Removing masking tape

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dillydally

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Hello all, I am a newbie here so am hoping I am posting this in the right section! Thought I would take this chance to say hello and to ask a little advice.

I have been painting my decks with anti-slip paint and left some of the masking tape on for a few days and now,it is really hard to get off, it seems to be leaving the glue on the gel coat !

Wondering if there are any methods for removing it cleanly and efficiantly without doing any damage.

Any suggestions will be much appreciated. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
Not too pertinent for your present predicament but you might like to consider cheap electrician's tape rather than paper masking tape on a future occasion. Gives a very good window for removing easily.
 
Use acetone and a razor blade. I'm afraid it might make a mess of the non-slip paint edges.

To answer another point made - I've made a point of using plastic rather than paper tape - unfortunately if you leave that too long, the plastic comes off and leaves the adhesive. It does remain clean-removable for far longer and can be take off in damp weather.
 
White spirit - Wipe on with a cloth or brush. Leave for a couple of hours. If it is really caked on apply another coat of white spirit and leave overnight.

It all peels of with no mess .... clean down with white spirit.

The nice thing about white spirit is that it is benign and won't affect either your paint or the edges.

Try it against acetone and see how both work .... You'll end up becoming patient and using white spirit /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

M
 
In addition to the above comments be wary of the paint tearing when you lift the tape. Depending on the paint I have sometimes found that if I leave it too long then flakes of paint will come off the surface I wanted painted! If that's an issue you will need to score along with a sharp knife - though with luck the white spirit may soften it enough to prevent the problem.
 
And don't be fooled that the more expensive "premium" masking tape available is any better, it's not! Bloody stuff was immovable after 5 days and left a residue that appeared to have no known solvent, though I didn't try white spirit left on for a couple of hours.
 
Alternating between white spirits and then using washing-up liquid and a scrubbing brush the next day worked for me in the end.

The blue stuff is better but it isn't perfect and certainly not as good as it says on the wrapper. You can maybe leave it on overnight if you're pretty sure it isn't going to rain, but if you want to try leaving it on for three or four days best get the white spirit ready.
 
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The blue stuff is better but it isn't perfect and certainly not as good as it says on the wrapper.

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There's a steam launch being restored in our yard. They were using a masking tape that, though brown, seemed to be plastic rather than paper. And the gum seemed similar to the Scotch 'Magic' tape you get from your office stationary cupboard. i.e. a bit like a post-it note. Any idea where you get it from?
 
[ QUOTE ]

There's a steam launch being restored in our yard. They were using a masking tape that, though brown, seemed to be plastic rather than paper. And the gum seemed similar to the Scotch 'Magic' tape you get from your office stationary cupboard. i.e. a bit like a post-it note. Any idea where you get it from?

[/ QUOTE ]

No idea I'm afraid, I've not seen it. If you get to ask them I'd be interested in hearing what it is.
 
I've used vodka to remove stckers on a fridge door, but you have to get the mix just right.

Two measures for yourself and one for the door.

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