Masking tape cutter

Testors sells tape 1/16 inch wide.  In previous threads folks have mentioned brands even thinner.  I have cut masking tape with a straightedge and #11 knife, but sure prefer to use the thin stuff.

Model Expo sells extremely thin tape (I think down to 1/64).  It is not intended as masking tape, but I have used it for that. One has to use a pretty thin coat though to keep from "melting" the tape (I use enamels).

I think I know what you are talking about. Looks like an xacto knife handle but holds two blades parallel to each other? If so, take my advise and don't buy it--just a gimmick.

What you need to do is go to a glass supply store and have them cut you a nice piece of glass for a cutting surface--min is about 12"x18"x3/8" and they even glued little rubber squares on the bottom to keep it from sliding around and beveled to corners for me. Just apply a nice length of tape and cut with xacto knife using metal ruler as a guide. If you find the xacto knife dulls to fast, use a Tamiya utility knife (little black one with snap off blades---looks just like a small box cutter). The Tamiya knifes stays sharp about 10 times longer than an xacto knife blade.

I believe this may be the tool, you're looking for

http://www.micromark.com/PARALLEL-CUTTER,8715.html

-Fred

oddmanrush

 

SuppressionFire:

 

BTW~ I hope you are using paint specific green or blue tape. AVOID the generic 'white-yellow' stuff.

 

 

What's wrong with the white masking tape? I use it and haven't had a problem with it.

Nothing if it is quality tape and new.

It is always best to buy tape for a few dollars more as modern formulas are always improving the original. I have always associated the white stuff with a horror story of sorts masking a 1/1 scale Camaro in 93' Kind of a mess of my own making the mask was on the vehicle too long and a bugger to remove, wax & grease remover was needed to get the adhesive off. Good old sun cured tape...

Morto,

Second on the suggestion by Pawel.  After looking unsuccessfully for really thin, really good masking tape (I like Tamiya, but it's too wide for tight curves), I was recently at a local quilt store (hey, my wife accommodates my hobby and I accommodate hers) and I found a parallel cutter by Olfa that cuts my Tamiya tape into perfect 2.0mm strips that are just right for masking curves (a bit over 1/16" ).  Micro Mark also advertises a parallel cutter, but it's really expensive compared to the Olfa.  Should have thought of them earlier--- my wife previously gave me an 18mm Olfa rotary cutter, and I use it often for cutting camo masks, scribing panel lines in certain situations, and I even used it to "re-texture" one of my dinosaur models.  Actually, I have several modeling tools that I've picked up at the quilt store--- check it out sometime (c'mon, I dare ya).

Tom 

A company name Olfa makes twin blades for this purpose. Hope it helps, have a nice day

Pawel

There is a tool, but I don't recall the manufacturer, perhaps "Excel".  Alternatively, you could use two # 11 blades, and superglie them to the outside of a strip of Evergreen plastic the width that you want your strips.  Make the strip long enough to give you the leverage to comfortably cut your strips.  Hope this helps.

David

SuppressionFire

BTW~ I hope you are using paint specific green or blue tape. AVOID the generic 'white-yellow' stuff.

What's wrong with the white masking tape? I use it and haven't had a problem with it.

We call it wax paper down south too!

Many thanks for your suggestions.  I will get the waxed paper and will go forth with a sharp #11 blade and metal straight-edge.

Phil_H

 

SuppressionFire:

Is that what we call 'wax paper' up north? Good tip mate!

 

I haven't tried wax paper but that should work too.

The baking paper is the "non stick" stuff you use to line baking trays.

Tried baking cookies but they fell through the BBQ grill? I will check out the baking section in the local grocery store to see what we have that is comparable to what is described.

SuppressionFire

Is that what we call 'wax paper' up north? Good tip mate!

I haven't tried wax paper but that should work too.

The baking paper is the "non stick" stuff you use to line baking trays.

Phil_H

 

SuppressionFire:

Apply the tape to a sheet of clean glass, use a new #11 hobby blade & a metal ruler to cut many strips. Choose just the ones that turn out perfect. The glass will remove a bit of the adhesives 'tack'

 

And if you don't want to lose any of the tape's adhesion, cut a strip of tape and apply to a piece of silicon baking paper before using the aforementioned #11 blade and metal straight-edge to cut your narrow strips.

Alternatively, one can buy rolls of micro-masking tape down to a width of 0.5mm.

Is that what we call 'wax paper' up north? Good tip mate!

SuppressionFire

Apply the tape to a sheet of clean glass, use a new #11 hobby blade & a metal ruler to cut many strips. Choose just the ones that turn out perfect. The glass will remove a bit of the adhesives 'tack'

And if you don't want to lose any of the tape's adhesion, cut a strip of tape and apply to a piece of silicon baking paper before using the aforementioned #11 blade and metal straight-edge to cut your narrow strips.

Alternatively, one can buy rolls of micro-masking tape down to a width of 0.5mm.

Apply the tape to a sheet of clean glass, use a new #11 hobby blade & a metal ruler to cut many strips. Choose just the ones that turn out perfect. The glass will remove a bit of the adhesives 'tack'

BTW~ I hope you are using paint specific green or blue tape. AVOID the generic 'white-yellow' stuff.