MASKING- Looking for the RIGHT way to do it

[NYCTS]

How to tape-off a car


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...







During the process



Afterwards on display

[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



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.



Mike

[Mike Phillips]

Tape off small trim areas



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



Mike

[Mike Phillips]

Window gaskets and trim around side mirror taped-off



Windshield wash water squirter taped-off

[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,



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.

[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)

[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.

[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.

[Mike Phillips]

Before

(Kind of hurts your eyes to look at)



Feather Sanding

[Mike Phillips]

After Drivers side only

[Mike Phillips]

Back for the other side after the show...

[Mike Phillips]

Completely Finished









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.

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?