Masking Tape

[Milo]

I use some typical blue masking tape for masking, but every time I paint, it bleads through. Is there some alternate tape that I can use for masking that wont let paint blead?

[StevenGuthmiller]

Blue painters tape is probably the worst tape for masking for modeling.

It is designed to be a “low tack” tape to guard against pulling up paint or wall paper that it’s applied over.

The simplest answer is Tamiya tape.

It’s designed for just this application and I’ve never been disappointed with it’s performance.

 

 

 

Steve

[peteski]

Tamiya tape (or generic Washi tape) is much better than any household masking tapes.  Tamiya tape is thinner (more pliable), and it has better adhesive.  But unless you burnish the edges extremely well, the paint will get under the edge. Also if the paint is sprayed on very wet, that also invites bleed through.  Lighter (drier) layer of paint around the tape edge should be helpful in preventing bleeding when subsequent wetter layers are sprayed.

[Dpate]

Tamiya tape of all sizes all day. Also like was previously said never spray wet right onto the edges. That’s just asking for bleed through.

[slusher]

when masking be sure to rub your edges down and Tamiya is the best made for models..

[ColonelKrypton]

Tamiya tape is great and always have a couple of rolls on hand but local availability can be a bit hit and miss.

A very good substitute and what I have been using more and more of is a washi tape product by Scotch called "Delicate Surface Painter's Tape" and is available in various widths. https://www.amazon.com/ScotchBlueTM-Painters-Tape-Walls-Floors/dp/B000BPRGFQ?th=1

And, another is a 3M Automotive Refinish Masking Tape 388N  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0036C0PVI/

another is this one:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M5F0Q2M/?th=1

It is always nice to have options.

cheers, Graham

[Dpate]

1 hour ago, ColonelKrypton said:

Tamiya tape is great and always have a couple of rolls on hand but local availability can be a bit hit and miss.

A very good substitute and what I have been using more and more of is a washi tape product by Scotch called "Delicate Surface Painter's Tape" and is available in various widths. https://www.amazon.com/ScotchBlueTM-Painters-Tape-Walls-Floors/dp/B000BPRGFQ?th=1

And, another is a 3M Automotive Refinish Masking Tape 388N  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0036C0PVI/

another is this one:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M5F0Q2M/?th=1

It is always nice to have options.

cheers, Graham

I’ve used the scotch delicate surface tape before on walls, and it’s good stuff even better than the blue painters tape. It is similar to Tamiya as Tamiya is a washi tape too. I always order my Tamiya tape from plaza Japan though when I do big orders. Tamiya tape there is like .89cent up to $2. I have enough Tamiya tape to last like 2 years lol. 

[Mike 1017]

I use tape that body and paint shops use. I found this is the prelesional tape is the best.

Also, I try to burnish down as much as possible.

masking tape - TCP Global

Good Luck

Mike

[Shark]

I like and use some Tamiya, but it does get expensive and my closest source is 45 minutes away. Mostly I use the yellow 3M automotive paint tape. I put it on a piece of glass and cut the widths I need with an exacto knife and straight edge. Don't recall it ever letting the paint bleed under.

[Roncla]

I've always just used Tamiya and  always lay down a coat of  the base color  or some clear to seal the edge and prevent any paint bleeding under it.

Edited September 16, 2023 by Roncla

[Jon Haigwood]

I use 3M blue vinyl tape 471 for the edges and Tamiya to cover the rest. I aways put a light coat of clear along the edge to seal it. The 3M comes in many widths and curves well

[fiatboy]

What about sealing the tape-edge with clear paint?  I read about this in model magazine.

[Bucky]

I'm a little confused. Is the OP talking about "bleed through", or "edge creep"? 

I've used blue painter tape for years, and never had any "bleed through". I have, however, had "edge creep", where paint seeps under the edge. Very pesky, especially when trying to do a two-tone paint job. Nowadays, I lay down the blue tape close to the edge of where I want the color to end up, and then add Tamiya, or a similar type to finish the edge. I try to burnish that tape down fairly well before spraying.

[StevenGuthmiller]

16 minutes ago, Bucky said:

I'm a little confused. Is the OP talking about "bleed through", or "edge creep"? 

I've used blue painter tape for years, and never had any "bleed through". I have, however, had "edge creep", where paint seeps under the edge. Very pesky, especially when trying to do a two-tone paint job. Nowadays, I lay down the blue tape close to the edge of where I want the color to end up, and then add Tamiya, or a similar type to finish the edge. I try to burnish that tape down fairly well before spraying.

I'm pretty sure he's talking about bleeding under the edges.

Never heard of a circumstance where paint actually bled through the tape.

 

The OP is pretty new to the hobby, and is not particularly familiar with all of the excepted nomenclature.

 

 

 

Steve 

[Bucky]

That's what I was thinking, but wanted to make sure! ?

[Ace-Garageguy]

Bottom line...most blue "painter's tape" is primarily intended to be used in conjunction with water-based latex paint on walls.

The adhesive is not sufficiently solvent-resistant to work well with most solvent-based paints.

The best "edge" tape out there is the 3M green plastic fine-line tape (6300 line) made for real cars.

It comes in several widths, follows curves very well, and edge-seals perfectly with no bleed. Ever. Prices are reasonable: 60 yards of the 1/8" stuff is about $25.

I've used it for decades for flame work and stripes on cars, and N-numbers and striping on aircraft, where wonky edges are simply not permissible and can cost many hundreds of $$ to correct.

I've recommended it repeatedly to people having problems with masking, and everyone has had excellent results..

 

[atomicholiday]

Anyone here use the Tamiya tape for curves?  How does it compare to regular Tamiya tape?

[Dpate]

7 hours ago, atomicholiday said:

Anyone here use the Tamiya tape for curves?  How does it compare to regular Tamiya tape?

I own quite a bit of the curved tape. It’s same great quality as their regular tape just little thicker, and much better for you guessed it curves. AK has curved tape that works good as well. I would de tack it like I do the regular tape as well. Just a habit even though I’m not the only one. 

Edited September 19, 2023 by Dpate

[Mike C]

I use a tape I found at work. I don't know what they use it for here, I don't think it's for masking. It's a Teflon tape, not like plumber's tape. It's adhesive backed, not too strong or too weak. It's translucent so I can really see if it's stuck down good. And it's quite pliable. I lay it down on a piece of glass and cut off strips about 1/8" or so wide. It bends around inside and outside curves real well. And it's got a clean, sharp edge.

[Jon Haigwood]

I use acrylics mostly and put them in a dehydrator to speed up drying. I found out that if you put painted parts that have tape on them it will leave a sticky residue on them. Not sure if this applies to all tapes but now no taped parts go in the dehydrator.

[bobss396]

What about Frog Tape? I have a roll of it but never tried it. My brother also masks and shoots some parent body color along the tape-line. I have to ask what tape he uses.

[Jon Haigwood]

I picked up some Lime Line aways back but haven't tried it yet. I found by watching some videos from Little Daddy Roth painting videos. The main reason I bought it was it came in 1/16 inch and bends real well. Just waiting for a project to try it on, maybe for the stripes on one of my future Cobra builds. Check out some of the videos on youtube from Little Daddy Roth. They also have metal flake and other paint products but the flake looks out of scale for our use. 

 

[Skip]

I use *JTape Custom, which seems similar to the Tamiya or Washi tapes. It comes in a larger roll, multiple widths and is less expensive than the Tamiya tape. I've also used the blue vinyl masking tape; it's used in a lot of industrial manufacturing applications. The only drawback to the vinyl tape is that it's a bit more expensive than any of the other tapes, especially the usual run of the mill crepe masking tape, it tolerates elevated heat curing (like used in the powder coating processes). I still use rolls of crepe masking tape on the work bench, just don't use them for masking paint other than extending the masking out from the JTape.

JTape Custom - WWW.jtapecustom.com 

U.S. Distributor Midwest Airbrush Supply - Midwest Airbrush JTape Custom

The other thing to consider about any masking tape is the shelf life. Once unwrapped from its packaging and it's exposed to the air the clock starts ticking and the adhesive begins slowly breaking down. I remember reading something to the effect that 6 months to a year, depending on humidity and temperature variations (Airbrush Action Magazine). To counteract this to a point, all masking tape goes into a Ziplock sandwich bag then stored in a cool dry location in my paint cabinet. The other advantage of this is that the edge of the roll isn't picking up dust and bits off of the workbench which get transferred to the paint. The cleaner you are with every step of the painting process, the less you are going to have to work to get a great paint job! 

*Caveat - I have used multiple rolls of this JTape for models, sign work, automotive custom work, artwork - airbrush and watercolor painting - So this recommendation is from actual use versus secondhand recommendations, or a website said this is great stuff. (Manufacturer's websites are made to sell product, to let the consumer know what their usage characteristics are and can be expected when used as directed.)

Edited September 25, 2023 by Skip
correct link