3M tape Type & Typical Width? - Polishing Preparation

tenorplayer23

tenorplayer23

New member
TAPE ,............a mundane topic, BUT:



Have done a search on what specific type of 3M tape is best for car detailing & the typical width people use to prepare for polishing. A million posts that mention "tape".............very few with any specificity.



> What type of 3M painters tape should be used? Their are 2-3 types, looks like the differences are in adhesive aggressiveness. Or should I go out to an autobody supply store and buy 3M tape specifically made for car painting/masking, etc.?



> What width does everybody use? By the looks of photos here, it would appear that 1 -1.5" is the usual. I would think any wider would be harder to handle around bends/curves, even if the extra width was warranted.



> Best/cheapest source for 3M tape recommended..........big box stores/Home Depot/Lowes/???? Any suggestions.........or just buy a few rolls at the Depot down the street (BTW, will a roll of 1" do an entire, say, full size car)??



Thanks for the info.



See ya. :wavey:
 
I just looked into this myself. 3M Blue Painters tape (3434) seems to be what most people use. Tacky enough to hold if the buffer runs it over yet will still come off without much effort.



I'd just get a few different widths and use what works best for your application.
 
1" is about the thickest you should need...maybe 1.5 if you want to lug around multiple sizes, but I think that a 2" would be overkill. I wish it came in, or I could find, 1/2" for tighter areas..but for now, I just use 1" and lots of angles to cover the needed area



I use both the green and the blue. Blue removes easier, but green sticks better to some surfaces...better to have both



I havent really been able to find a deal on tape anywhere unless its free from a friends painting job "jobsite"



I use tape on every single car I do
 
The green you refer to is "autobody/paint masking"-specific? Ever see it in a home store or other big box place? Those stores are very close.



Thx.



See ya. :wavey:



jermar said:
I now use only green. I wanted 3/4" and the best price was on Ebay.
Click to expand...
 
if anyone wants to go in on a bigger order, lets do it...Ill front the money and you can pay me for half...



currently I am paying about $4 per roll and only getting about 2 cars per roll
 
How does the 3M green 233+ work vs. blue painters tape? I read the 3M spec. sheets, but nothing like actual experience. (One thing mentioned in the specs. about the green is that its for indoor tape - more heat/sun sensitive. When it gets hot, harder to remove??)



BTW, ever use the 2 different blue tapes? One for delicate/faux surfaces......reads as a less aggressive adhesive than the other? Model 2080 regular blue and 2090 delicate/faux surfaces. The delicate costs ~ almost 1/3 more.



Thx for the info. Any updates, please post.



See ya. :wavey:



Flashtime said:
3M 233+ masking tape



PG 27 tape is awesome too and slightly cheaper (hard to find)



www.intertapepolymer.com/IPGLiterature/Product2/AMERICAN%2520PG%2520FLYER.pdf+PG+27&hl=en&gl=us]Powered by Google Docs[/url]



Intertape Polymer Group



Try Ebay
Click to expand...
 
The green sticks better than the blue, but comes off just as easy. Tape, polish, remove tape, clean up residue with MF, apply LSP. If you are careful you can reuse the tape from the seams.

The green tape can be found at auto parts stores in the paint section. But, and I hate to say this, wally world carries both.
 
tenorplayer23 said:
How does the 3M green 233+ work vs. blue painters tape? I read the 3M spec. sheets, but nothing like actual experience. (One thing mentioned in the specs. about the green is that its for indoor tape - more heat/sun sensitive. When it gets hot, harder to remove??)



BTW, ever use the 2 different blue tapes? One for delicate/faux surfaces......reads as a less aggressive adhesive than the other? Model 2080 regular blue and 2090 delicate/faux surfaces. The delicate costs ~ almost 1/3 more.



Thx for the info. Any updates, please post.



See ya. :wavey:
Click to expand...



We use to use the green tape daily at our body shops. Very nice, but expensive how we use it. We now use some whiteish/brownish tape thats a lot cheaper, not sure of the name.



The delicate blue tape sucks. The wife accidentally got it when we were paint rooms in our house. That stuff doesn't stick to anything very good. I've used the regular blue tape to buff cars and never had a problem.
 
toyotaguy said:
1" is about the thickest you should need...maybe 1.5 if you want to lug around multiple sizes, but I think that a 2" would be overkill...
Click to expand...



I actually *like* 2" for certain things, makes it easier to render things, uhm...Accumulator-proof.



I'm currently using 3/4" and 2" Scotch brand green (233+ series). I find it a bit inferior to the 3M version, leaves too much residue and seems a bit harder to tear off.
 
Accumulator said:
I'm currently using 3/4" and 2" Scotch brand green (233+ series). I find it a bit inferior to the 3M version, leaves too much residue and seems a bit harder to tear off.
Click to expand...



My 233+ says Scotch, but of course Scotch is a 3M brand...are you saying that 3M sells a different 233+ tape under the 3M instead of Scotch label?



PS you can buy the 233+ at Industrial Supply Equipment from MSC Industrial Supply and for the person that was looking for 1/2": MSC Item Detail I don't know how their pricing compares but beware their shipping usually is high.



EDIT: This 6mm tape shows both names, looks like it has a plastic core unlike the cardboard on mine which is a couple years old. Looks like they must have switched to metric; this is about 1/4" they also have 3mm if people want really thin.



mediawebserver




EDIT EDIT: For you guys looking to bulk buy: Shop 3M: Scotch Performance Masking Tape 233+ that's even cheaper than the bulk price at MSC and looks like they have flat rate shipping only $5 for the case. They've got the 1/8, 3/4, 1, 1.5, and 2" in their store (3mm, 18mm, 24mm, 36mm, and 48mm).
 
Setec Astronomy said:
My 233+ says Scotch, but of course Scotch is a 3M brand...are you saying that 3M sells a different 233+ tape under the 3M instead of Scotch label?
Click to expand...



Nah, heh heh, all I can really say is that I'd forgotten that Scotch is a 3M company :o



The "green masking tape" I used before just said 3M (OK, that's a big *IIRC*), and it left less residue than this Scotch-branded stuff does (which I *am* recalling correctly).



Any residue issues with your 233+?
 
Not really any residue issues...I haven't used it that much (just finished up my blue recently, haven't been doing too much polishing last year or 2), I researched all the darn 3M/Scotch masking tapes and from the specs this seemed to be the preferred one for what "we" here at Autopia do.



Masking Tapes
 
I have even used the blue Duck painters tape. It doesn't stick as well but is much cheaper. Sometimes it seems like the 3m sticks a little too well.



The thin green tape causes alot of problems when you run the rotary over it. The residue is so thick that it heats up and smears. I like it though because it covers the seams and not the paint. You don't have to move the leading edge back over the different sides.
 
Glad I searched before I started a new thread. Ok, after reading this, I'm not seeing a consensus. I haven't had good luck with the blue, but the rolls I have may be old. I'll have to try a new one.



Has anyone found the blue painters tape at Costco or Sam's? I'm guessing they would be cheaper than Home Depot or Lowe's but I could be wrong.
 
I haven't seen it at BJ's Wholesale or Sam's Club, actually. Best price I found was at Home Depot locally. Speaking of tape age, I'll have to watch that when I use mine in the "spring".............I think our seasonal "polishing days" are over for now.



BTW, nice color 'vette!! :) You have good taste!!



See ya. :wavey



jb1 said:
Glad I searched before I started a new thread. Ok, after reading this, I'm not seeing a consensus. I haven't had good luck with the blue, but the rolls I have may be old. I'll have to try a new one.



Has anyone found the blue painters tape at Costco or Sam's? I'm guessing they would be cheaper than Home Depot or Lowe's but I could be wrong.
Click to expand...
 
tenorplayer23 said:
I haven't seen it at BJ's Wholesale or Sam's Club, actually. Best price I found was at Home Depot locally. Speaking of tape age, I'll have to watch that when I use mine in the "spring".............I think our seasonal "polishing days" are over for now.



BTW, nice color 'vette!! :) You have good taste!!



See ya. :wavey
Click to expand...



Home Depot here I come. Well it was nice weather here in Dallas until last week.



Looks like we both got the fastest color. LOL



 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top