Masking tape recommendations

shiraz99

For years I've just used the cheap and cheerful general masking tape with varying results and was wondering whether it was worth upping my game and spending a bit more for better results. Is Frog tape seen as the best tape and is it worth the extra cost?

Also, what is the recommended time to remove masking tape, when everything is completely dry or before this?

victor2

shiraz99 said:

For years I've just used the cheap and cheerful general masking tape with varying results and was wondering whether it was worth upping my game and spending a bit more for better results. Is Frog tape seen as the best tape and is it worth the extra cost?

Also, what is the recommended time to remove masking tape, when everything is completely dry or before this?

I've used Frog tape and it worked well. I remove it when the paint is touch dry. It doesn't pull off the old paint from whatever surface you stick it to in my experience. There other "low tack" tapes that do a similar job though and can cost a bit less.

Ebe_Scrooge

Is it for painting?  Personally I've always just used the cheapest thing on the shelf at B&Q, and never had any issues.

shiraz99 said:

Also, what is the recommended time to remove masking tape, when everything is completely dry or before this?

I always remove it as soon as I've finished, before the paint/silicone/whatever is dry.  If you let it dry, that can give paint time to bleed through the tape onto the surface beneath.  It also tends to crack the paint if you wait until it's dry before peeling it off.  Depends exactly what you're using it for, I guess, but generally - remove it before stuff dries.

Grenage

The FrogTape stuff is better quality, but it's also about 10 times the price.  Like Scrooge I tend to use the cheap stuff and not hang around for it to bleed through.  If you need low tack (aka: my prep was bad and I have no adhesion), you can just stick the tape to your jeans, peel it off and then use it.

Much better value in learning to paint without tape, saves you an awful lot of time.

Brie

The painting I do is different to yours - watercolours - but I still use masking tape to attach the paper to a drawing board.  I did go all out and get 4 rolls of tape from Poundland for (yes, you guessed it) all of £1.  Personally I think I got ripped off.  The tape didn't really stick well, would start to peel off half way through a masterpiece, and was also too flimsy to resist water - which is why in part I think it would start to peel off.  Getting something even slightly more expensive - aka spending £1 at Wilkos for one roll was much better.

Must admit I do the trick of lowering the stickiness by putting it on my jeans or fleece when I know it's a bit of a temp barrier I will want to remove when the paper is still wet.  Without that it's easy to remove a layer of the paper and sometimes the creation.  

Granted some of this won't be relevant for house painters but if you are using something water based it might be good to use a decent product.

FreeBear

I've used the cheap stuff before now. The problem I have with it is if a roll is left lying around for any length of time, when it is used again, it invariably rips as you try to unroll it. Frogtape is good where you have a delicate surface to mask off, but for general use, I now go for the blue stuff. e.g. https://www.screwfix.com/p/scotchblue-multi-surface-masking-tape-41m-x-24mm/830jj

twopenny

What freebear says. The cheap stuff doesn't store o you have wastage.
Removing, I wait till the surface is dry then run a blunt knife along the base if it's carpet before removing. It stops draging at the paint.
Windows i use a sharper knife gentpy before peeling off, pretty much when it's dry. Never leave it for days as it can stick forever on a sunny window.

plumb1_2

Scotchblue Tape for me, 

daveyjp

If you have old masking cheap which rips put it in the microwave for a few seconds.  It warms the glue and it should be OK to use again.

Eldi_Dos

Insulation tape if kept in your pocket is easier to use and adheres better, would imagine it is same for masking tape.

Another vote for Scotchblue, especially if painting 15 pane doors.

victor2

Eldi_Dos said:

Insulation tape if kept in your pocket is easier to use and adheres better, would imagine it is same for masking tape.

So long as you've got very big pockets!