Masking, Pulling Up the Tape

I my self wait sometimes depends on what iam painting but when i do pull the tape off i pull it towreds myself at an angle away from the paint line that way it brakes the paint and keeps it from pealing the paint off the area you painted.

MontanaCowboy wrote:

When you mask for airbrushing, do you pull up the masking tape immediately after you spray, or do you let the paint cure, then peel off the mask? I have always pulled up immediately after spraying, but, it seems I'm doing it wrong, but I've never seen anybody say one way or the other on this forum. Someone point me in the right direction.

What makes you say you are doing it wrong?

I imagine that it depends on the density of the cured paint, the time to cure, and this of course probably depends on the type of paint that you're working with, and how you work with it.  So I think there is probably a whole bunch of variables involved, and so no real right or wrong answer.  Unless you're leaving a cruddy line, or the paint is coming up with the tape, then all is probably well.  I guess if it works, it works.  I myself do things wrong all the time.  Then I sometimes do it the other way and that works.  Then I have my solution.  Of course, with my luck, sometimes I do it both ways and it doesn't work either.  That is just my luck.  Hopefully it isn't yours

thevinman wrote:

MontanaCowboy wrote: When you mask for airbrushing, do you pull up the masking tape immediately after you spray, or do you let the paint cure, then peel off the mask? I have always pulled up immediately after spraying, but, it seems I'm doing it wrong, but I've never seen anybody say one way or the other on this forum. Someone point me in the right direction. What makes you say you are doing it wrong?

about 2 years ago, I let paint dry while the masking tape was still down a blackhawk, and the paaint cracked and chipped as I pulled off the tape.

do you use acrylics? i used to make that mistake before i used "primer" on my models.. try and prime your models first. it's an easy way to avoid masking disasters..

I think the key here is to remove the mask before the paint cures fully, but after it has a chance to dry a little. Also, use several light coats to avoid the paint building up and seeping under the mask or building up enough to crack when you are lifting the mask.

I use Vinny's method with good results.. and usually have no problems...