MASKING- Looking for the RIGHT way to do it

[NYCTS]

How to tape-off a car (http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=33720)


I'm a newbie, been looking through the posts trying to read up about masking. I'm looking for some general rules about masking (if there are any). So far mask off chrome, trim, plastic...

Are there any special rules for specific cars?

I drive a 2004 Cadillac CTS, lots of angles and edges on the car.

THANKS in advance.

[Mike Phillips]

Hi NYCTS,

Hang on for a few minutes, I have to upload some photos...

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2Tapecollection.jpg

Mike

[Epic18s]

Im also very interested in this, I have yet to try to tape off anything but if it will save me from getting the wrong type of product on the wrong surface then I'm all for it. Also Im guessing the tape you use is mostly for painting so I thinking would it leave any residue behind?

[Mike Phillips]

Here are some examples of what I cover before doing what I call a "Complete". When I used to detail cars full time, if I had to start with the compounding process, then I would call the job a "Complete", because I had to start with the hardest and most time consuming process, (removing serious defect with a rotary buffer and a compound), and work my way through multiple steps until I had achieved a show car finish, in other words, I had to completely go over the car finish with all the steps required for a show car finish.

In order to prevent splatter on wheels and tires, you can purchase wheel covers and any good PBE store or just use what you already have, newspaper and tape

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2600_finishedshotwithgoldclass1.jpg

After covering the wheels and tires, start taping-off everything you don't' want to detail later, (Here the word detail means, get the wax out of the cracks, or anything you don't want to get excess product, (splatter), into, such as under grills where the area under the grill is not readily accessible, or you don't want to run the buffer over, like high points, edges and body seams, or even known thin areas.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2600_finishedshottapedoff1.jpg

Mike

[Mike Phillips]

Tape off small trim areas

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2Tapedoff4.jpg

Sometimes I cut pieces with scissors to make for a neater taping

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2Tapedoff5.jpg

Mike

[Mike Phillips]

Window gaskets and trim around side mirror taped-off

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2600_tapedoffsidemirror.jpg

Windshield wash water squirter taped-off

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2600_tapedoffwindshieldwatersquirter.jpg

[Mike Phillips]

This particular car was being prepped for the 2002 Bimmerfest, it was a side-by-side, before & after demonstration. This is why you'll see the car taped-off down the middle.

The first time we taped off one half,

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2600_tapedoff0.jpg

After the show the car was brought back and we taped-off the finished side so we wouldn't splatter it with product while buffing out the un-buffed side.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2600_tapedoff2.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2600_tapedoff3.jpg

[Mike Phillips]

Here you can see we have taped-off the gasket and trim around the window and also a sticker in the lower right hand corner to protect it from splatter that would later need to be removed. (Just an extra safety precaution)

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2tapedoffwindowdecal.jpg

[Mike Phillips]

Normal kitchen tin foil can come in handy for wrapping around some items like windshield wiper arms because you can shape it and it will keep its hold.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2tinfoil1.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2tinfoil2.jpg

[Mike Phillips]

Here's a picture of the felt surrounding the sun roof to prevent it from product splatter. It's very difficult to clean this type of material so it's always better to tape it off.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2tapedoffsunroof.jpg

[Mike Phillips]

Before

(Kind of hurts your eyes to look at)

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2bmwbefore.jpg

Feather Sanding

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2RightSideBMW-med.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2RightSideBMW2.jpg

[Mike Phillips]

After Drivers side only

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2BMWRightSideAfter1.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2BMWRightSideAfter2.jpg

[Mike Phillips]

Back for the other side after the show...

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2LeftSideBMW.jpg

[Mike Phillips]

Completely Finished

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2hoodshot1.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2hoodshot3.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2hoodupshotownerreflection1.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2ownerreflection2-med.jpg

Taping-off is an important part of the process and the overall quality of the end results.

[Lt1Corvette]

Originally posted by Mike Phillips
Here's a picture of the felt surrounding the sun roof to prevent it from product splatter. It's very difficult to clean this type of material so it's always better to tape it off.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2tapedoffsunroof.jpg

Sorry to off topic this a bit, but is there any approach that actually works when it comes to cleaning the felt around the sun roof?

[chevymaniaco]

what's feather sanding??? :confused:

[Tim Lingor]

Originally posted by chevymaniaco
what's feather sanding??? :confused:

Feather sanding is when you cut the sand-paper into small squares and carefully "feather-out" the deeper defects. You are not trying to sand a larger area with a block and sand-paper, as this can lead to a ripple effect when the paint gets buffed out. Instead, you are carefully dealing with the isolated defects, sanding only what is necessary.

Cheers! :)

Tim

[Inzane]

Thanks for the excellent post Mike!! :xyxthumbs

Taping was one of my biggest nagging problems during my first couple details in the 2004 summer season. The first car I taped up (my wife's car) took me over an hour, maybe 1.5 hours!! I don't know why it took me that long....perhaps I was being too picky. The second car I taped a month later seemed to go faster.

Another car I detailed I skipped the taping step and did unfortunately get some residue in the felt area around my sunroof. Like someone else asked above, how do you properly clean that felt-like seal around the sunroof?

Thanks.

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by Inzane
Like someone else asked above, how do you properly clean that felt-like seal around the sunroof?

Thanks.

Very carefully.

I don't get splatter on these areas as I tape everything off. I do show the owner of the car the wax and polish residue in this area and other areas before going to work on a car so that they know it was there before I started. Then I do my best to remove any leftover residue at the end of the process. Meguiar's new Triple Duty Detail brush will be a big help in this endeavor.

Taping off this felt gasket will actually help to clean it to some degree as the adhesive will attract some of the residue, somewhat like a lint roller. After removing the tape, gently brush the felt area and blow with air through your mouth to remove. Repeat till you're satisfied or exhausted.

As mentioned before, it's best to tape these areas off so you don't have to detail them later.

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by NYCTS
I'm a newbie, been looking through the posts trying to read up about masking. I'm looking for some general rules about masking (if there are any).

So far mask off chrome, trim, plastic...

Are there any special rules for specific cars?


No special rules as each car is different, the general rule I use is I tape off anything I don't want to get splatter on, splatter in, or detail with a toothbrush when the job is done.


"Polishing paint is polishing paint, detailing is getting the wax out of the cracks" -Mike Phillips


If you do a good job of taping a car off before hand, you won't have to detail it later... :)

[kpagel]

Wow, I never saw this thread before. This is probably the best 'How-To' article on this forum (for me anyways). Thanks Mike for going through all that trouble, you are the master! :bow

[hooked]

Wow! That's quite a process. Excellent job. The car you showed did not have any pinstriping (decals). Do you tape that over too? I assume you would have to cut the tape to the width of the decal. Yuck. Maybe I'll just remove the pinstripe!

[holderp]

Originally posted by Mike Phillips
Tape off small trim areas

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2Tapedoff4.jpg

Sometimes I cut pieces with scissors to make for a neater taping

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2Tapedoff5.jpg

Mike

So you tape a little area of paint around the trim and not just the trim?

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by holderp
So you tape a little area of paint around the trim and not just the trim?

Most of the time, it kind of depends upon the trim. Some trim lends itself well to taping off just the trim and some trim it will be better if you overhang onto the paint to avoid getting residue in the cracks.

You also have to keep in mind the context of the job, is it a daily driver or a bona-fide show car. The big picture is making the the car look good, this would include the major portions of the panel.

[Guiser]

Question on tape removal.

When removing the tape, there is sometimes a thin strip of various products left behind where the edge was. What is the best way to remove this without disturbing the wax in that area. Is it safe to hit it right away with QD + MF if I do it gently? Or would it be better to let the wax set up for a while (also making the edge lines harder to remove)?

- Ben

[Lydia]

Question on tape removal.

When removing the tape, there is sometimes a thin strip of various products left behind where the edge was. What is the best way to remove this without disturbing the wax in that area. Is it safe to hit it right away with QD + MF if I do it gently? Or would it be better to let the wax set up for a while (also making the edge lines harder to remove)?

- Ben


Sorry to dredge up this old thread, but I was wondering about this too. Any tips, Mike?

[Mike Phillips]

Question on tape removal.

When removing the tape, there is sometimes a thin strip of various products left behind where the edge was. What is the best way to remove this without disturbing the wax in that area. Is it safe to hit it right away with QD + MF if I do it gently? Or would it be better to let the wax set up for a while (also making the edge lines harder to remove)?

- Ben

Sorry to dredge up this old thread, but I was wondering about this too. Any tips, Mike?

What's the best way to remove the thin strip of residue where the tape line was?


Carefully!

Seriosly... however you want to, after I detail a car and the wax is drying I'll go around the car and remove the tape and then while I'm at it wipe the residue off next to the trim right then and there while the rest of the wax on the car is drying.

Just use a microfiber and your finger to wipe off carefully and gently, you usually don't need to use a QD for this. Then when you wipe the wax off the major portions of the panel pay attention to the edges where the trim is to insure you removed any residue.

Keep it simple when possible. :laughing2


:doublethumbsup2

[Tim Lingor]

Sorry to dredge up this old thread, but I was wondering about this too. Any tips, Mike?

I wet the tip of a MF towel with a QD and then use my finger under that tip to wipe the residue off. Be careful as at this stage the finish should be near perfect and you do not want to add marring back into the surface.

Tim

[MBZ 500E]

I wet the tip of a MF towel with a QD and then use my finger under that tip to wipe the residue off. Be careful as at this stage the finish should be near perfect and you do not want to add marring back into the surface.

Tim

I do similar although I also spray the white line left behind with QD beforehand to soften it up and then use above technique. Having a soft MF is critical otherwise you can easily leave scratches behind.

After I remove the white line I usually follow up with a hand polish to remove any light scratches and help blend the taped portion with the recently polished surface.

[lecchilo]

Mike this is a great write up.

To answer the question above... I use the tape to prevent polish from getting where it shouldn't, staining what it shouldn't and the pad from burning trim, some high edges, etc. I remove the tape after polishing, QD the whole car well and get it ready for wax, then I simply apply wax carefully enough not to get it on any trim, etc. If I have taped off high edges of the paint, I will first polish them by hand, then wax.

In short, I couldn't imagine polishing AND waxing while tape is still on, THEN cleaning off the residue... whatever works I guess

[Holden_Caulfield04]

This is definitely a great write up, Mike. I directed a few from another forum to show them how masking is meant to be done. :goodjob1

[IWantaTurbo]

What do you think of this?
http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/blue_tape_s4.JPG (http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/blue_tape_s4.JPG)

[techjazz]

That's either a great pratical joke or they're trying to be really really careful when polishing taillights!

[lecchilo]

That's either a great pratical joke or they're trying to be really really careful when polishing taillights!

They actually rode cross-country so taped it off to protect the paint haha

[roushstage2]

I saw the whole article. Good read!

[lecchilo]

I saw the whole article. Good read!

+1.. very interesting haha

[Iam4st8]

like everyone else is saying.. Great post Mike!:bounce

[Bunky]

What I discovered is that of all the products used during a polishing routine with a taped car, the tape is actually one of the more expensive items. Of course, this is after the investment of a power tool and pads. Blue tape is not cheap and green tape is slightly more expensive. You can go through a half roll if you tape all plastics and this does not include seams, etc if you use a rotary.

[JuddGA]

What if you are using a DA with something like ScratchX and you want to avoid all the trim looking white? You would still tape right? I assume a 1" strip would be good so you dont run over the trim. There really is no splatter to deal with.

[Mike Phillips]

What if you are using a DA with something like ScratchX and you want to avoid all the trim looking white? You would still tape right?


Correct.


I assume a 1" strip would be good so you don't run over the trim. There really is no splatter to deal with.


Also, you can slow down, focus on the task at hand and be careful.

:D

[Maserati Mario]

Thanks for this info Mike. I knew I was doing it wrong.

[jmitch8011]

I found you - this is a great post- i should have used mask instead of tape for my search.....came up so fast - will upload some pics when iget hom to get your take.

[hacker-pschorr]

Ok, the windshield washer nozzles just piss me off. First time the buffer gets anywhere near those the blue tape goes flying across the garage or sticks to the pad.

Every car I have the wipers are down by a painted area, so I tried removing them during a recent detail job. I taped over the screw post sticking up. That didn't prevent the post from tearing my brand new 8" red pad in half......

Wasn't a good day in the garage.

[seth1066]

Ok, the windshield washer nozzles just piss me off. First time the buffer gets anywhere near those the blue tape goes flying across the garage or sticks to the pad.

Every car I have the wipers are down by a painted area, so I tried removing them during a recent detail job. I taped over the screw post sticking up. That didn't prevent the post from tearing my brand new 8" red pad in half......

Wasn't a good day in the garage.Some washer nozzles can be removed, such as the Honda Pilot with no under hood insulation. The wipers can be turned on and then the ignition key turned off when the wipers reach their zenith.

[hacker-pschorr]

The wipers can be turned on and then the ignition key turned off when the wipers reach their zenith.
I've done that before, just figured I would remove them completly. Damn pad was like a magnet to that post. :bawling1