To tape or not to tape ?

[FlawlessJ]

Like others have said the tape protects trim and also makes you look more professional, I had a customer stop by to check on his car and first thing he mentioned was the tape.

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[DaC]

Yep, I didn't tape the peak of the molding.

Thanks for also sharing that.... I applaud you for doing it because you're sure teaching other guys, like me, a valuable lesson... and I'm pretty sure most of the guys here don't like to post anything when it gone wrong.. :applause:

I kind of like taping, its cool to use just one strip of tape to tape off a rear window. I feel good about going around corners and that. makes me feel professional, it took a while to master. kind of like using a DA, it takes a dozen cars or so to really master.

I don't like the cost of painters tape. i can get some at the dollar store buts only 10feet which is nothing.

I remember i was doing the b pillars on a car and then i decided to use the DA on a strip of black metal that is on the rear windows. The DA took the paint right off. I just spray painted both sides and told the owner. it looked alot better afterwards.

Like others have said the tape protects trim and also makes you look more professional, I had a customer stop by to check on his car and first thing he mentioned was the tape.

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Good point about looking professional.... well, it does impress some people when they see the tape....

But I would add one thing.... don't go cheap on the tape.....
The last car I did (the swirl monster):
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...o-s-swirl-monster-ate-my-pads-pics-heavy.html
I decided to go cheap on tapes and bought one that was 3x cheaper than the 3M..... Oh boy do I regret it ?!!!!

It literary took me hours to get all the tape residue from the car, not to mention it did a pretty dirty job spreading tons of glue around when the DA hit it.....

 

[stig]

This is going to sound bad with the incident that happened a month ago but I really don't care, I'll post my mistake. I burned the trim on a 02 Vette today and the first think I thought, 'That's what I get for not taping off!' I was almost done with the car and the buffer skipped on me and I touched the trim- that's all it took- one touch! Now I'm out possibly $400 on the piece of trim plus it will need to be painted. Literally it touched for one second and in one second I took the paint right off.

Yup, kind of like what I did. Lifted the buffer off the paint on my (thankfully) old car, while I was lowering it I wasn't looking and it caught the unpainted door trim while still spinning. Ended up with four burn marks in it.

That's when I started taping :laughing:

 

[BobbyG]

I tape plastic trim and sharp edges especially with using my rotary...

Example of taping

 

[Jaddie]

Dear Friends

I'm new to detailing. I just want to take care of my wife's and my daily drivers. She drives a 2003 Lexus ES300 and I now drive a 2012 Honda Odyssey.

The last car I waxed was my father-in-law's Mercury Grand Marquis back in '94 or '95 and before that it was my '88 Chevy S-10 truck.

I've never even heard of taping for detailing work, but if I can figure out a very quick and cost-effective way to do it, I might try it.

I plan to order a dual-action polisher later this week, and if my meager understanding is correct, using a polisher is a reason to use tape.

So what kind of tape do you guys recommend?

I'm about to mosey over to Mike's videos and see if he offers one about taping.

--Jaddie

 

[oldmodman]

Like others have said the tape protects trim and also makes you look more professional, I had a customer stop by to check on his car and first thing he mentioned was the tape.

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This.

The customer sees the taping that you did and then thinks of something more like what a doctor or dentist would do.

With their "patients" always draped. The car is always taped.

Plus. We all screw up from time to time. I'd rather hit the tape than the trim.

 

[PAR Detailing]

I enjoy taping a car up. I've said this before but I think it's like a boxer getting his hands taped before a prize fight. It just gets me in the zone. And if you are taking 1.5 hrs taping up a car you are taking too long IMO. I tape a car in about 30 min. I tape up anything in danger and cover the wiper cowl so I don't have to worry about try to clean any polish off of it.

I also keep tape handy that way as I go along if I decide something else should be protected I will and that takes no time at all.

 

[DaC]

I tape plastic trim and sharp edges especially with using my rotary...

Example of taping

So you don't polish at all sharp edges region ?

Dear Friends

I'm new to detailing. I just want to take care of my wife's and my daily drivers. She drives a 2003 Lexus ES300 and I now drive a 2012 Honda Odyssey.

The last car I waxed was my father-in-law's Mercury Grand Marquis back in '94 or '95 and before that it was my '88 Chevy S-10 truck.

I've never even heard of taping for detailing work, but if I can figure out a very quick and cost-effective way to do it, I might try it.

I plan to order a dual-action polisher later this week, and if my meager understanding is correct, using a polisher is a reason to use tape.

So what kind of tape do you guys recommend?

I'm about to mosey over to Mike's videos and see if he offers one about taping.

--Jaddie

Mike does has a video about taping, I just couldn't find it right now...
About tape, I would recommend you not to go cheap on that... I did it last week and regret a lot.....
I buffed my car again today, and this time I used 3M painter tape.... it promises 14 days without residue... this is a great tape and really saves you a lot of time compared to the cheap one... it also makes the job much cleaner...
mine is similar to this one: 3M Scotch 233+ Premium Automotive Masking Tape, scotch car tape, detailer masking tape, car masking tape

This.

The customer sees the taping that you did and then thinks of something more like what a doctor or dentist would do.

With their "patients" always draped. The car is always taped.

Plus. We all screw up from time to time. I'd rather hit the tape than the trim.

Yeah I just screwed my front windshield trying to polish it with griot's glass polish...

 

[tuscarora dave]

I decided to go cheap on tapes and bought one that was 3x cheaper than the 3M..... Oh boy do I regret it ?!!!!

It literary took me hours to get all the tape residue from the car, not to mention it did a pretty dirty job spreading tons of glue around when the DA hit it.....

Kind of like sticking the full palm of your hand on a hot stove, you'll never do it a second time. I learned the same lesson as you with the cheap tape. In the end that roll of tape from the dollar store cost me $50.

 

[DaC]

Kind of like sticking the full palm of your hand on a hot stove, you'll never do it a second time. I learned the same lesson as you with the cheap tape. In the end that roll of tape from the dollar store cost me $50.

I'm glad to know I'm not alone on this boat.... lol :dblthumb2:

 

[tw33k2514]

The only thing worse than not taping is cleaning up the mess that is the result of said decision.

 

[Old Pirate]

Always use a high quality tape or pay the price.

 

[Flash Gordon]

Dear Friends

I'm new to detailing. I just want to take care of my wife's and my daily drivers. She drives a 2003 Lexus ES300 and I now drive a 2012 Honda Odyssey.

The last car I waxed was my father-in-law's Mercury Grand Marquis back in '94 or '95 and before that it was my '88 Chevy S-10 truck.

I've never even heard of taping for detailing work, but if I can figure out a very quick and cost-effective way to do it, I might try it.

I plan to order a dual-action polisher later this week, and if my meager understanding is correct, using a polisher is a reason to use tape.

So what kind of tape do you guys recommend?

I'm about to mosey over to Mike's videos and see if he offers one about taping.

--Jaddie

How in the world did you get stuck with the minivan and your wife has the sedan? oke:

Green 3M Painters tape is avalible @ Wal-Mart in the Automotive section for $2.97 a roll. It's in the 3M section, usually towards the end of the isle.

Sherwin Williams, Lowes and Home Depot also carries 3M tape. They will have it in different widths where WM does not


:welcome: from Memphis