how to remove masking tape residue

[wgflatliner]

This is the first time i've ever had an issue with tamiya masking tape leaving residue, so how do i remove that residue?

[Zoom Zoom]

Are you sure it's residue? I've never heard of Tamiya tape leaving residue. If so, the residue would be sticky, just like the sticky side of the tape.

Tamiya tape will leave marks in paint that has not cured enough before being covered w/the tape. It prevents the solvents from the uncured paint from escaping to the air, so the solvents etche the surface of the paint w/the pattern of the tape.

If you have enough paint in those spots, you level them w/the proper sand papers/polishing cloths, and buff them out. If you go through the paint, you'll need to reshoot.

If it is just tape residue, a little polish should get it right off.

[wgflatliner]

Are you sure it's residue? I've never heard of Tamiya tape leaving residue. If so, the residue would be sticky, just like the sticky side of the tape.

Tamiya tape will leave marks in paint that has not cured enough before being covered w/the tape. It prevents the solvents from the uncured paint from escaping to the air, so the solvents etche the surface of the paint w/the pattern of the tape.

If you have enough paint in those spots, you level them w/the proper sand papers/polishing cloths, and buff them out. If you go through the paint, you'll need to reshoot.

If it is just tape residue, a little polish should get it right off.

i suppose i'll just play it safe and strip all the paint and start over

after investigating it a little further, it's apparent the paint wasn't completely cured.

[Crazy Ed]

This is the first time i've ever had an issue with tamiya masking tape leaving residue, so how do i remove that residue?

If you've got any of the Citrus based removers like Goo Gone, De-Solv-it etc try it. I had a kit windshield that had regular household masking tape residue that was a year old on it that cleaned up good as new!

Ed

[VW Dave]

IMO stripping and re-shooting should be the absolute last resort.

After shooting the base Tamiya white on my Geek Squad nubie and leaving it alone for a few months, I masked it with regular Scotch tape to shoot the black....the tape must have been old, and it left sticky-ickies all over the white. I used Goo Gone and then wet sanded it in soapy water before clearing the whole body, and it all worked out fine.

[horsepower]

A little trick from the full size car world, to remove tape residue, spray some WD 40 on a soft rag or tissue then rub the sticky gunk off & wash with warm soapy water. No film left, & won't bother fresh paint, or the plastic either.

[Abell82]

Ordinary Zippo lighter fluid(Ronsonol), etc, Works, just as good as goo gone, at half the price.

[Ddms]

Unlike other tapes that have been mentioned, Tamiya tape is specifically formulated not to leave residue. You masked over paint that wasn't fully cured, and that trapped solvents which damaged the paint surface. So all those removers, solvents and cleaners won't help a bit.

There's no need to strip and repaint. Start by wet-sanding with 2000 grit paper, then polish. If you burn through to the primer, give it another color coat. (Hope you're using a synthetic lacquer like Tamiya TS-series. Another coat will adhere nicely to the first.)

[wgflatliner]

Unlike other tapes that have been mentioned, Tamiya tape is specifically formulated not to leave residue. You masked over paint that wasn't fully cured, and that trapped solvents which damaged the paint surface. So all those removers, solvents and cleaners won't help a bit.

There's no need to strip and repaint. Start by wet-sanding with 2000 grit paper, then polish. If you burn through to the primer, give it another color coat. (Hope you're using a synthetic lacquer like Tamiya TS-series. Another coat will adhere nicely to the first.)

well i already started soaking it in simple green as of a couple days ago.

i'll take it out and start sanding it when i get a chance (not working on my street truck). i don't mind a respray as long as the end result is nice. and yes, i use the TS series paints from Tamiya.

thanks for the replies and tips everybody.

[MikeMc]

well i already started soaking it in simple green as of a couple days ago.

i'll take it out and start sanding it when i get a chance (not working on my street truck). i don't mind a respray as long as the end result is nice. and yes, i use the TS series paints from Tamiya.

thanks for the replies and tips everybody.

WHOA .......if its in the green pond leave it be.....after 2 days of soaking the base is soft in spots....I wouldn't risk respray over that....but its your paint

[wgflatliner]

WHOA .......if its in the green pond leave it be.....after 2 days of soaking the base is soft in spots....I wouldn't risk respray over that....but its your paint

could you be more specific? are you saying that i won't be able to take the paint off and respray?

[Ddms]

could you be more specific? are you saying that i won't be able to take the paint off and respray?

You're leaving it in the Simple Green long enough to remove all the paint, right? In that case, you should have no problem priming and re-spraying over bare plastic.

By the way, after you've bathed it for a few days, a brass brush can come in pretty handy for removing the last bits of paint from nooks and crannies. I wouldn't use the brush on clear plastic (most likely PET), but it won't hurt regular (opaque) styrene.