After viewing several posts

referring to masking, I thought it would be good to discuss masking procedures.
There are very many techniques work, and I am going to give a brief outline of the one I am comfortable with. I use this for all paints/dopes/acrylic lacquers.

I use 3M blue vinyl masking tape in 1/8th and 1/4th in". I have used the translucent green 3M plastic tpe (fineline??) but it is not as flexible. This is crucial for establishing the initial line. I have never found that this tape lifts lower levels of paint.

I recently went to the 3M east removal painter's tape in 1" for wider masking and even straight line demarcation. Never a problem with lifting here either. I have also never found a need to clear the edges with these tapes as they have a smooth, not wrinkled, texture which seal very well.

I use cheap tin foil to cover large areas. Slick magazine pages work well too. Masking paper used in auto body repair is another option.
I use clear shelving vinyl (low tack) to make my lettering.

The ball is in y'alls court!
Bill <><

SO what's your point....IF it works yahoo...I haven't learned HOW to mask yet. I need to be showen how. "I'm only three years old"
IS there a good windy's tape out there anyone???

Scott(please help)Riese

OH sorry Bill I was doing a funny with "What's your point?"

Good post:7

I'm also interested in advice on masking techniques. Specifically, how to transfer trim templates onto 2-D and compound curved surfaces? What type of marking to use (pencil? sharpie marker? other?), what template material (paper? cardboard? plastic? sticky shelving liner?)

Also, can anyone share their techniques on masking straight and curved pinstripes (about 1/8" wide?). I've seen paint jobs with beautifully done pinstripes, running parallel to the main color trim edge, very uniform in width. I haven't been able to achieve this quality of masking when taping by hand / eyeball / ruler.

Also, I haven't seen the issue of masking material thickness addressed - which relates to the height of the paint ridge created. I know it's not an issue when using dope (let it dry, scrape it off), but what about enamels / automotive paints? I understand you're not suppose to sand base colors.

The trick is to first lay down a 1/4 inch strip of tape then lay down two more strips on either side. Peel the first strip up and you have a perfect 1/4 inch line.

What's a good source for 3M vinyl tape? and for the clear shelving vinyl (low tack)? for those of us that are resource challanged...

I use the white low tack shelving paper so that it's easy to see what you are doing with it when cutting out and placing lettering. It's available at any old Wal-Mart or Target!

The local auto supply places that sell paint have a variety of 3M tapes. It's a little spendy per roll, but a roll lasts a long time in average use. The blue stuff is really nice, takes curves very well. My auto paint supply guy keeps telling me that 3M is coming out with an orange tape that is even more flexible, but he hasn't been able to show me any yet. Has anyone seen such an animal?

Hey, what's the deal? Did Preston think his was the last and best input, whacking off the "reply" line at bottom of his post?

Mike,

3M offers striping tape which is about 3/4" or 1" wide and so easy to lay down in a straight line. One then picks away at the kiss-cut strips contained within the tape, peeling back as many as you would like, in any configuration you choose.

As to curved lines, look elsewhere for help...

>Hey, what's the deal? Did Preston think his was the last and
>best input, whacking off the "reply" line at bottom of his
>post?
>
>Dan

Negative, Dan. Preston just put in a super long url, and the software here makes it stay in one line, so the frame for Preston's post is about 3 times as wide as usual. You can scroll over and look at the whole thing, just not all at once. It's all there. I'm thinking it's just a flaw in the program, dealing with url's. By the way, I do our website in HTML, not any of that MS Front Page sissy stuff. Yeah, I'd like to, but haven't gotten a round tuit yet. Sissy is good, if you can avoid learning anything about HTML. Steve

If you can't find the 3M tapes locally, try the following web site. They carry all the 3M masking tapes. Do a search on their site for "tape". http://www.ketone.com/

>I use 3M blue vinyl masking tape in 1/8th and 1/4th in". I
>have used the translucent green 3M plastic tpe (fineline??)

3M makes many varieties of blue and green tape.
See http://products3.3m.com/catalog/us/en001/manufacturing_industry/specialty_tapes/node_GSD4XZ6V4Kge/root_GST1T4S9TCgv/vroot_GSNYTMLW46ge/theme_us_specialtytapes_3_0/command_AbcPageHandler/output_html
Luckily, they label each roll with a part number.
If you'll use the part number, then we'll know what you're talking about.
Also makes it easier to order from the local dealer.

Thanks,
Preston

Bill Wilson turned me onto the Paper and Tape dispencer that painters use. It will cut your masking time by three or four times easy. I used to use magazine pages or computer paper or foil. Then I saw brad working at Bill's shop outting on a four color job in one night using a tape and paper roll dispencer. It was fast and easy. It uses the brown paper and regular masking tape. They have it all at Home Depot. Also the way Brad was only adding tape and paper to the paint job as the colors went on the job went really really fast. If you tape it all down then pull it all and redo your work again it can take for ever to get it done. But looking ahead on your scheme and figuring out a way only to add tape and paper as you go you will be amazed how quickly your paint job will go and still look awesome!

As far as masking goes get a paper and tape dispencer it will really cut out all that time messing with seperate papers or foil.