Summertime is the best time for various renovations and other paint works. This is the season when we automatically leave windows wide open, while the dry and warm weather facilitates the quick drying of painted walls. However, unwanted smearing, paint-splattered light switches, smudged skirting boards spoil the overall picture. Since it is difficult and lengthy – or even impossible – to remove smearing, we can face these small mistakes and aesthetic errors again and again, for years. Masking tape is a paper-based adhesive tape available in a number of widths that makes it easier and more accurate to apply paint on a surface.
Easy to use, easy to remove
The use of masking tape is very simple. It covers and hides the area to be protected, so you do not have to paint so carefully and fiddly, thus resulting in a much faster work. Paint getting on the tape does not penetrate it, the tape does not discolor protected areas, its special adhesive layer does not leave a mark and does not cause a damage either. A huge advantage of masking tapes is that they can be easily removed. So, if you cannot apply the tape correctly for the first time, it can be removed and applied again with one move. At the end of painting, it can be pulled from any surface with one move.
Straight lines, precise edges
The use of painter’s tapes does not require special knowledge. You just have to stick them onto edges you wish to spare during painting. In case of meticulous painting in small areas, like in corners, narrow masking tapes will be fit for purpose. And if you paint with sweeping motions on a large surface, it is advisable to use a wider type of tape as well.
The 3M™ 501E Masking tape, also available in our range of products, is a professional product meeting all demands. It resists chemicals, solvents, and it is characterized by a high degree of heat resistance. Work is done quickly and well with it.
The 3M™ 301E High-performance industrial masking tape is an ideal choice also for large surfaces. It is made of a water-resistant, thick, crepe material that protects the surface efficiently.
Can it be checkered, zebra-striped?
It can be! Masking tapes can be used even for creative purposes. Feel free to use them if you would like to renew the study or brighten up the kids’ empire with a little bit of wall decor. Zebra-stripes, arrows, checkers, abstract shapes: with a few buckets of paint and a little fantasy, you can create the most diverse shapes, either three-dimensional or interlaced, or unique patterns with them. We recommend the 3M™ Fine Line Masking tape specifically for this purpose. Its rear side is semi-transparent, so you can see where the tape is placed. You can check even after application how accurate the alignment is. If you wish to adjust subsequently, just pull it and apply it again.
Indoors
Several types of this product are available, not only by width and by product characteristics, but also by area of use. Generally speaking, you can use practically any type indoors according to needs for use.
Outdoors
If you would like to paint outdoors, it is recommended to buy masking tapes made specifically for this purpose. Why is this important? These types are much more resistant to weather conditions, like strong UV-radiation or unexpected rainfall. Due to their special adhesive layer, sunlight does not burn them onto the treated surface. Unfortunately, this often happens in case of indoor masking tapes used outdoors and “left there”. After a while, the tape becomes so adhesive due to sunlight that it can be removed only in small pieces, leaving an ugly mark. These not-so-appealing tape residues can be removed only with significant physical impact, like rubbing or scraping. And this process is not only time-consuming but also damages and scratches the surface that we originally wanted to protect.
Masking tapes, even on cars
The easiest way to repair small scratches or aesthetic damages on cars is painting. However, if one fails to implement it well enough, the telltale signs of dispersing paint also deface the appearance. The 3M 06347 Perforated masking tape has been developed specifically to cover sections of rubber at the edges of windshields and windows. The non-self-adhesive part of the plastic tape needs to be placed under the sections of rubber, while the wider self-adhesive part needs to be folded underneath and stuck onto the surface to be protected. As a result of our product, and of course of careful masking, the car will be as good as new.
