Build up and tape outs

S

S. Drennan

Guest
I am glad to see so many other beginners asking what might seem to be questions with simple answers.

I am planning to paint a flame job on a pickup with some other graphics. Some of the other graphics will cross over the licks, and some of the tips will cross over other tips or licks. The flames and the other graphics will all have silver pinstripes, the base color. This is how I think the paint steps will follow after the whole truck has been painted its primary color.

1. Lay out flame design, and graphics with 1/8" tape, and mask off all other areas.
2. Spray this entire area silver then clear and wet sand.
3. Apply a strip of 1/8" tape just inside the first 1/8" tape to make the pinstripes. Also tape out the graphics that will appear inside the flames.
4. Paint flames, and clear.
5. Remove tape outs from inside flames except for 1/8" tape and paint all graphics and clear them.
6. Remove all taped out areas, wet sand any area that isn't already wet sanded. Begin to smooth edges at tape outs.
7. Spray clear over edges where tape outs were and sand them until smooth, wet sand the whole truck again then spray a final clear coat or two over the entire pickup.

If this is correct my BIG questions are:
* How difficult is it going to be to remove the 1/8" tape after it has a layer of color and a layer of clear and it has set for a few days?
* Is it better to go ahead and remove the 1/8" tape before the paint has cured this long?
* Would it be better to tape out the graphic inside the flame, after the flame is painted, and put down new base and top coat?
* Do I have to wet sand between coats when the previous coat is dry, or can I use a maroon scuff pad, "Scotchbrite"?

If it helps, the graphic inside the flame will be silver base, for pinstripe, black base, marblizer, blue kandy, intercoat, and clear.

I realize that nothing about custom painting is quick or easy, however, for a full sized pickup what method would you recommend that would be the easiest even if it takes longer.

Thanks.
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B

big stinkie

Guest
I usually pull my tape after an hour or so. Don't know what'll happen if you wait a day or more.

Most base coats that I'm familiar with don't require sanding between coats, but PPG says you gotta spray more base or clear it within 24 hours or suffer potential adhesion problems.

Clear coat...you need to scuff it up before you spray over it again.
 
T

TWISTED

Guest
I usually pull my tape before the paint dries too much. This allows the paint to roll slightly and you don't get as hard of an edge.
If you let it dry too long you risk messing up the grophics and getting a rough tape edge.
 
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