I need to mask a metal surface adjacent to a plastic border. It needs to be reasonably attractive as it will be in place for some weeks and will be in the sun and heat. The main issue is it needs to not get gummy and leave a residue behind.

I've yet to find a masking tape that doesn't get permanently stuck after a few weeks.

Any suggestions?

--

Rick C.

- Get 1,000 miles of free Supercharging
- Tesla referral code - https://ts.la/richard11209

In article <0680fbef-5158-4bc7-8626-e594cef2a7d6n@googlegroups.com>,
Rick C <gnuarm.deletethisbit@gmail.com> wrote:

>I need to mask a metal surface adjacent to a plastic border. It needs to be reasonably attractive as
>it will be in place for some weeks and will be in the sun and heat. The main issue is it needs to
>not get gummy and leave a residue behind.
>
>I've yet to find a masking tape that doesn't get permanently stuck after a few weeks.
>
>Any suggestions?

The closest approach to that I know of is blue painter's tape - it's
designed for just that sort of masking-plus-clean-removability.
Unfortunately it seems to be intended mostly for indoor use (no sun
exposure) and for relatively short applications (a day or three, until
paint dries).

You may end up needing to use this stuff, and wipe it down with some
Goo Gone to soften the adhesive in order to remove it cleanly.

Another thing that you might try, is drywall tape. This uses a
water-soluble glue, which must be moistened before the tape is
applied... and, I suspect, would come off cleanly afterwards if you
spray the tape with water well enough to soak it. I don't know how
well it will bond to a non-porous surface like metal, but it might
adhere well enough to be useful.

Rick C wrote:
> I need to mask a metal surface adjacent to a plastic border. It needs to be reasonably attractive as it will be in place for some weeks and will be in the sun and heat. The main issue is it needs to not get gummy and leave a residue behind.
>
> I've yet to find a masking tape that doesn't get permanently stuck after a few weeks.
>
> Any suggestions?
>

Gaffer tape, perhaps.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

--
Dr Philip C D Hobbs
Principal Consultant
ElectroOptical Innovations LLC / Hobbs ElectroOptics
Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics
Briarcliff Manor NY 10510

http://electrooptical.net
http://hobbs-eo.com

fredag den 27. august 2021 kl. 21.55.59 UTC+2 skrev Phil Hobbs:
> Rick C wrote:
> > I need to mask a metal surface adjacent to a plastic border. It needs to be reasonably attractive as it will be in place for some weeks and will be in the sun and heat. The main issue is it needs to not get gummy and leave a residue behind.
> >
> > I've yet to find a masking tape that doesn't get permanently stuck after a few weeks.
> >
> > Any suggestions?
> >
> Gaffer tape, perhaps.

and don't confuse that with duct tape

On Friday, August 27, 2021 at 12:13:34 PM UTC-5, gnuarm.del...@gmail.com wrote:
> I need to mask a metal surface adjacent to a plastic border. It needs to be reasonably attractive as it will be in place for some weeks and will be in the sun and heat. The main issue is it needs to not get gummy and leave a residue behind.
>
> I've yet to find a masking tape that doesn't get permanently stuck after a few weeks.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> --
>
> Rick C.
>
> - Get 1,000 miles of free Supercharging
> - Tesla referral code - https://ts.la/richard11209

Would it be practical to put tape against a flat piece of metal then fasten the metal in place somehow?
There wouldn't be anything sticky against the surface you want to mask. I thought of weather stripping but that would probably let paint seep where you don't want it.
This probably fails the appearance test.

On Friday, August 27, 2021 at 12:13:34 PM UTC-5, gnuarm.del...@gmail.com wrote:
> I need to mask a metal surface adjacent to a plastic border. It needs to be reasonably attractive as it will be in place for some weeks and will be in the sun and heat. The main issue is it needs to not get gummy and leave a residue behind.
>
> I've yet to find a masking tape that doesn't get permanently stuck after a few weeks.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> --
>
> Rick C.
>
> - Get 1,000 miles of free Supercharging
> - Tesla referral code - https://ts.la/richard11209

Using a windshield wiper blade is a silly idea but maybe it will
trigger a useful thought.

On Friday, August 27, 2021 at 10:13:34 AM UTC-7, gnuarm.del...@gmail.com wrote:
> I need to mask a metal surface adjacent to a plastic border. It needs to be reasonably attractive as it will be in place for some weeks and will be in the sun and heat. The main issue is it needs to not get gummy and leave a residue behind.
>
> I've yet to find a masking tape that doesn't get permanently stuck after a few weeks.
>
> Any suggestions?

How about something in the tradition of solder mask? Liquid latex for molds, washable solder mask
(strawberry-goo stuff) and acetone-soluble varnish (nail polish) all can be applied, left in place, and
removed later, with a suitable solvent (or in the case of the latex, just rub or grab and pull it off,
it has low adhesion in any case).

On 08/27/21 18:13, Rick C wrote:
> I need to mask a metal surface adjacent to a plastic border. It needs to be reasonably attractive as it will be in place for some weeks and will be in the sun and heat. The main issue is it needs to not get gummy and leave a residue behind.
>
> I've yet to find a masking tape that doesn't get permanently stuck after a few weeks.
>
> Any suggestions?
>

Powder coating, as in spray powder to article, oven to fuse the
paint, then peel off leaving no residue. Should be good to ~200C...

On Friday, August 27, 2021 at 12:13:34 PM UTC-5, gnuarm.del...@gmail.com wrote:
> I need to mask a metal surface adjacent to a plastic border. It needs to be reasonably attractive as it will be in place for some weeks and will be in the sun and heat. The main issue is it needs to not get gummy and leave a residue behind.
>
> I've yet to find a masking tape that doesn't get permanently stuck after a few weeks.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> --
>
> Rick C.
>
> - Get 1,000 miles of free Supercharging
> - Tesla referral code - https://ts.la/richard11209

Magnetic tape? What do auto body shops use?

fredag den 27. august 2021 kl. 19.13.34 UTC+2 skrev gnuarm.del...@gmail.com:
> I need to mask a metal surface adjacent to a plastic border. It needs to be reasonably attractive as it will be in place for some weeks and will be in the sun and heat. The main issue is it needs to not get gummy and leave a residue behind.
>
> I've yet to find a masking tape that doesn't get permanently stuck after a few weeks.
>
> Any suggestions?
>

why does it have to sit for weeks?

On 28/8/21 4:34 am, Dave Platt wrote:
> In article <0680fbef-5158-4bc7-8626-e594cef2a7d6n@googlegroups.com>,
> Rick C <gnuarm.deletethisbit@gmail.com> wrote:
>> I need to mask a metal surface adjacent to a plastic border. It needs to be reasonably attractive as
>> it will be in place for some weeks and will be in the sun and heat. The main issue is it needs to
>> not get gummy and leave a residue behind.
>>
>> I've yet to find a masking tape that doesn't get permanently stuck after a few weeks.
>> Any suggestions?
>
> The closest approach to that I know of is blue painter's tape - it's
> designed for just that sort of masking-plus-clean-removability

I agree with this response. To be clear, the genuine stuff is made by
3M, and it does come off cleanly even after some time. There may be
clones that are also blus but nothing else comes off as cleanly.

CH

On 2021/08/27 4:47 p.m., Dean Hoffman wrote:
> On Friday, August 27, 2021 at 12:13:34 PM UTC-5, gnuarm.del...@gmail.com wrote:
>> I need to mask a metal surface adjacent to a plastic border. It needs to be reasonably attractive as it will be in place for some weeks and will be in the sun and heat. The main issue is it needs to not get gummy and leave a residue behind.
>>
>> I've yet to find a masking tape that doesn't get permanently stuck after a few weeks.
>>
>> Any suggestions?
>>
>> --
>>
>> Rick C.
>>
>
> Magnetic tape? What do auto body shops use?
>

Along the line of magnetic tape you can buy sheets of magnetic plastic
film - I've used a roll of it for signs etc.

So if the surface is steel it should work.

https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=magnetic+sheets+non+adhesive&crid=1JFKVXMW2777T&sprefix=magnetic+sheet%2Caps%2C226&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_5_14

Many other sources..

John :-#)#

On 8/27/2021 11:34 AM, Dave Platt wrote:
> The closest approach to that I know of is blue painter's tape - it's
> designed for just that sort of masking-plus-clean-removability.
> Unfortunately it seems to be intended mostly for indoor use (no sun
> exposure) and for relatively short applications (a day or three, until
> paint dries).

Try some of the "artist tapes" -- they are applied to *paper*
and remain there for *months* prior to removal. Leaving residue
would be frowned upon as that would potentially ruin the
final artwork in the years/decades that follow.

[3M made an excellent product but it has been discontinued.
Presently, using "steam indicator tape" which is not intended for
this purpose but seems to work well over several months of
application]

You could also explore "linen tape" used for "mounting" artwork
prior to framing. (sometimes called "linen hinges")

> You may end up needing to use this stuff, and wipe it down with some
> Goo Gone to soften the adhesive in order to remove it cleanly.

Note that an artist wouldn't be able to use ANY solvent to
remove the tape that has adhered their paper while they were
creating their work(s).

> Another thing that you might try, is drywall tape. This uses a
> water-soluble glue, which must be moistened before the tape is
> applied... and, I suspect, would come off cleanly afterwards if you
> spray the tape with water well enough to soak it. I don't know how
> well it will bond to a non-porous surface like metal, but it might
> adhere well enough to be useful.

There are different types of drywall tape. E.g., the tape that
I use has *no* adhesive (just a roll of paper that adheres to the
wall because you *embed* it in the mud while taping). Others
have a more traditional "self-adhesive" property. Still others
are "wet to activate", etc.

With a little searching, you can find tapes that are cloth-like,
burlap/gauze-like, etc.

On Fri, 27 Aug 2021 10:13:30 -0700 (PDT), Rick C
<gnuarm.deletethisbit@gmail.com> wrote:

>I need to mask a metal surface adjacent to a plastic border. It needs to be reasonably attractive as it will be in place for some weeks and will be in the sun and heat. The main issue is it needs to not get gummy and leave a residue behind.
>
>I've yet to find a masking tape that doesn't get permanently stuck after a few weeks.
>
>Any suggestions?

The blue (name-brand) blue masking tape from Home Despot, Lowes etc.
is probably the cheapest choice.

You could also consider the polypropylene strapping tape that is used
to imobilize mechanical parts such as printer heads in shipping. It is
designed to leave no residue (rubber adhesive) after storage and
shipping.

https://i.imgur.com/T94V1ke.png
--
Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

On 27/08/2021 18:13, Rick C wrote:

<snip>
>
> I've yet to find a masking tape that doesn't get permanently stuck after a few weeks.

Yes, ordinary masking tape is designed to be temporary! One place I
worked years ago decided to use it for marking cables, and apart from
the sticky mess, it also crumbles after a long period.

--
Cheers
Clive