Techniques for Masking Tape

Surface Preparation

• Clean the surface of the vehicle or wall to be painted thoroughly with special attention to the sections to which you are applying masking tape. A dry cloth may clean smooth painted surfaces, but apply soapy water or solvents to get tough dirt and oil off when necessary. See that the surface is a temperature between 50 degrees and 90 degrees to prevent the tape adhesive from smearing or refusing to stick.
  
  

Application Techniques

• Pull the tape from the roll 1 foot at a time. Press the tape into place without stretching it to lay a line of tape protection. Press the edges of the tape down onto the surface firmly with a putty knife or a tape-wipe card. Cut any drifting edges from the borders of metal frames on car bodies with a razor knife or single-edged razor blade. Avoid bunching and ripples while cutting.
  
  

Using Paper or Film

• Cut masking paper or masking film to fit over windows and other large surfaces that are not being painted. Press tape onto the edges of the paper or film and apply it over the original masking tape on the window frame or wall edge. Set the tape from the paper or film slightly back from the original tape edge to prevent a double thickness of tape from building up paint ridges along its raised edges.
  
  

Special Techniques

• Apply fine-line masking tape to create a thin paint stripe. Place a layer of regular masking tape over the surface on each side of the stripe location.
  
  Create a hollow tube of tape to protect gaps, such as door jambs. Roll the adhesive side out and create a cylinder, then place it in small openings to create a protective seal. Cut masking paper to fit over the adhesive on wider openings.
  
  

Masking Tape Removal

• Pinch the ends of the masking tape to bring the adhesive together and create a 1-inch tab that won't stick to the surface. Grip the tape by the tabs and peel it away either immediately after painting, or 12 hours later when the paint is dry. Remove tape from vehicle bodies at a straight 90-degree angle, pulling slowly. Remove tape from building surfaces by peeling back toward itself at a 45-degree angle.