Whats the best tape to use these days for a clean straight edge when spraying? There are so many compared with what I used to use. My original method was to mask off the area using the normal crap manila coloured stuff, but leaving it about 3mm short from the edge I wanted; then I used a 6mm - 8mm coachline tape part way over the crap stuff and the rest to the line I wanted. Within 15 minutes of spraying, I pulled the coachline tape off and the edge it left was usually pretty good.
The correct tape is fine line tape as it is vinyl and leaves no residue or fuzzy edges. It comes in various widths. Normal masking tape is for masking protection and not for marking out stripes, two tone etc as it cannot stand up to saturation and may cause damage to the surface under the tape with lifting or marking of the surface. Acrylic Fine Line Masking Tape 3mm Hi Temp Fineline x 1 | eBay
Thanks All....... So I did more or less use the same method.........I put the crap tape down first, though
dont leave tape on for too long...the resin could peel off paint. Not saying it will but the longer it stays on...(?).
Buy 3M fine line masking tape - 3mm for tight bends or 5mm for less tight bends. Don't buy cheaper un branded copies as it's not expensive.
top tip......put the tape down where you want it....then a fine coat of clear lacquer over the respective edge. let that go off then paint the colour you need great straight edge!
Using the lacquer as a sealer against the edge of the tape, so there is no colour creep when the paint is applied?
Maybe? But that will create more of a bump would it not? Don't think you will get colour creep with the 3M tape, I never have.
I was only guessing at wot andy meant. I previously used a Simoniz coach stripe for the clean straight edge because the excess either side of the stripe / total width made it easy to get a straight line across a panel. Once masked, I spray away from the tape edge rather than towards it, to keep the edge thickness to a minimum. On this job, I'm going to have a bit of an issue spraying two extra colours onto an already painted and lacquered panel.....It's going to take a bit of time keying the area with 1200 w&d unless I can find a decent primer that wll etch the lacquer.
exactly.....you only need a fine amount of clear near the edge......then you can do a fine amount of the colour after before then completing the proper amount of colour.....
