[Sneakerphile]

I thought it might by an idea to start of a short thread listing sites selling various items for customisation (paints and the such) so that anyone wanting to try their hand knows where to get what they need.

Here are a few sites that I use that are very good:

http://www.everythingairbrush.com/
This site carries everything from paints to airbrushes and compressors. Very good site. Reasonable prices and quick delivery.

http://www.cfsnet.co.uk/acatalog/CFS_Cat...e_533.html
If you're gonna customise, you need to strip the existing coatings/paint from the shoe first to get the best results. Acetone is the best thing for this, and this site does industrial strength at cheap prices.
If you look around this site, they also do protective items, such as latex gloves and particle/ventilator masks as well (a must if you are airbrushing)

http://www.shesto.co.uk/Knives,_Blades_&...index.html
If you plan on doing any stenciling, then you'll need craft knives. This place is the best i've found online. These are the ones that I use. You can also get cutting mats here as well (so you don't carve up your kitchen table!)

Basic masking tape is the best thing for masking of areas of the show you don't wanna paint, or you can use it for cutting out stencils as well. You can pick this up in loads of different places (Woolworths, B&Q, Homebase, etc) Get several different widths!

http://www.glowtec.co.uk/
This is a good site if you wanna try something a little special.
You can get Glow In The Dark and UV paint from here. They have also started doing reflective paint, so you can get that 3M effect, along with reflective tape as well (for those of you who want to make some reflective stripes for your adicolors)

http://www.plastidip.co.uk/index2.cfm?pa...s&prodId=1
OK, finally, there may be a solution to the problem of old faded shells. I have yet to get round to testing this yet (have bought some but not tried it yet) but it sounds like it may do the job. The paint dries to form a flexible weather-proof plastic/rubbery layer, whichs sounds like it would be perfect for painting shells.
As you know, you use normal paints and you risk it splitting or cracking when the ruber bends. This may solve that problem.
Once I have tested this out (if the weather stays good I can do it, as it needs to be used outdoors) I will let you all know the results.
They do it in several colours as well, so you may be able to take your customisation all the way down to the sole!

Well, thats all I have for now (sorry to all you non-brits, these are all UK sites, but they may deliver internationally!) If I come across anymore, i'll post them up.
Likewise, if you have any sites that do quality supplies, stick them up here.

[King of the Farm]

Top notch information!

In my youth I had a bit of an artistic hand. I was really into drawing and had an entire drafting studio set up in my room (very very large room). Maybe I can try my hand at it again... in superstar form though.

Thanks Sneak!

[woody]

Excellent thread, that plastic dip stuff sounds interesting too

[King of the Farm]

Well, I've decided to finally try my hand at customs.

I bought a pair of White/White Superstar II's and I've ordered some nice brushes and an assortment of Angelus Leather Paints to give it a whirl.

I'll take plenty of photos and document the progression.

Wish me luck!

[Galaxy36]

^^^Good luck with that KOTF, keep us posted.

[adidasanth]

Nice info Sneakerphile, be good to see how people go with their customs, good luck KOTF!

Did you get my parcel yet Joel?

[King of the Farm]

Nice info Sneakerphile, be good to see how people go with their customs, good luck KOTF!

Did you get my parcel yet Joel?

Not yet Anth., later this week I'm sure, maybe even next week... The USPS seems to be a little slow these days. I've been waiting on a couple others from other people for a few days now. Packages that I should've recieved by now. Looks like the Postal Service is just a little slow lately. Not to worry though. I'm sure it will be soon enough.

[Lorrie]

You going to do a collage of all your favourite USC players over the years? Or maybe a big trojan on the outside heel? Matt Leinart's pretty face on the instep?

[King of the Farm]

You going to do a collage of all your favourite USC players over the years? Or maybe a big trojan on the outside heel? Matt Leinart's pretty face on the instep?

HA! Nice! How about some OJ Supe's? Oh wait, We disowned Juice a few years ago... Nah, No Trojan supe's. I've got some pattern Geo design ideas i'm going to fool around with.

[Funke]

hey sneakerphile
i was just wondering how you would actually use the stencil
i read sabotage's guide on sneakerfreaker and im not sure
do you need like some sort of sticker type paper that you have the stencil on top of in which you use to cut out a letter from
then you peel off the covering and stick it on top of the shoe to cover the layer of the paint you want for later?
does it work like that?

[Sneakerphile]

hey sneakerphile
i was just wondering how you would actually use the stencil
i read sabotage's guide on sneakerfreaker and im not sure
do you need like some sort of sticker type paper that you have the stencil on top of in which you use to cut out a letter from
then you peel off the covering and stick it on top of the shoe to cover the layer of the paint you want for later?
does it work like that?

Me personally, I use masking tape for stencils. Lightly stick a piece on the cutting mat, draw the shape on it, then cut it out with a scalpel. Then peel off and stick to the shoe. I've not found anything else that works better yet, so if you do, let us all know.

[danii]

i use paper...print out of computer, cut it out and use 3m spraymount and stick it to the shoe.
there are no marks of the glue when you remove it. however the 3m glue is not a cheap one...so get yourself some fancy job at advertising agency and steel couple of cans before you get totally sick of it

[Funke]

well, i went to an art and crafts shop today
the lady was telling me about a sort of low adhesive contact that is used for stencils
low adhesive means it wont peel the paint, but from what your experience i guess masking tape works fine =]

thanks for that guys

ps: i'll try find that glue at a shop and check it out
dam... sounds really pricey...


EDIT:
i just prepped up an old shoe and painted a small section of it with some dodgey acrylic paint i found at home and it doesnt seem to turn out nice
is it because i havent sealed it with a matte varnish yet?
like you can clearly see the brush strokes.
or is it the paint?

i'll try get my hands on some of the angelus leather paint soon
after the boxing day sales - the day i wanna get a pair of cheap sneakers to work on

thanks again

edit: ok, i figured out the prob with the brush strokes
use smaller brushes!

[odriscoll]

Can you buy accessories for superstars? like the gold plating on the laces etc.?

[mr.pure]

If you mean the gold tips, you could ask your closest Jeweller when they'll be ready.