What is masking tape
Written by: Vinnie van Rooij
Masking tape is tape designed to be applied to sensitive surfaces with the aim of masking off certain areas and easy and residue free removal. Masking tape comes in several sizes and can be varies colors. It helps to prevent polish from getting onto surfaces you don’t want it to get at.
Contents
Why the need for masking tape
Masking tape can be applied to places that you don’t want polish to get onto, or even spaces you don’t want it to get into. The masking tape will cover that area. Polishing over it, or splattering polish onto it will not be a problem. Once you are done, you can simply remove the tape without any stains, or glue residue.
What is masking tape
Masking tape is most of the times made out of a paper-like material. It is very easy to tear, is a little bit flexible and has only one sticky layer. The glue used on the tape is specially designed to be easily removed without any residue, and without affecting sensitive surfaces.
When to use masking tape
Masking tape can be applied to mask off an area, or to cover a certain surface. Many vehicle have a rubber seal between the glass and the body panel. Polish can leave slight stains on the rubber seal, which can be prevented by masking it off with tape. Certain trims can also be masked off to prevent polish from getting on it. In other situations, it can prevent polish from getting into small crevices, like the crevice between the front door of a car and the rear door. That small crevice can be difficult to clean. Masking that off with masking tape prevents any polish from getting into it. Many badges don’t respond well to be polished, or being hit with the edge of a polishing pad, masking these off with masking tape prevents any unwanted damage.
Is masking tape safe
The glue on masking tape is designed to have as little effect as possible on a surface and/or the product on top of the surface. So wax and/or sealants should be unaffected when the tape is removed. However, it can have trouble sticking to any trims or plastic that has dressing applied. The slick surface might prevent the tape from sticking. If it can be made to stick it often removes a bit of the dressing on the surface of the plastic and/or trim. This can easily be solved by wiping the surface again or re-applying the dressing.
Colors and brands
Even though the blue tape is very common, there is no reason why it can not be another color. There are also several brands that have become popular, but the smaller brands can perform just as good. As with most things, it is best to just try it out and find out for yourself if it fits your needs.
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