lengths of the lines or are they connected in continuous "paths"? What is the spacing between lines? How close to walls do the ends of the lines need to go? The answer to all of these questions (and possibly more) will dictate the answer to your question. I assume this is some sort of robot with a laser similar to advanced automated warehousing & manufacturing facilities. Although unlikely, you might be able to spray a 3/4" line - testing will tell. I can't remember if Roberts sport court taper will go down to 3/4" or not but if so, that might be your only other option.

I would walk away. the sport taper will not go that small, and even with a 115 tip it will be very difficult to maintain the straight line.

just use a pointer, why would it be harder to paint a narrow line straight versus a 4 inch line? I would however be at the top of the mark as far as price goes, no reason for deals on custom work. a "test" area would ensure everyone is on the same page.

I am going to hijack this thread a bit on walking away from jobs. This is not intended to be a dig to Stephan in any way so please don't take it that way. I have never walked away from any job before first fully understanding what the customer wants. If it is weird, difficult, unusual, night work, weekend work, 1200 miles away, union . . . etc., it doesn't matter. Many of these non-normal things simply make the price go up and help me learn something new. If after exploring everything associated with the job, I decide it is not something I am prepared to tackle and stand behind, then I might walk away. Even if the final decision is to walk away, in the investigation leading up to a final decision, I always learn something new which broadens my knowledge and helps me know how little we all really know about the application of the multitude of colored material on various surfaces. We have now achieved an average of 30% of our work being warehouse work and it is very demanding and requires a whole new additional set of skills, knowledge & equipment in addition to what we need for parking lot striping. It is certainly not something the average striper is capable of doing right. I can't tell you how many jobs I have gotten because an inexperienced and unprepared parking lot striper didn't know what they were doing indoors. So I guess walking away is always an option but for me and in my business model, it is always the last consideration. Cases in point, next week, I am driving from Michigan to Ft Worth TX to start a 6 phase project for an indoor shot blasting & epoxy striping project. This is because for this customer, we have proven ourselves to be capable of what at least 2 other striping companies have messed up at this location. On my way to Ft Worth, I am also stopping by a large warehouse near Nashville, TN where again, other stripers have done indoor striping that looked like it was done by a 13 year old kid with a limp. We will be correcting errors and gaining what will become another long term customer who services facilities from the Mississippi to the Atlantic coast.

now that is work Ill walk away from, I don't travel anymore.

There are many questions that need answers before signing a contract but it sounds like you will need to tape it all out by hand. Strike two chalk lines - you can use mason line or something a little bigger. I use the line sold at U.S. marker board for stripers - just search striping chalkline on their site and you'll see a big spool of it for under $200. Anyway, after striking two lines, stretch out masking tape, hopefully within specifications of thickness of line. hopefully its not a trowelled surface because tape may not stick. Be sure to get good coverage when painting but not too much. maybe two coats. BTW what kind of paint are u using? Maybe something serious like tnemec?

3 miles of masking tape? I hope you aren't paying retail! I assume you are going to have the minions put down the tape for you.

Putting down that much tape may be a little unrealistic. Like ncstripe mentioned, a 3/4" test line might be the best way to go. To obtain the straightest line possible, using a string line (not chalk) may work best. A laser light would be nice but I don't think it will provide the straightest line which seems to be the main goal.

Now this may or not be a dumb idea or question so don't kick me too much for asking or suggesting it: Could you just turn your spray fan so it will spray parallel to your striping machine and adjust accordingly to achieve a 3/4 inch line ? I have never sprayed any lines like that but thought it might be an idea to test with some water in your driveway or street you live on.

Does the stripe have to be a crisp line? If not, just reverse your tip, say a 211. It's possible that you could spray over the top of your string. Can you use 3/4 inch traffic tape instead of paint. If automated nothing should be rolling over it with wheels.

RandyV wrote on Feb 6, 2015:Go to #4

I am going to hijack this thread a bit on walking away from jobs. This is not intended to be a dig to Stephan in any way so please don't take it that way. I have never walked away from any job before first fully understanding what the customer wants. If it is weird, difficult, unusual, night work, weekend work, 1200 miles away, union . . . etc., it doesn't matter. Many of these non-normal things simply make the price go up and help me learn something new. If after exploring everything associated with the job, I decide it is not something I am prepared to tackle and stand behind, then I might walk away. Even if the final decision is to walk away, in the investigation leading up to a final decision, I always learn something new which broadens my knowledge and helps me know how little we all really know about the application of the multitude of colored material on various surfaces. We have now achieved an average of 30% of our work being warehouse work and it is very demanding and requires a whole new additional set of skills, knowledge & equipment in addition to what we need for parking lot striping. It is certainly not something the average striper is capable of doing right. I can't tell you how many jobs I have gotten because an inexperienced and unprepared parking lot striper didn't know what they were doing indoors. So I guess walking away is always an option but for me and in my business model, it is always the last consideration. Cases in point, next week, I am driving from Michigan to Ft Worth TX to start a 6 phase project for an indoor shot blasting & epoxy striping project. This is because for this customer, we have proven ourselves to be capable of what at least 2 other striping companies have messed up at this location. On my way to Ft Worth, I am also stopping by a large warehouse near Nashville, TN where again, other stripers have done indoor striping that looked like it was done by a 13 year old kid with a limp. We will be correcting errors and gaining what will become another long term customer who services facilities from the Mississippi to the Atlantic coast.

And that folks is how you build a successful business Good sound advise Randy Cheers

small town striping wrote on Feb 10, 2015:Go to #9

Now this may or not be a dumb idea or question so don't kick me too much for asking or suggesting it: Could you just turn your spray fan so it will spray parallel to your striping machine and adjust accordingly to achieve a 3/4 inch line ? I have never sprayed any lines like that but thought it might be an idea to test with some water in your driveway or street you live on.

This has worked for me. adjust the with by adjusting the angle of the spray head. With a new tip I can get down to a 1/2" line with low pressure.