Masking Bodywork before Spraying.

I've used the blue stuff without problems. (Never had residue, bleeding, etc. even with the tape left on for weeks.) Buy the wide (2 inch) tape as it seems to make masking a little easier and quicker. (I'm not an expert, though, so take my comment with a grain of salt.)

 

likely both would work.

after all that effort though - do you really want to risk anything other than 3M green?
green is easily bought & inexpensive.

Rgds,
Vincenzo

 

The one and only time I used the blue tape, there were problems with urethane dissolving the cement on the blue tape and therefore, will not use it again. I was using it for two-toning over fresh paint and the dissolved residue made a mess that needed to be removed with lacquer thinner.
Also, I don't like the low-tack characteristic of the blue.
Recently I have not been in many body shops, but the few I have been in did not have any blue tape lying around.
For me, the green or a high quality off-white tape is the only way to go.

M

 

you wan't to go find your local auto body suppy store paint house whatever you want to call it. Buy the not so flashy off white or tan-ish painters tape 3m to be exact.

It may cost a little more or less I can't recall but you want it for auto body masking.

The blue and green stuff is for painting your house.
Not that you can't get away with the blue stuff but I recomend the stuff that was made for auto body work.

 

Blue tape is for painting HOUSES.....LOL!

Seriously....

I think the 'standard" uncolored masking tape is what you want for a car...

And if doing color edges there's a 3M Fine Line Tape, that is very smooth and doesn't allow paint to creep under.

The regular tape is for taping paper to metal, not really finish paintwork....

 

i use the cheapest stuff i can find. i run the sticky side over my pants legs to make it a little less sticky. seems to work. thats why i've been doing it for about forty years.

 

Standard masking tape works, as do rags, cardboard shields, your hands...

 

As do various size dogs and cats with assorted tail sizes.

 

Don't use newspaper either. Get proper masking paper. If you are taping on rubber wipe the parts with laquer thinner right before applying the tape. Don't leave the tape on for more than a week or it won't come off.

 

Please.....

....tell us that you're not using Krylon on your Dino!

Rgds,
Vincenzo

 

you could always go with latex, a roller and blue tape ;-)

Rgds,
Vincenzo

 

Why is that?

 

Uro,
Having owned a bodyshop for 20 years, I can say that Big Tex is correct. Use 3M Fine Line for the initial tape, making sure to press it down firmly so there aren't any air bubbles along the edge. This will provide for a clean edge and is most likely what your bodyman used when he did the two tone at the rocker panel.
3M blue or green will work for all other masking tape, just overlap onto the Fine Line and rattle your can.
Make sure you use at least a green scotch brite pad or heavier on the entire black area to assure good adhesion of the SEM Satin Black.

It works best to remove the Fine Line while the paint is still sticky and not completely dry.
This will give you the best results usually. If you allow the black to dry completely, the chances of pulling an edge goes way up.

Have fun!

Jon
04788, only 5 cars down the line from yours.

 

The fibers in newsprint are very loose and will become airborne when blasted with airflow from a spray gun. These airborne fibers will then end up in your fresh paint. Masking paper that is made for painting does not have this problem.

 

I KNOW a little bit, about a few things.......LOL!

Thanks for expounding on the methodology......I ran across my Fine Line Tape in a box just the other day, it's riding around in the door pocket, now....just in case ....

 

The newspaper ink will bleed into everything as well as the loose fider problem. Run your finger over a newspaper sometime. I dont think that ink ever dries.