Masking Tips

Robie

I finished painting a family room last week in S&W Flat Dover White, Pro 200. The customer decided he wants 2' vertical bands of a crimson color in 2 corners. Before I jump in head-first and start masking and painting, what tips can you pros give me that will help make this a good looking job?
Thanks.
Rob

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CarlW

If you decide to use tape, use the 3M blue with the orange core (I forget which # it is but it is the really expensive stuff). Make sure you really press down firmly that edge where the bleed occurs, or to be safe you can use the color behind the tape first so that any bleed that happens will happen with the same color and then that line will be sealed.

jmgallagher

To prevent bleed through with the tape... AFTER you lay your tape out... run a "thin" beed of caulk along the edge you will be painting... smooth it out nice...give it a few to dry or "tack up" and paint... the caulk seals that edge and you will have a crisp clean edge... no bleed at all...and because you smooth the caulk out really thin... you dont see any caulk...basically wipe the caulk so it looks like you wiped it all off... the caulk will fill the hairline edge of the tape...I use this technique ONLY if im doing stripes or a border etc...

Thanks,

Joe

AAPaint

I simply tape, pressing the edge down firmly with some good blue 3M tape, paint it very lightly onto the tape, and pull the tape immediately after I brush it. If you don't brush it heavy you won't have bleed through or runs after tape is removed. I get NICE clean lines every time. Tape is on wall no more than a few seconds to stroke paint over it. Never have bleed through....ever.

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-AAPaint

AA Quality Painting & Pressure Washing LLC
Jacksonville Painters
Jacksonville, FL.

jmgallagher

We all have different ways of doing things...different ideas... different opinions...and this forum is great to share that... Caulking is an extra step... but has nothing to do with being a professional or not...or what tape you use or if you know how to use it...I gave a professional "Tip" that Robie had asked for...a tip that MANY professional painters use....

seems like you did that guy a favor by firing him...

Thanks,

Joe

CarlW

Well if you are doing 2 coats, leaving the tape on for only a few seconds is pretty much out of the question. And we know that we hardly ever just do one coat of anything.

Tom R

Great point, jm, - - this forum seems to be suffering a sudden influx of 'my-way-is-the-only-way' guys!!

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Tom R

'Useful' contributions are a great thing on this site.

If your method is the best for you and you're good enough to share it, - - that's fine and appreciated, - - but when you're 'condescending' and abusive to anyone who may have their own preferences, - - you're 'de-tracting' more than you're 'contributing'.

That, SIR, - - is my CONTRIBUTION!!

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CarlW

[QUOTE=Rick Anderson]carl...very good point..

that was my *saturation* reference...
overlapping a dark blue wall colour onto the baseboards and door frames is a good example...
after the wall colour is perfectly dry..you tape onto the wall up to the edge of the baseboards or frame....
to then do a light coat of trim colour (usually white) would probably take 3 cts to reach saturation.......but if you went on heavier it will only take 2 cts...

provided that the tape has been pressed firmly and that you are using the right tape there is no fear of bleeding....

having said that...two light coats will bring you to about 95% saturation...which is pretty decent....not perfect..but sometimes acceptable if the lighting (read: lack of lighting) is favourable..

regards
rick


Sounds great...now not to change the subject, but wouldn't it be more efficient to simply paint the trim first, tape that trim off and then paint the blue? You would be saving an entire step of taping off the blue wall once it is dry (waiting for something to dry can be a huge time waster obviously) and then three coating over the blue with the trim paint....of course white trim paint generally covers terribly. I'd rather pull the tape and go home.

Tom R

No problem, Rick

Just tryin' to help out a little, - - I don't see you as lasting long around here.

Shame, though.

Good Luck, anyway!!

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jmgallagher

Well in my opinion...If your are applying the paint by brush or roller over the tape... you WILL get bleed through... even more if you do two coats... you may only notice it up close but you still get it... no matter how hard you press on the tape... Paint is a liquid substance... it will find its way to all open areas (edge of tape) it can sometimes be hard to see but...If you want to block 100% bleed through (not 95%) then try the caulk method... . If you are doing a Faux painting of strips or something... I recomend trying this method..."Its all in preference to what quality you are doing"...or if you are into taking an extra step... If you have never tryed this method... I know you will see the difference and then know what I am talking about...and will probably start doing it...

Thanks,

Joe


This technique is ONLY used for stripes... I dont use it for anything alse. I dont tape trim off....

AAPaint

Ahh, but alas, when you remove the tape, you pull towards the wet side, kinda sideways. Never had a problem. Check my website for photos that prove how crisp my lines are. As for doing second coats....heh, I can then cut those by hand and there is no need to be deadly exact because your line is allready there. Simple.

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-AAPaint

AA Quality Painting & Pressure Washing LLC
Jacksonville Painters
Jacksonville, FL.

Tom R

Yep, - - key word is ALL.

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AAPaint

Yup, it does indeed work quite well. I agree if the stripes are thin or if you don't have room to get the whole brush on the surface when masking the tape must stay...I still stand by the fact that if brushed lightly two coats, with the good tape pressed firmly in, there will be no bleed through. A lot of the problem comes from people pushing so much paint towards the edge under the tape. Just two light, easy coats over the area and it's good to go! So, we are in agreeance there.

That said, I think regardless of method, it's all just a means to an end. If that end result is a beautiful paint job and a happy customer, it matters not how we all arrive at that same place. I learned magic from an excellent magician when I was younger, and I was surprised that most of the sleight of hand tricks could be accomplished with ease using different gaffs, and that was his principle. If it's just as amazing to the on-lookers, it doesn't matter how you made your miracle happen. No need to make it complicated at all, unless you're trying to show off your dexterity to another magician...but tricks aren't for magicians, their for the audience.

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-AAPaint

AA Quality Painting & Pressure Washing LLC
Jacksonville Painters
Jacksonville, FL.

Mike Finley

LOL,

Tom, me thinks you just met yourself in the mirror!

Rick, I love your business philosophy. A question for you - "point VIII Our pricing is extremely reasonable." got me puzzled, reasonable for what you would expect to pay one of the best painting companies in your market or reasonable when compared to everybody else in your market?

Don't you charge some of the highest rates in your market? If not, how come? I would think you could demand it.

Mike Finley

Also as a side question, what is Whistler Blackholm like to ski in late March or early April. Considering a trip up there but won't be able to get there until early April or late March at best.

dwbrooks

Rick, Your probobly a damn good painter and seem to know plenty. You sure are pompus though, you need to get off your high horse. I guess I was never one to like arrogance.

Mike Finley

I got ya. I suspected that was the case. "Reasonable" is relative. After all $350,000 for a Ferrari is reasonable as long the Ferrari delivers on the owners expectations. The cream rises to the top and anybody who wants to taste it should be ready to pay for the privilege.

Tom R

We'll just let that slide, - - we wouldn't wanna see someone blow another gasket, now, would we??

Besides, - - one of the nicest pictures I ever saw actually turned out to be just that, a mirror!! I guess some pictures never lose their charm!!

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Mike Finley

Hey Tom, don't take it the wrong way. You might not see it, but I see the similarities loud and clear, two guys who are proud, vocal, accomplished at their given trades and don't back down from voicing a stong belief in something they do. It's like two lions who each roam a couple of thousand acres that share a common border, who one day bump into each other. There is no way those two lions are going to just keep on walking without a show down.