Taping off trim question.

C

Changeling

New member
When you tape off the trim do you apply the tape "past" the edge of the trim or try to tape it right to the edge of the trim.



If you hit the taped off trim with your rotary, Cyclo, or PC does the fact that it is taped off take care of accidents? Trying to think this thing through.



Changeling
 
I try to not to go over, since you want to polish every inch, but sometimes to have to do what you have to do..



Helps to prevent accidents yes, but it is also easy to chew the tape up (if you want to)
 
If you hit the taped off trim with your rotary, Cyclo, or PC does the fact that it is taped off take care of accidents?
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yup, that is the main reason for taping off the trim...to prevent an "oops". i tape as close to the edge of the trip as possible. with my PC i don't tape much...rotary...everything would get it.
 
From what you are both saying, keep it close so your "tool" can get at as much of the paint as possible and tape it all for safety's sake.



If you do happen to hit the taped trim with a rotary is it instant disaster or can you sort of explain the situation, since you are trying to get as close as possible to the trim, how can you "Not" hit it rather frequently, or should it be avoided at all cost?



Changeling
 
Most of the time when using a rotary you can hit taped off trim without anything happening, it's mostly around the corners of the trim you have to be careful. When polishing you usually have to go right up against the taped of trim anyway, otherwise you'll leave some paint unpolished. As long as you keep the machine moving things should be fine.



When taping of some trim I like to tape past the edge of the trim, so that the tape also just adheres to the paint. This keeps polish residue from building up in the crack between the paint and the trim. I only do this on paint in pretty good shape where you won't notice the unpolished line. On e.g. oxidized paint you would notice the unpolished line, so in those cases I only tape to the edge of the trim.
 
paradigm said:
yup, that is the main reason for taping off the trim...to prevent an "oops". i tape as close to the edge of the trip as possible. with my PC i don't tape much...rotary...everything would get it.
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which part do you need to tape off when you use PC?
 
I tape off any adjoining plastic where the rotary might cause burning. If I'm using a pc that's going to be near textured plastic trim (usually black), I'll tape that to prevent wax from covering the trim (more work later in wax removal).



Here's a pic of some side taping on a BMW 745 Li. The rocker panel is plastic so I taped that, used a rotary on the doors, then removed the tape for polishing the plastic.



745Li_DoorComp_Glaz_3MSR.jpg




Here's the shop owner with a rotary on the door panel and a cutting pad.



745Li_MikePolishingDoor.jpg




Tape removed



745Li_OnLift_FinishedWheels.jpg




Totoland Mach
 
Changeling said:
When you tape off the trim do you apply the tape "past" the edge of the trim or try to tape it right to the edge of the trim.



If you hit the taped off trim with your rotary, Cyclo, or PC does the fact that it is taped off take care of accidents? Trying to think this thing through.



Changeling
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I always tape off just past the edge, so it's stuck firmly to the paint. My main tool is the Cyclo; I use the PC and rotary only occasionally. My main purpose for taping is to keep polish/ compound/wax off black plastic trim, and especially from getting stuck inside the crevice between the trim and the body (and the spaces between panels where you cannot get at it and remove it later; i.e. headlight surrounds, etc.). If you need to work the 3mm or so of paint that was covered, do it by hand after you finish with your machine. Working by hand in linear motion, it's very easy to keep product from building up in the "crack" - unlike when you use a machine.



The "stickiest" tape you can get over here(blue color - Japanese brand;forget the name) will easilly stand up to rotary/Cyclo use, but after you remove it, it leaves behind glue. I mostly use the 3M yellow(orange?) type, which isn't as sticky, but comes off without any trouble - good balance. Forget the generic white stuff - it'll come off if you sneeze on it. When I have to work the paint hard, I go to the blue tape - I also use it on the windshield washer holes, or other places where the tape really needs to hold.
 
Totoland Mach said:
I tape off any adjoining plastic where the rotary might cause burning. If I'm using a pc that's going to be near textured plastic trim (usually black), I'll tape that to prevent wax from covering the trim (more work later in wax removal).



Here's a pic of some side taping on a BMW 745 Li. The rocker panel is plastic so I taped that, used a rotary on the doors, then removed the tape for polishing the plastic.



745Li_DoorComp_Glaz_3MSR.jpg




Here's the shop owner with a rotary on the door panel and a cutting pad.



745Li_MikePolishingDoor.jpg




Tape removed



745Li_OnLift_FinishedWheels.jpg




Totoland Mach
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I always knew you must be a handsome devil, T.M.!!:cool:
 
percynjpn said:
I always knew you must be a handsome devil, T.M.!!:cool:
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Ha-ha....nope, that's the dealer I work for! He actually jumps in and helps with some detailing...cooks great burgers on the grill for us on Saturdays, and gives my wife excellent wine! What a deal.



Here's my mug...see, I still have my hair and I'm older than he is LOL!



TotoPolishing545i.jpg




Totoland
 
Totoland Mach said:
Ha-ha....nope, that's the dealer I work for! He actually jumps in and helps with some detailing...cooks great burgers on the grill for us on Saturdays, and gives my wife excellent wine! What a deal.



Here's my mug...see, I still have my hair and I'm older than he is LOL!



TotoPolishing545i.jpg




Totoland
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Well, I have to admit - you're even more handsome than HE is!!:D
 
shelpdoggSVT said:
That is quite a sweet setup you guys have there!!:kewlpics
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That lift works fantastic for me. I typically do one side of the car + hood + trunk, then turn the car around and do the other side + roof. On some cars with dirty inside door panels, I can knock that out as well at a comfortable work height...just open the door and scrub with diluted apc and a brush...makes it a lot easier.



Here's another pic of the lift



BMW_StartingOut.jpg




Totoland Mach
 
One other reason to tape that wasn't mentioned is to protect your pads. I'm not sure what piece of trim I got with my PC, but I took a little chunk out of one of my pads. I went over taped areas several times with no ill affects. The only spot where I messed up the tape was where I hit a spot at the end of a piece of tape and it wasn't stuck down well so it sort of peeled back.
 
Totoland Mach said:
That lift works fantastic for me. I typically do one side of the car + hood + trunk, then turn the car around and do the other side + roof. On some cars with dirty inside door panels, I can knock that out as well at a comfortable work height...just open the door and scrub with diluted apc and a brush...makes it a lot easier.



Here's another pic of the lift



BMW_StartingOut.jpg




Totoland Mach
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do you have a name for that lift and a link where to buy it.



I tried to give you karma for you posts but it is not working like it used too. Is something wrong with karma?
 
Grouse said:
do you have a name for that lift and a link where to buy it.



I tried to give you karma for you posts but it is not working like it used too. Is something wrong with karma?
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It's a Snap - On Lift. Wish I had one :chuckle:
 
Grouse said:
do you have a name for that lift and a link where to buy it.



I tried to give you karma for you posts but it is not working like it used too. Is something wrong with karma?
Click to expand...



It's from Snap-On but I've seen others that are just as good for less $$$ (Snap-On is pretty pricey stuff, but high quality).



If you get a copy of Hemmings Muscle Car magazine, there are a couple of vendors that have prices, specs, pics in advertisements. There is one company in Oklahoma that makes a good quality lift for approx. $1,500.



Toto
 
So that's your own garage, then. Very nice. I know polishing metal/wheels is a specialty of yours - are all those BMW rims in the back ones that you do for the dealer? Just curious.
 
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