Alternatives to paint tape??
Question:i have done a lot of painting in my life and NEVER found any good tape-ive tried 3m, etc. & if i take the tape off while the paint is wet it comes out awful/smears/drips. if i wait til its dry, it pulls new paint up with it and i have to wait a few days and edge again OR the tape rips into tiny pieces. i've tried putting the tape down lightly AND with a lot of pressure, to no avail. i have tried expensive tape and cheap tape-same results.. does anyone know a good tape (for edges) that will not pull up or absorb the new paint? i have been having this problem since i could hold a brush... anyone wanna help me out here??
Answers:
As a painter I have used numerous brand of masking tape and all I can think of is that you are getting too much paint on the tape.
You have to work your way to the tape cutting into the edge of it as you would if it wasn't there.
The most common mistake I have seen made is by people starting with a ladened brush on the tape.
The tape should be removed within 24 hours and not allowed to get wet.
You could use a box cutter if you wished to cut the paint.
I always use one to tidy up my tape after application when I do curves. If I was to spray paint a wheel rim and didn't want paint on the tyre I would roughly mast the tyre and part of the rim, and the carefully cut back the tape.
Old Painter
use newspaper and scotch tape works evertime
have you tried using an angled brush instead of tape. if you have a steady hand it might help.
Dude I hear your problem. This is what I have done to get the tape to work after going thru the same problems you have had. I put the tape on with a normal amout of presure and try to do the wall with one peice of tape. When I am painting close to the tape I use just a little less paint on my brush then normal. As I paint an area of about 5 to 7 feet I remove the tape from that area and let the paint dry.
Hope this helps
You are right moe, tape creates more problems than it solves. Personally, I prefer to use a hand held straight edge. The paint stores sell plastic ones nowadays, but I've also had good luck with one i cut from venetian blind metal.
You have to wipe the straight edge clean frequently, which is the only downside, but when you think of the time wasted taping, then repairing the damage the tape does, the straight edge is faster.
I've had some good luck with the 3M blue painters tape, but it isn't perfect. I've found an angled brush and a steady hand work best. Wipe up mistakes with a damp rag stretched tight over a putty knife.
Where baseboards meet carpet, I put tape on the carpet to keep the fibers out of the new paint. I use a metal straight edge (wipe often) between the baseboard and the carpet
If you are painting woodwork that hits the carpet, you should be able to get shirt cardboards to slide under it. If you are painting window sills, door sills, etc., you should learn how to cut with a brush. I paint quite often for people and they are amazed to watch me trim around the window panes and not get paint on the glass. I only use 3" and 4" brushes.
I've seen the folks on all those decorating shows use an exacto blade (box cutter) to break the seal between the dry paint and tape before pulling it off.
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