what type of paint masks to use?

Best brand, by far, that I've found is Tamiya. It's a lot more expensive than regular hardware-store masking tape, but it works great on models.

Tamiya is the best, in my opinion. It's all I use now and have never had a problem with it.

Mark

yep always used tamiya tape, buy the widest and stick it on a piece of plastic and you can cut the smallest strips of it that you need and it still stick verry well

HEY,
I have never used tamiya masking tape, but i like 3M and im thinking about getting some of that liquid masking tape. Not sure though.

Randy

QUOTE: Originally posted by MusicCity Best brand, by far, that I've found is Tamiya. It's a lot more expensive than regular hardware-store masking tape, but it works great on models.

Scott,

Have you tried the 3M fine line blue tape?
I hear it is good but I have never tried it.

Mike

i have been using the scoth blue masking tape for interior painting in homes; it wont lift any paint, but, it doent hold a sharp enough line in my opinion. i guess ill get a roll of tamiya. thanks for the help.

QUOTE: Have you tried the 3M fine line blue tape? I hear it is good but I have never tried it.

Mike, I use a lot of 3M Blue masking tape, but whether it is "Fine Line" or not I'm not sure. It's low-tack for delicate surfaces (not "Super Low Tack" for "Super Delicate Surfaces", that stuff is like Postit pads!). I like it a lot and for areas that I haven't painted or just need general coverage, that is my preference. For areas I've painted I usually opt for the Tamiya because I don't like to take chances. I haven't had any serious paint pull up problems and I'd like to keep it that way

This is the kind I'm using:
http://products3.3m.com/catalog/us/en001/home_leisure/-/node_PQLG3ZLPQLbe/root_GST1T4S9TCgv/vroot_GSHCV1ZFXKge/gvel_HJZKR0VRGDgl/theme_us_homeleisure_3_0/command_AbcPageHandler/output_html
(I hate those long links, but blame it on 3M)

Juniormodeler, IMO Tamiya is the way to go. I mainly use acrylics and I always worry about paint getting lifted. Like I said, it doesn't happen much but I'm pretty picky about what tape I use. The Tamiya tape is very, very thin, semi-low tack, and as long as you burnish the edges well I've never had it bleed.

That link is so long I can't even get to the buttons on the right to edit or delete it!

QUOTE: Have you tried the 3M fine line blue tape? I hear it is good but I have never tried it.

Mike, I use a lot of 3M Blue masking tape, but whether it is "Fine Line" or not I'm not sure. It's low-tack for delicate surfaces (not "Super Low Tack" for "Super Delicate Surfaces", that stuff is like Postit pads!). I like it a lot and for areas that I haven't painted or just need general coverage, that is my preference. For areas I've painted I usually opt for the Tamiya because I don't like to take chances. I haven't had any serious paint pull up problems and I'd like to keep it that way

This is the kind I'm using:
If you want to go to it, use the post above this one where it's on one line!

Juniormodeler, IMO Tamiya is the way to go. I mainly use acrylics and I always worry about paint getting lifted. Like I said, it doesn't happen much but I'm pretty picky about what tape I use. The Tamiya tape is very, very thin, semi-low tack, and as long as you burnish the edges well I've never had it bleed.

I have used Tamiya tape of various widths for ages without any problems at all, It's great stuff and won't leave marks on your model.

One word of warning though, I recently tried out the 40mm width Tamiya tape and used is to mask the invasion stripes on my P-47. The result was a great edge on the stripes, but the tape did lift paint off in a couple of places . I have read of similar things happening with the 40mm Tamiya tape on other forums here.

Anybody else experience this?

Cheers
Darren

MusicCity, if you use tinyurl.com, it'll make that huge link a lot smaller like so... http://tinyurl.com/5xyxq

wow guys!! thanks for all the input. i decided to try the 3m and the tamiya out. about the post its, i use them alot on armor. but for cars you often have to mask a long straight line(therefor postits arent big enough ) maybe post it should make some masking tape for models, could be a hit!

QUOTE: MusicCity, if you use tinyurl.com, it'll make that huge link a lot smaller like so... http://tinyurl.com/5xyxq

That's pretty cool. Thanks for pointing that out.

QUOTE: maybe post it should make some masking tape for models, could be a hit

Actually, they indirectly do. The true Post-It brand is made by 3M I think. 3M has some masking tape for extra delicate surfaces that about the same tackiness as a Post-It note. The trouble with it is that the paper is so stiff that on any curve whatsoever, even the slightest curve, it will unstick itself. I've never had it pull up any paint, but it just doesn't really stick well enough to depend on.

What about drafting tape?
I have used it before in the past and it worked well.
It looks just like masking tape but has very low tack.

Mike

QUOTE: What about drafting tape? I have used it before in the past and it worked well. It looks just like masking tape but has very low tack.

Having worked around engineering shops for a bit over 30 years, I've always had a never-ending supply of drafting tape

It works great, but it wasn't designed to resist paint so it tends to bleed a little worse than true masking tape. The tackiness is perfect for models since it was meant to hold and release paper without tearing. Using an airbrush has never been a problem with it, but when I brush painted I had bleeding problems when I used drafting tape instead of masking tape.

You can get rid of a lot of the tack on masking tape by just sticking it to something before putting it on your model. I sometimes stick it to my jeans or t-shirt and after that the tack is very low. The problem is that it will pick up lint or dirt and that can cause problems to.

I also like drafting tape when used for airbrushing . I will take and push it on the palm of my hand a couple of times to further reduce the tack. I'll also ditto the use of 3M Blue Long Mask tape. Not had a problem with paint removal if I reduce the tack like I do for the drafiting tape.

Mike M

QUOTE: Originally posted by Hawk MusicCity, if you use tinyurl.com, it'll make that huge link a lot smaller like so... http://tinyurl.com/5xyxq

Or just use the URL code support of this board:
http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/faq.asp#hyperlink

So the link will become:
Painters' Masking Tape

Fine line tape is not the same thing as the now relatively common 3m blue painters masking tape. Fine line tape is specifically used where a sharp, no bleed line is required - like is typically needed in show car/motorcycle artwork. See info from 3m:
http://tinyurl.com/3wqs7

Though you can get regular blue masking tape to work if you are careful to burnish the edged down to the paint, I still think it's somewhat prone to bleeding.

Any good auto paint supply store should have real fine line masking tape.

QUOTE: You can get rid of a lot of the tack on masking tape by just sticking it to something before putting it on your model. I sometimes stick it to my jeans or t-shirt and after that the tack is very low. The problem is that it will pick up lint or dirt and that can cause problems to.

- good idea

There are two types of 3M blue painters masking tape. You have to look at the little diagram indicating the level of 'stickyness.' The two blue tapes are on levels 2 & 3, the most commonly sold is the level three which is kinda rough. Level two is what you want, it's less sticky, almost like the post it notes, and smooth so it can adhere better on the edges. There is also a 'level one' tape that is a tan/white color. Don't even bother with that, it doesn't really stick at all. If you go around a bend with that, the tape will try to straighten & lift off in the process by itself. The best way to distinguish between the level 2 & 3 is the inside of the roll of tape, level three being blue on the inside like the tape itself, & the level two being orange on the inside of the roll. I haven't tried the Tamiya masking tape yet, but will probably do so in the future. Hope this helps.

Good point, Brian, on the smoother "level 2" blue painter's masking tape. It is definitely better for clean edges than is the "level 3" stuff, which has a crepe paper texture.

That said, another advantage of the fine-line tapes is their ability to form and follow tight curves - this is how flame jobs are laid out. By not being paper based, they are much more flexible.

Which tape is this that Micro-Mark sells?
It is by 3M so I assumed it was the fine line tape but maybe not.


I know what the blue painters tape is that people use for houses and such but that is not the tape I was referring to originally.

Mike

Depending on what is being masked. I use both Tamiya tape and this stuff.

http://www.reuels.com/reuels/product11703.html

This frisket is a little steep, but a pack of ten sheets has lasted me about a year. and I still have more than half of the original pack left.

I have put this stuff on the canopies of aircraft ( after a dip in future) at the beginning of a build. Left it on for weeks or a month at a time and when it came time to peel it off. Left no marks or residue at all.

Hope this helps

Paul

QUOTE: Originally posted by MikeV Which tape is this that Micro-Mark sells? It is by 3M so I assumed it was the fine line tape but maybe not.

That looks like *one* of the fine line tapes that 3m makes. They make many different sorts (high-tack, lower tack, polypropylene, vinyl, etc...)

In my experience, nothing works better than frisket film. They sell them in packs of ten 8x11 sheets, that you can cut to whatever shape you need. It never lifts paint, and it leaves an very defined edge. Another advantage is that it is very thin, so you don't get a "paint step" due to buildup.

QUOTE: Originally posted by MusicCity Best brand, by far, that I've found is Tamiya. It's a lot more expensive than regular hardware-store masking tape, but it works great on models.

.....best stuff since sliced bread
and on occasion i've dabbled in liquid mask with satisfactory results....