A question for the spray painters out there.

muddyl

When spray painting, a car or bike for example, what do you use to mask small areas off?

I find that masking tape does not always give a clean enough line, especially when doing tight areas or intricate work.

I have seen thin tape used that looks pretty flexible (on programs like overhaulin) but dont know what its called.

Also. Do you use thiners to clean the surface between coats after wet and dry'ing or is it a special chemical?

Thanks in advance, mark

stone7

Frog Tape.

andygb

You can use very fine flexible tape, which you should get from any decent spray painting shop, or maybe a good decorators. I personally never used thinners between coats, because of the possibility that something will react adversely and "pickle" the finish (all paints have different chemical qualities). You can get specially impregnated cloths called "tack rags" or "Tack cloth", which are lint free and will be suitable for wiping down between coats. You have to make sure that the paint is fully dry though.
With some paints and particularly lacquers, you have to spray the following coats wet (leaving only fifteen minutes or so), so "tack ragging" is out of the question.
The old maxim is - get all the preparation work done, leaving a perfect finish to spray on to, that includes primer, because a coat of paint is measured in microns, so every imperfection will show through a bad prep job.
Thinking about it, I did use a special chemical to clean in between coats once, but it didn't work, and I had to prep and spray a couple of panels again.
Are you spraying metallic/pearlescent paint or a solid colour?

andygb

Have a look at this link for ideas

http://www.autopaintsbrighton.co.uk/masking-paper-tape-cloths-10-c.asp

I used to use Fineline tape.

muddyl

Thanks for the help everyone, greatly appreciated.

I have not decided on colour yet (it's for a couple of bike frames and wheel rims) but I think I may go metalic.
Dont know enough about pearlescent, although that would look great.

s_b

buy good quality marsking tape from a supplier that sells lots because this stuff goes off quick if not in a good environment/
old stock

andygb

muddyl wrote: »

Thanks for the help everyone, greatly appreciated.

I have not decided on colour yet (it's for a couple of bike frames and wheel rims) but I think I may go metalic.
Dont know enough about pearlescent, although that would look great.

If it is for a bike frame, then you are going to need something quite hard wearing, which is capable of fending off stones and the like - unless it is a custom show bike which never gets ridden on the road;)
I would therefore suggest using a 2 pack acrylic/polyurethane (which can still be used in small applications), much harder than current water based paints. I have even sprayed gloss black Hammerite on a bike frame and mag alloy wheels before, and the result was really stunning.