Painting/masking question

B

Bruce_MO

Well-known member
When painting with single stage enamel, how long should I wait before pulling off masking tape to avoid lifting fresh paint? I will be using fine line tape.


Had a problem on a previous restoration where I pulled a small amount of paint in a few areas. Fortunately, it was not easy to see.

Thanks
 
I will pull the tape while the paint is firm but still wet. There must be many different techniques. For work in the house with house paint I will run a sharp blade along the tape line to cut the paint, but that is house paint and not a car.
 
Do NOT pull the tape at a 90 degree angle to the paint.

Let the paint set up, just till it is NOT tacky.

I pull the tape straight back, in the direction of the tape line,
so the edge of the tape breaks the paint edge, so the paint don't lift.




.
 
Yes as Lanny said pull the tape back across itself, not 90° to the paint.
and as the paint is just starting to firm up
 
All true. The paint must be "ripe" - still pliable and not stone dry. If totally dry the result is often a ragged edge rather than a nice cut. Best to pull the tape at 180 degrees to ensure you get a cut and do not pull the paint away from the surface. A little experimentation will lead to the best technique for your application. Good Luck.
 
To be honest, if you are using a 2 stage urethane, we find it really does not matter. We almost always come back the following day and pull the tape & paper. Old habits die hard but paints today are much different than what was used 10-20 years ago.

FWIW, the biggest reason why people used to do that method was to hide the fact that the job was poorly prepped where the substrate surface was not properly toothed to have proper topcoat adhesion.
 
I paper right up to the edge of a stripe or molding line and then apply the tape that will be right on the paint line. This way I can pull the paint line tape while still wet and leave the paper for the next day after everything is dry. This lessens the chance of damaging the fresh paint.

This helps to level the line out better while it still has a bit of flow left and makes it a smoother edge on the fresh paint.
 
Another old painter's trick is once the masking has been completed, tear a 6" piece of 1" masking tape off the roll at a time and fold it into three sections lengthwise so that the entire piece is sticky all the way around, front and back sides. Lay that along close to the edge of where the masking tape and paper meet the area to be painted. Do this all along the length of the masked off tape. What happens is when the spray gun across with its paint coming out at an angle, the sticky folded pieces of tape "kick back" (repel) the paint so that an edge of unwanted paint does not build up against the masked off area. This reduces a raised edge of paint that otherwise remains once the masking tape and paper are removed. Of course, the heavier and more often paint is sprayed in this area, the thicker the edge will be. Lacquer may not be as affected as enamels because it is so thin, but it is still a good idea to reduce the amount of built-up paint that remains on the masking tape. As you approach the masked off area, pull back slightly with the gun to reduce the amount of paint that will cover the masked tape. The folded sticky tape will help reduce this edge, but not completely eliminate it if the paint is laid on too thick. I have used this method for 40 years and it seems to work.
Marshall
 
You have two options. 1 A few minutes after you paint and 2 the next day. Also pull the tape away from the painted edge at a 45 Deg. angle. this way the edge of the tape cuts the paint as you pull it off. Try to be even with your movement and don't go too fast. JP
 
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