Sunday 11 October 2015

Painter’s Tape (Masking Tape) Prep for Abrasive Polishing



 Mask areas which would be difficult to clean afterwards and or any parts which can be damaged or stained if it comes into contact with the pad or polish being used.

When to use masking tape; 
1.      To avoid discolouring the trim with synthetic polishes
2.      Avoid soiling the pad when going over black trim. The dirt from the rubber gets pulled into the pad a being transferred
3.      Avoid polish residue built up along the seams of the trim.
4.      Tape edges of paint as to not polish too far since paint is usually thinner on the edges.
5.      Also, tape paint seams to avoid residue in the jams.
6.      Badges or emblems or anything with ‘sharp’ edges that you are likely to 'catch'
7.      Use masking tape to protect from ‘burning’ trim (rubber, vinyl or metal); around windows, badges, light surrounds etc, can also be used to mask panel edges to avoid thinning the paint surface
8.      Tape trim and protruding edges, and any panel gaps that are hard to get into to clean.
9.      Tape some newspaper to the windows and over wiper blades and lower windshield trim.
10.  Vinyl trim or paint protection film (PPF) - many factory cars include vinyl stripe or accent packages. 

Also many owners opt to install clear protective films (PPF) on the front end of their vehicles. These surfaces have a very well defined 'edge' that can trap polishes and waxes, those products then make these lines very visible and unsightly. Residues trapped in these spots can be very difficult to remove so tape is an excellent way to save time/effort. 

Matte and satin vinyl’s can be easily stained or damaged by polishes and waxes, so it is key to prevent contact with those surfaces by masking.
Avoid: pinstripes or overlays that is OVER the top of the clear coat its best to avoid masking these. In some cases, if a section of the stripe is not fully adhered the tape can pull the stripe up. The same is true for overlays. If these areas have been applied and then a clear coat they are safe to tape off, otherwise use caution and avoid them.

Application -use one hand to hold the roll taut and to guide the piece as your press it into place with your other hand Scotch® 3M Painter's Tapes are the most versatile in the Scotch® masking tape line. The low adhesion levels make them suitable for use on both coated and non-coated surfaces and are specially designed for safe use on delicate or smooth surfaces such as glass and painted metal, even on freshly painted surfaces.

These tapes are also ultra violet and sunlight resistant, making them ideal for use on glass surfaces, without leaving any sticky residue. Tape sizes available 0.75 to 2-inch

3M™ Scotch® Performance Masking Tape Green-  highly conformable, provides the best adhesive transfer resistance, hugs curves, contours and provides outstanding paint lines. Goes on quickly and easily, sticks at a touch and stays put. This tape has excellent conformability, transfer resistance, and is resistant to bleed through, also has better UV resistance than traditional masking tapes.
3M™ Scotch® Safe-Release TM Blue Painters' Masking Tape - this tape removes cleanly from a paint film or glass surface without adhesive transfer or surface damage for up to 14 days - even when exposed to direct sunlight. It is a medium adhesion tape with a flexible crepe backing allows for exceptional conformability to semi-smooth surfaces.

3M™ Scotch Blue™ Brand Edge-Lock™ - these tapes feature a chemical additive that reacts with moisture to form a barrier and prevent 'bleed' when painting, this additive is difficult to remove from vehicle paint and therefore not suitable for this type of application

Tape residue removal use a safe solvent that does not contain any harmful components (heptanes or xylene or hydrocarbon aliphatic solvents) 3M™ Adhesive and Wax Remover, that simply emulsifies and dissolves the residue. It is important not to leave a solvent based chemical on the paint finish longer than is necessary.

Simply apply to the affected area, allow sufficient to react time, and carefully wipe off, you may have to apply it three or four times allowing plenty of "react time" between applications. 

Current Information

To be of real practical use, a subject like automotive detailing requires a great deal of research, and updating as new products become available. The advent of materials like detailing clay, micro fibre technologies and finely milled micro diminishing abrasives, suitable for ceramic nanotechnology paints are examples of why it’s so important to monitor the industries new products, chemical technologies and ideas that are constantly being introduced, as are the techniques for applying them, hence all of the in-depth articles will be up-dated and revised on a regular basis

Always be willing to learn; because the more you learn, the more you’ll realize what you don’t know. You should never stop learning, and your quest for information should be part of your everyday process. It is said that knowledge is power, with the caveat that it includes access to a reliable information sources. I would like to think that these articles become an asset to anyone who is new to detailing and to professional’s alike, as well as industry experts who seek to advance their knowledge.

This is not a product vendor’s catalogue, nor am I a vendor pretending to be an educator, as there are a lot of companies that are now sponsoring detailing forums, giving advice and preaching that only the product they sell or manufacture are suitable. In reality they are just advertisements, with the appearance of educators, mere salesman. Those who have something to sell can be very persuasive, often using marketing pseudo-science (i.e. blurring the distinction between science and fiction) to make a great case while completely ignoring meaningful facts, like their product adds nothing of real value.

I hope these articles are informative. They are based on the current status of technical development as well as my experience with the products.

By having some understanding of the ‘What’ and ‘Why’ as well as the ‘How’ along with a little science to help you understand how the chemicals we use react, you can achieve the results you desire.

I would appreciate it if you would share these articles as it helps other detailers further their knowledge.

As always if you have questions, I’ll do my best to answer; bear in mind the only stupid questions is the one that was unasked. Questions and/ or constructive comments are always appreciated


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