Best Masking Tape?

[CamAero]

Hey All,

Just looking for advice on the latest and greatest masking tape for pulling straight lines on airframes with universal rivets.

I have been using 3M green painter's tape but am a little frustrated with the inevitable bleed-through.

Got some scuff n' shoot touch up work to do this spring and am open to suggestions.

In the past, I have tried fine-line automotive tape from Can Tire but found that it just doesn't sit down tight enough around the rivets. No matter how hard you work it down, it will have detached itself and made a gap by the time you shoot it.

Thanks in Advance,

CA.

[DonutHole]

I hit the tape with a heat gun to work it over the rivets

[Pop n Fresh]

Anyone tried liquid mask?

[CamAero]

I hit the tape with a heat gun to work it over the rivets

Do you mean like as in when using fine-line tape? Or 3M green sort of stuff?

I am working in a cold environment. Could well help with either, I suppose..

CA

[azimuthaviation]

try the blue mask off tape. It has kind of the same plasticy texture as electrical tape except it leaves no residue, no matter gow long you leave it on, but it doesnt stick as well. I think its a 3m/scotch product, not sure. The problem with green masking tape is it is too rigid, has no stretch so its only good for straight lines on a flat surface. Try the blue tape, get a small size, like 1/8 inch or smaller. It has a nice stretch, not only does it sit nicely against rivets or screws, but it has a very good bend radius. The thinner the tape, the tighter the radius you will get. Once you shape it with the first run of the tape, you will have to add one or two more to get a good cover of about 3/8 of an inch coverage. Then overlap that with the green tape and you will get about as perfect a cut as you cam expect.

[DonutHole]

On the fine line. Then you can use pretty much whatever to run up to the fine line.

[fob]

3M 471

[CamAero]

Thanks for the advice, all of you.

Will give those things & tricks a try.

CA

[Alloy]

I second the reply from azimuthaviation. The only thing I would add is that sometimes after your pre - paint prep, residue builds up around the rivet head so it's important to go around them carefully with a clean cloth and solvent or your tape will lift and give you bleed through.

Ian

[CamAero]

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