Masking tape residue

Hi Guys, I have a problem with my Tamiya masking tape: after peeling it off (after masking & painting) it always leaves some residue on the area I masked off. What do you guys do to avoid it? Or what am I doing wrong? Thanks, any help appreciated.

What type of paint are you using it on?

What type of paint are you using it on?

Dupli Color car paint.

Are you allowing the first colour you lay down to not only properly dry, but harden before you tape the area?

Must admit I am surprised you are having a problem with the Tamiya tape.

Dupli Color car paint.

Which is what- lacquer, enamel?

I've never seen residue left behind by Tamiya tape. But it can cause problems if it (or any other tape) is applied over a painted surface that hasn't had time to fully cure/outgas. If tape is applied over outgassing paint for more than an hour or so, the tape will trap the solvents in, keeping the paint soft. When you peel the tape up later, it almost looks like the tape adhesive was attacking the paint.

To avoid it, give the paint plenty of time to outgas before masking, and don't leave the masking on any longer than absolutely necessary (an hour or two at the most).

janositamas, i probably can understand what u mean, actually i masked a windshield with tamiya tape and had some residue remaining after i took the mask off. No harm done, i cleaned it up with Micro-Gloss (form the Micro mesh set) but i guess tamiya fine compound would do fine as well. The trick is , before applying the masking tape on the kit, put it on your hand or even forehead, to get rid off most of the glue (my forehead seems to be very greezy :naughty: :biggrin: )

I used it after the 1st paint has dried, about 5 days after painting, that's why I was surprised I had residue marks. As for the problem, I think I know now what it was: I think I left the masking tape on the body for too long (from what MPWR wrote) as I put it on the night before painting, and get rid of it 2 hours after the paint. So it was on for about 24 hrs.
Thanks guys for the help! I will try to avoid leaving the masking tape on for this long in the future!

I used it after the 1st paint has dried, about 5 days after painting, that's why I was surprised I had residue marks. As for the problem, I think I know now what it was: I think I left the masking tape on the body for too long (from what MPWR wrote) as I put it on the night before painting, and get rid of it 2 hours after the paint. So it was on for about 24 hrs.
Thanks guys for the help! I will try to avoid leaving the masking tape on for this long in the future!
That's strange, I've left Tami tape on for weeks without it leaving any residue. And I don't prestick the tape to anything before applying.
I've also left it on all types of paint too... even put the taped item into my dehydrator for weeks on end....
Is your roll of tape old? Like a couple years old?

That's strange, I've left Tami tape on for weeks without it leaving any residue. And I don't prestick the tape to anything before applying.
I've also left it on all types of paint too... even put the taped item into my dehydrator for weeks on end....
Is your roll of tape old? Like a couple years old?

No, it is almost brand new, I bought it about 3 months ago!

janositamas,
If nothing else, you are not alone. It has happened to me more than once and is seems to occur more often on metalic colors rather than solids. The last time it bit me was with Tamiya rattle can paint that had a week between spray and mask. To me it looked more like the tape removed the surface sheen from the paint rather than leaving a residue. The end result is that you can see every where the tape was applied with edge pattern, crease detail etc. No cure other than to strip & re-paint for me. On my next attempt, I clear coated between color and masking for the second color.
Wish I knew why it was a problem in the first place.

janositamas,
If nothing else, you are not alone. It has happened to me more than once and is seems to occur more often on metalic colors rather than solids. The last time it bit me was with Tamiya rattle can paint that had a week between spray and mask. To me it looked more like the tape removed the surface sheen from the paint rather than leaving a residue. The end result is that you can see every where the tape was applied with edge pattern, crease detail etc. No cure other than to strip & re-paint for me. On my next attempt, I clear coated between color and masking for the second color.
Wish I knew why it was a problem in the first place.

Thanks, I will give it a shot next time so I will clearcoat first between the 2 coats and apply the masking tape onto the clear. Time will show.

To me it looked more like the tape removed the surface sheen from the paint rather than leaving a residue. The end result is that you can see every where the tape was applied with edge pattern, crease detail etc. No cure other than to strip & re-paint for me.

You're description is exactly what happens when outgassing solvents are trapped by masking tape.

Tape residue can almost always be quickly and easily polished off. If polishing compound doesn't do the trick, residue is likely not your problem.

You're description is exactly what happens when outgassing solvents are trapped by masking tape.

Tape residue can almost always be quickly and easily polished off. If polishing compound doesn't do the trick, residue is likely not your problem.

Thanks MPWR, I give it a shot with Tamiya Polishing Compound!

I think I know exactly what the problem is because this happens to me alot because i paint alot of xbox 360s. The residue is due to the heat from the outdoors or just about anywhere hot. Say you just finish painting whatever it is let it set for a while then put it outside above 80 degrees for 5 to a billion minutes it will happen. masking tape hates the heat. It really isn't a problem use some thinner or rub your finger against it should come off. Another problem with masking tape is that if you havent let the paint dry for more than what a day or two and put it on 3hrs, 5,hrs or any earlier the tape will leave an imprint of itself. if you ever noticed on the adhesive part of the tape there is a texture.

I agree with MPWR as far as getting the tape off as soon as possible to avoid both situations, ghost tape lines and trapping solvents.

I mostly have a problem with BMF leaving residue and have yet to solve the problem of COMPLETELY removing this type of residue, any suggestions would be great!

I've run into that on a Tamiya paint as well, but it was because I didn't let it try for the proper amount of time. If it is simply residue, I use the Tamiya Acrylic thinner to get the sticky stuff off becuase it will not do ANYTHING to the lacquer. if however, you've actually pulled part of the paint (meaning that it's not really residue but funky drying pattern), you're sort of hosed.

To fix that, remask the area you just painted WITH the mask ( invert the masked area - AFTER it proerly dries) and repaint the previously unmasked area. It's a hard fix but you avoid stripping the model and starting over again (which is sometimes the best option).