Does taping let you be sloppy?

[jwgreen6]

I was browsing in the paint department of a "big-box" store recently and a couple of guys walked by who looked like they were painters. One guy chuckled and said to the other "Tape off trim? Why? All that does is let you be sloppy."

So that begs the question, when detailing, does taping trim:
A. Allow you to be sloppy?
or
B. CYA?

 

[Setec Astronomy]

I've seen pro painters work without masking...but they are pros and paint every day, all day. I think it's the same with detailers, many pros don't mask, but if you're a newb etc, it's going to save you some hassle.

 

[davidc11291]

Both

 

[RoadRageDetail]

Taping off trim prevents accidents.

I mainly use a rotary and without tape, I'd be hard pressed to correct the paint close to a panel edge or pillars without causing damage or discoloration to painted or raw rubber trim.

I'd rather pay $5 for a roll of painter's tape dozens of times over vs. the embarrassment and hassle of replacing ONE trim piece for a customer's car when it could have been prevented.

 

[statusdetailing]

I always tape when using a rotary. Plastic trim and rotary don't mix.

 

[A.P.A.D.]

I'd rather pay $5 for a roll of painter's tape dozens of times over vs. the embarrassment and hassle of replacing ONE trim piece for a customer's car when it could have been prevented.

*ding ding ding* we have a winner! :iagree: Close thread! :dblthumb2:

 

[Shakabruddah808]

I was browsing in the paint department of a "big-box" store recently and a couple of guys walked by who looked like they were painters. One guy chuckled and said to the other "Tape off trim? Why? All that does is let you be sloppy."

So that begs the question, when detailing, does taping trim:
A. Allow you to be sloppy?
or
B. CYA?

And I've seen these same "Pros" totally botch a paint job. When I re-painted my condo's interior, I taped off all the moldings, just to be safe....and it allowed me to paint faster, not having to worry about the paint brush slipping and getting paint over the moldings.

Same goes with taping off car panels. Same technique, same outcome. Peace of mind. Not to mention the fact that you don't have to replace rubber moldings cuz the DA pad damaged them.

 

[BobbyG]

Taping saves you a lot of clean up and additional time performing this procedure. Taping also save you embarrassment from "trim misses" that ALWAYS show up after the car's left the shop.

 

[SeaJay's]

I always tape when I'm doing any heavy compounding. Just to be safe. I figure better safe than sorry. Like RoadRage said, spend $5 on a roll of tape and you could save yourself hundreds vs having a panel repainted cause your burned an edge or caught a piece of trim, etc.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

To the OP's original questions, I would say "no".


It's not a good idea to do anything in a sloppy manner. If you want to slow down and work really carefully you can skip taping but like others say it can be cheap insurance especially when using a rotary buffer.

When compounds and polishes get creamed over things like pebble textured black plastic trim you'll almost never get all the residue off and it will turn white and be ugly forever. Then you can spend all your time trying to dye it or dress it to make the ugly go away.

That's why I like working on classics and street rods, they rarely have plastic trim and instead have chrome and stainless steel trim, but I do understand that most people work on new cars and have to deal with rubber, plastic and vinyl trim.


Here's my deal, I love polishing paint, I dislike detailng cars, it's all explained here,

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



Here's some more info on the topic...

Video: How to tape-off car trim before machine polishing


Here are some tips and techniques to tape-off and cover-up trim, felt or fuzzy gaskets like you find around some sunroofs, wheels and tires, air vents and grills as well as "The Beach Towel Tip"

How to tape-off car trim before machine polishing
[video=youtube_share;WKFdlAFgio4&hd=1"]How to tape-off car trim before machine polishing...[/video]​

Note the Guzzler Waffle Weave towels being used to cover the engine compartment from splatter...

Dedicated how-to article for protecting convertible tops

How to cover and protect a convertible top before machine buffing

I love old classics and hot rods because often time trim has been removed and if they do have trim it's chrome or stainless steel...

1971 GTO Wetsanding Project - Wetsanding, followed by using rotary buffers can be very messy...

The Beach Towel Tip

Tape it off and avoid a lifetime of ugly...


Ugly

No Ugly

Always cover and protect the shiny stuff

Not only does it prevents Splatter Dots from getting everywhere it also prevents the owner of a car to use your name as a cuss word...


Blown 1934 Ford Pick-up - Show Car Makeover - Modeled by Kristin

Next we cover-up all the brightwork and there's lots of it. Take my word for it, when it comes to projects like this you don't dare get polish spatter dots on the engine or in this example the exposed running gear in the truck bed. It's not professional and besides that it would take you hours to wipe the little dots of polish splatter off.

The Autogeek Cover-up Towel is made from soft microfiber and can be washed and re-used. This come in real handy for covering up anything you don't want to get compound or polish splatter dots onto so you won't have to detail these areas with a toothbrush after the the wax has been removed.

The soft microfiber won't scratch paint or polished metals. Simple cover or wrap around components and then use a little painter's tape to secure them in place.

Here we've covered the polished aluminum gas tank and the chrome independent rear-end...

Detailing Boot Camp Classes

Also see the video here,


The Soft Flannel Bed Sheet Tip



The Panic Parrot - 1950 Studebaker Starlight Coupe

Keeping it covered, keeps the engine clean...

Keeping it covered means no detailing the very detailed engine afterwards...

:xyxthumbs:

 

[statusdetailing]

Haha I like the Skull and cross bones beach towel. Mike's a genius; if he's taping and protecting non painted surfaces I think everybody probably should.

It only takes one mistake (which I have made) and you'll always tape and protect non painted surfaces from that point on.

 

[tuscarora dave]

Taping off trim prevents accidents.

I mainly use a rotary and without tape, I'd be hard pressed to correct the paint close to a panel edge or pillars without causing damage or discoloration to painted or raw rubber trim.

I'd rather pay $5 for a roll of painter's tape dozens of times over vs. the embarrassment and hassle of replacing ONE trim piece for a customer's car when it could have been prevented.

Exactly. If a detailer wanted to be sloppy, they surely wouldn't be searching and researching for better ways of doing things on detailing discussion forums. There's a big difference between a paint brush/roller and a rotary buffer. No matter how skilled a detailer is, sometimes taping off around tricky to polish areas is a necessity. Those who claim to never tape off anything while using a rotary buffer, will someday cause damage that could have been prevented with a piece of tape.

 

[lokerola]

I tape because I hate to clean off the splatter. I do this as a hobby, so maybe the pros can get away with it -but not me. One afternoon spent cleaning up trim and glass makes me a taping fool.

As far as painting goes I have to tape off trim. But I think my wife was a pro painter in her former life. She never tapes off anything and can knock out baseboard, crown molding, etc and it looks perfect. If I tried it free hand it would look like a kindergartner went crazy with a paint brush, ha ha!

 

[tuscarora dave]

Take the word "Dancin" out and replace it with the word "Tapin".

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSdkPMc7aEo]Frank Zappa- Dancin' Fool - YouTube[/video]

 

[JAF06SE]

Depending on buffer and pad setup you "could" get away with it. I always apply by hand and use my buffer to remove. I use a RO also which is not near as fast as a DA. I also use a wool bonnet on mine for removal which is also much more forgiving if you do come into contact with something that you shouldn't. If you really don't want to tape you could always apply by hand and remove by hand close to those areas.

 

[builthatch]

I've seen pro painters work without masking...but they are pros and paint every day, all day.

exactly. taping for house painting is just a preventive buffer...but edging in with a brush is totally possible and is in fact how i paint most of the time. it takes a lot more time for most good painters to tape than to just be careful when edging in.

I think it's the same with detailers, many pros don't mask, but if you're a newb etc, it's going to save you some hassle.

you feel this way? i think most pros DO tape because it simply doesn't make sense to risk damaging something, and as mentioned it allows you to get about as close as possible to whatever it is you are protecting.

i rarely tape my own stuff, especially because i'm always using a DA at this point; my makita is certainly jealous...but for other people's stuff i'll pretty much always tape at this stage no matter what machine i'm using.