Handy BMF trick

[Sidney Schwartz]

Thought I'd post this for those who haven't already thought of it. Lots of time when applying BMF there's a ridge of some sort to help guide the blade when trimming. In this case I was having to apply the foil on top of a side molding but not on the sides of the molding...a very tricky situation becuase the blade has to be kept on the raised edge. I've often tried taping off an area to be foiled, as if going to paint, and then applying the foil on top of the tape. This time I applied the foil and then taped over it. The tape provided just enough of an edge to make guiding the blade much easier, and I got a much better result than if I'd tried trimming the foil without the tape. I'm likin' it. ?

 

[Dpate]

I've seen this done before, but if you aren't careful the tape can pull up the BMF as you pull the tape up. Did you do one long strip of BMF? Cause i would of did 5 pieces than 4 cuts for body lines.  Good tip though.

[Sidney Schwartz]

I did the bmf in pieces rather than one long strip. If you cut completely through the bmf, pulling off the tape should only pull off the bmf that's under the tape, which is what you want.

 

[StevenGuthmiller]

There’s a pinned thread in the “tips and tricks” section called “Wheel Arch Molding Foiling Tutorial” that describes this technique.

 

 

Steve

[Mike 1017]

I also use this trick. Sometimes I will mask of the area and airbrush Molotov. 

Mike

[espo]

One thing I like about using this method is the clean way that the tape removes the excess foil without leaving any adhesive from the foil on the paint. Even if you do lay down one long length of foil, you can go back and make a light cut at any door or trim breaks before removing the tape. 

[peteski]

This BMF trimming method is is very useful, and it is covered in a sticky thread in the Tips section of the forum.

Personally I use it in reverse (I put the masking tape on the body first. then BMF over that.  Either way, it works well.

 

[Sidney Schwartz]

10 hours ago, peteski said:

Personally I use it in reverse (I put the masking tape on the body first. then BMF over that.  Either way, it works well.

I've used that method too. I find that putting the tape over the bmf gives me a more well defined edge to work with.

[StevenGuthmiller]

1 hour ago, Sidney Schwartz said:

I've used that method too. I find that putting the tape over the bmf gives me a more well defined edge to work with.

I agree.

part of the success of the method for me is the contrast in color  between the blue painters tape and the foil and blade, making it easier to see your knife position more easily in relation to the edge of the trim.

 

 

Steve

Edited March 15, 2023 by StevenGuthmiller

[Sidney Schwartz]

14 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

I agree.

part of the success of the method for me is the contrast in color  between the blue painters tape and the foil and blade, making it easier to see your knife position more easily in relation to the edge of the trim.

Yes, that too. Very helpful for old eyeballs. Also, if the blade wanders into the tape I can hear it.

[Geno]

Just an idea and the way I do it and it's worked out really well. I use a MM ruler and measure the width and length I want, trim it to that size and just lay it down, smooth it out and polish with a Q-tip. Very few times I've had to do some minor trimming. Peace all.✌️

[Sidney Schwartz]

The problem for me is that I have difficulty handling very thin strips of foil. Heck, I have difficulty handling foil, period.

[Geno]

1 hour ago, Sidney Schwartz said:

The problem for me is that I have difficulty handling very thin strips of foil. Heck, I have difficulty handling foil, period.

LOL, understood Sidney. It is tricky at times.