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Masking tape question

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regularman

regularman

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What do you guys think about leaving masking tape on a car for 6 weeks while primered and I do some spot work getting ready for the basecoat. I am having shoulder surgery Thursday and will have my arm in a sling for 6 weeks. it would be nice not to have to go through the taping ordeal twice, but I am worried about the adhesive coming off the tape and or the tape not coming off good after that lenght of time. Anyone have any experience with something like this?
 
Kim, it depends on the brand/type of tape you are using. If you are using something like 3M blue tape you will more than likely have no problem, but any off-brand cheaper tapes would be suspect!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
 
There are a lot of variables on this, but I'll take a crqack at it with a little more info. Here goes:
What kind of tape did you use?
What temperatures will it experience?
Will it be getting any sunlight?

If all of the above answers come out to my liking, I would be willing to chance it, but it would still be a bit of a gamble.

I think I would immediately rule out the possibility if the temps are goig to get to the upper 70s a few times, or even if they will be in the lower 70s for much of the time. I would also rule it out if the taped car will be getting any sunlight.

If you get past both of those hurdles, then I would look up the tape on the manufacturer's website and stretch their recommendation. I tend to be willing to take bigger gambles than some in these areas, so I'd probably be willing to go about double the manfacturer's recommendation under the above conditions.

My experience with tape outdoors would make me not even trust it to work as long as the manufacturer recommends, if it is getting sunlight.
 
Auto body/paint supply stores carry better quality tapes with adhesives that will stand up better to the chemicals in the automotive primers/paints. I would ask them first if they have something that will hold up for 6 weeks after primer. Keeping the car out of sun light will help but my gut feeling is you may have some problems. You may also have problems with primer build up at the tape edge (depending what you are taping) and want to retape areas after sanding the primer anyway.

At any rate, it shouldn't take too long to tape the car again, especially if you have removed all of the trim.
 
I would probably take it off.

Give it a good wipe down and retape.

When you wipe it down for paint, it may mess up some of the edges and also not allow you to get it as clean near the edges.

Patrick
 
When I did my car last year it took an hour to tape the whole car. From start of tape to base coat, 2 coats paint clear coat, bake, and untape and reapply some chrome (lights) and the windshield it took 3 hours. I would not take a chance with tape. Just do it over. Or else be prepared to clean glue residue, it will happen So sayeth Murphy
 
Had the 3M blue on stuff for 6 months in some cases for Miss Agatha, no problems at all. your experience may be different.
 
I've left it ouside on boats, in the sun and the rain and didn't have any big problem! Just get the good stuff!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
 
You're leaving your car for 6 weeks just because one arm will be in a sling? Some people come up with the lamest of excuses...
 
3M blue will not leave residue, even after being in the rain, although you will probably have to re-tape anyway after six weeks, just to get clean mask-lines!
 
I would not recommend leaving any type/brand of tape on for that period of time. It is good that you are letting the primer set...but remove all tape. If you require back taping to an edge, then I would use 3M fine line tape.
Best of luck under the "knife".
Cheers, David.
 
3M is the ~only~ masking tape.

...just my humble 'pinion.

...and leaving ANY tape past the last shoot is more work than it's worth.
 
Well, guys I have been at it all day and just now had a chance to get back online. I used the cheap stuff cause that is what I had 3 rolls of it. It will be staying in a cool dry basement until I can do the sanding an painting. Here are pictures.
MVC-297F.jpg
MVC-299F.jpg
MVC-301F.jpg
 
Wow, looks like you did a real strip job.
 
Can't wait to see it in primer.
 
You forgot to fill in the holes so that you can delete the side markers. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
 
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