Masking Tape for Antifouling.

peterb26 said:
I will be re-antifouling my boat next month.

Last year - the worst job was removing the masking tape from the waterline.

After a couple of days in the hot portuguese sun it was baked on. Parts of it needed removing with acetone and it was a long slow job.

Can anyone recommend a good masking tape so that I can take some decent stuff out with me and make the job this year a bit easier?

Thanks in advance.:)
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The 'Blue Stuff' that everyone is refering to is known as 'low tack' and even low tack if left on can be a problem, i never leave any tape on for longer than 1 hour after i have finished painting.
I left my heads port light open a couple of seasons ago and a friendly neighbour taped a plastic bag over it to keep the rain out, I am still trying to get some of the masking tape off!
 
davidfox said:
The 'Blue Stuff' that everyone is refering to is known as 'low tack' and even low tack if left on can be a problem, i never leave any tape on for longer than 1 hour after i have finished painting.
I left my heads port light open a couple of seasons ago and a friendly neighbour taped a plastic bag over it to keep the rain out, I am still trying to get some of the masking tape off!
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I just spent an afternon removing blue masking tape that had been on for three hours. Had to use sticky stuff remover, took much longer thena the antifouling and now when I do the second coat I have to paint the waterline by hand.

I think perhaps the tape is better on gelcoat hulls than on painted hulls?


- W
 
After uisng Blue tape (which is a nightmare if you leave it on) masking tape
I now use Frog Tape the Green one Band Q did my line and all my kiwi grip panels masked not as sticky as blue but holds well and does not leave residue
My opinon only :D
 
Masking tape for any job should be removed once the paint has stopped running.A couple of hours after painting at the most.
 
I've found blue masking tape to vary greatly.

After having wooden boats for 20 years, with white, topsides, two shades of blue plus varnish and antifoul I have used more than my fair share of tape.

Blue 3M 3434 is the one you want. No other.
 
I used the blue 3m tape when I started my current paint job, which includes topsides and boot-top ; three lines of tape right round the boat. Then rain stopped play..... "It's the blue tape, I'll take a chance and leave it on", I thought. Unfortunately, I did'nt have an opportunity to remove it before the annual holiday came up - guess what I've been doing in my spare time since last Saturday? Yes, and I still have another four metres of the toerail to clean off!
 
yeah i used 3M scotchtape on my boat for antifoul. took the tape off the same day as painting on. but in the past i found it was fine to leave for a few days as long as it doesnt rain, rain then sun makes it change
 
Lakesailor said:
Peel it off as soon as you have finished.
Pull it back at 180° (back on itself) to avoid lifting the coating.
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This is exactly what I do. Still get the sharp line but need to be wearing protective gloves to handle the winter tap. Just never know what tape the chandlery is selling One contractor recently painted a boat then launched it and put it on its mooring complete with masking tape... It looks like it will take several days to sort it !!!!!!
 
The 3M 3434B shouldn't be left on for any significant period of time - take it off sooner rather than later, as the adhesive will cure and stick like you know what to the substrate, especially in UV / sunshine. The scotch version is different - officially called long mask and is designed with a different type of adhesive not to cure and leave adhesive residue after longer periods of time - but has it's limits too - and scotch branded automotive product is normally US markets only.

The 3434B is designed to go round corners too, it's stretchy. All primarily for automotive trade --except long-mask which is for home DIY hence why found in B&Q.

The plastic tapes referred to are for fine line / fine edge results.

There are other versions of the 3434B that offer lower tack and similar stretch properties, but are lighter backings so perhaps not as strong in an outdoors environment.

I must declare my association with 3M masking products -I work for them, but happy to offer technical advise as needed!
 
StevieD said:
The 3M 3434B shouldn't be left on for any significant period of time - take it off sooner rather than later, as the adhesive will cure and stick like you know what to the substrate, especially in UV / sunshine. The scotch version is different - officially called long mask and is designed with a different type of adhesive not to cure and leave adhesive residue after longer periods of time - but has it's limits too - and scotch branded automotive product is normally US markets only.

The 3434B is designed to go round corners too, it's stretchy. All primarily for automotive trade --except long-mask which is for home DIY hence why found in B&Q.

The plastic tapes referred to are for fine line / fine edge results.

There are other versions of the 3434B that offer lower tack and similar stretch properties, but are lighter backings so perhaps not as strong in an outdoors environment.

I must declare my association with 3M masking products -I work for them, but happy to offer technical advise as needed!
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Brill, thanks for posting!

Where do we buy long mask in the UK?
 
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Fantasie 19 said:
+1

Masking tape is cheap - I just mask it again if I'm going to put a second layer on...
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I find that the most time consuming part is applying the masking tape - certainly more than 10 minutes - so I use good quality tape and leave it on for all coats before removing. The plastic tape gives a sharper edge and comes off well but I also like Frog Tape which is very strong. I've not had good results with Pound Store stuff in general. The masking tape is a very small part of the cost of antifouling, or indeed any painting, so it doesn't really matter if it's one pound a roll or five.
 
Not sure about anti-fouling pant, but as others have said the blue tape is what you want for edge work, you can use the cheaper general masking tape or brown paper for covering larger areas if necessary, just use the blue at the edges. Use a good brand like 3M, and to avoid getting tears or a ragged edge peel when the paint is still wet. If the paint dries and bridges across onto the tape you will be tearing it a bit when you pull the tape away, and that spoils your crisp sharp line.
 
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