When to use tape and what to tape?

MrOneEyedBoh

MrOneEyedBoh

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I'm going to set my truck for the first time. What I'm wondering is what should I tape off? Emblems, rubber molding around Windows, truck bed rails?

I'm going to be washing, claying, paint correcting via Megs MF DA kit and then waxing with Collinite 845. I would apply the tape after claying and then remove it before waxing? And remove adhesive if any left behind by iso alcohol? I have 70% iso here now... I will also be using 3m green 233+ tape.
 
You got it. The more you tape off the better off you are. It is always a paint to remove dried on polish from rubber molding.

Cut your Alcohol down to IPA mixture and you will be fine.

I use 233+ as well.
 
moldings, emblems, antennas, seals, headlight, taillights. if you can get some kind of vinyl and rubber cleaner like megs #40 instead of using alcohol. other detailers like to use Alcohol but i just get worried that it'll dry the rubber pre maturely in the long run
 
You can remove the tape before using Col 845 beause it will not turn rubber moldings white. Most would untape after waxing this way no wax gets forced under moldings or in seems. Since you're using a DA if you work your product down a little before crossing over a body seem you can cut down on taping. Even running a DA over emblems isn't the end of the world, not great technique but you're not going to damage anything.

Taping is more important with a rotary buffer because it tend to sling product more than a DA not to mention plastic parts don't always play nice with RB's.

If detailing clients cars tape anything you feel might get damaged to be on the safe side.
 
How come you have to tape seams? I thought you didn't have to worry about seams since in the end its paint, not rubber or plastic?
 
MrOneEyedBoh said:
How come you have to tape seams? I thought you didn't have to worry about seams since in the end its paint, not rubber or plastic?
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Taping seams and high spots is usually a practise used when using a rotary buffer. Paint is usually thinner in these areas. Although not required when using a DA, you want to be really careful not to spend too much time ontop or near them. When in doubt, tape.

Whats the cost effectiveness?

Tape: $4-5 dollars for good tape.
Repainting a panel: $300-400+

You decide.
 
My 2 cents

1. Get 1.5 to 2 inch wide 3M Blue Tape. The wider the easier IMO

2. You dont need to tape over polished aluminum or chrome. Polishing over it will also polish the metal.
 
Okay so dumb question.. how do you take seams? I searched first but couldn't find much hence my thread... And what if I need to buff/ remove swirls on my hood that has a hump? If its taped I can't get go it..
 
Two more things. My roof on the f250 is corrugated ( has three deep lines in it. ) I'lL be using a DA with meguiars MF correction kit. Should I just corrdct the roof by hand or use the DA but tape off the edges? I can. Use thin vinyl tape for the hood edges on the side of the hood right? Lastly you guys take off door seams just so compound won't get stuck right? Or is it so you Wont wear thru the paint there too?
 
Here is a photo.
DSC_0249.jpg
 
MrOneEyedBoh said:
I'm going to set my truck for the first time.

What I'm wondering is what should I tape off?

Emblems, rubber molding around Windows, truck bed rails?
Click to expand...


Here's my guideline... I tape off anything I don't want to detail later...


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


Also, anything you don't want to risk staining... from my experience, once black plastic trim is creamed over with some type of compound, polish or wax you can never remove 100% of the whitish stain left behind, this means for the rest of the time you own the car you'll be constantly trying to mask the stain with some type of dressing or dye.


:)
 
rmagnus said:
You can remove the tape before using Col 845 beause it will not turn rubber moldings white.
Click to expand...

I found that Collinite does not stain plastics or vinyl and using it as a WOWO puts a great finish down on all black plastics. I don't tape at all with 845.

The only thing I have found is that I get a lot of static on my plastic rocker panels and the plastics will attract dust. So, I simply wipe down with some quik detailer to neutralize the charge
 
MrOneEyedBoh said:
Two more things. My roof on the f250 is corrugated ( has three deep lines in it. ) I'lL be using a DA with meguiars MF correction kit. Should I just corrdct the roof by hand or use the DA but tape off the edges? I can. Use thin vinyl tape for the hood edges on the side of the hood right? Lastly you guys take off door seams just so compound won't get stuck right? Or is it so you Wont wear thru the paint there too?
Click to expand...

I am interested in an answer to this too. My Frontier has a similar thing going on with the roof.
 
timsatx said:
I am interested in an answer to this too. My Frontier has a similar thing going on with the roof.
Click to expand...

When using a DA taping off raised panel edges is less important than when using a rotary. Just be mindful that the paint is likely thinner in those spots. With a free spinning DA it is very hard to burn through uneven panels due to their tendency to stop spinning when not on a flat surface.

Sent from my LG-VM701 using AG Online
 
Nicholas@Autowerx said:
When using a DA taping off raised panel edges is less important than when using a rotary.

Just be mindful that the paint is likely thinner in those spots. With a free spinning DA it is very hard to burn through uneven panels due to their tendency to stop spinning when not on a flat surface.
Click to expand...


Good point.


The only time it's a real concern is if someone has buffed the car out before you and "they" were aggressive on the raised body lines.


I use the term,

Whisper Thin

It means the paint is so thin that even polishing it by hand could lead to burning through, or abrading through the top coat and uncovering the basecoat or in the case of a single stage finish, the primer.


:)
 
MCA2011 said:
I found that Collinite does not stain plastics or vinyl and using it as a WOWO puts a great finish down on all black plastics. I don't tape at all with 845.

The only thing I have found is that I get a lot of static on my plastic rocker panels and the plastics will attract dust. So, I simply wipe down with some quik detailer to neutralize the charge
Click to expand...


It's the water in the quick detailer that neutralizes the static charge...


Static Electricity and Dust Attraction to your Car's Paint


Mike Phillips said:
Water Wipe-down
Water acts as a natural static electricity neutralizer. Wiping your car's highly polished paint with water is an anathema to most of us as we would never do anything that would increase the potential to inflict swirls or scratches into the paint.

Spray Detailers to the resuce...
Spray Detailers are mostly water plus ingredients that provide lubrication, gloss, slickness, shine and in some cases, protection.
Click to expand...


:)
 
timsatx said:
I am interested in an answer to this too. My Frontier has a similar thing going on with the roof.
Click to expand...

I did my F-250 last month, with Blackfire TP&S (AIO) and a nice coat of wax. The top-of-the-cab ribs were of concern to me, however I was careful and didnt spend to much time with the buffer on the edges of the ribs. Turned out great. If you're worried, you could always do that part by hand.
 
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