How to Use Fine Line Masking Tape to Paint a Car

Fine line tapes are versatile tapes that can help professionals to achieve clean, sharp results when painting walls, cars, boats, or even aircraft. In this blog, we’re going to be looking at how body shop professionals can use fine line masking tapes to provide the high-quality results that customers expect.

The JTAPE range of fine line tapes will help you get the perfect result more quickly, saving time and money that can be passed on to customers.

How to Use Fine Line Tapes for Automotive Painting

Fine Line Tapes are a crucial aspect of automotive painting. They allow professionals to apply things like swage lines or two-tone finishes to a vehicle – trends that are becoming increasingly popular.

While each application differs depending on the purpose of the Fine Line Tape, there are some constants in the application. Below, we’ll take a broad look at how you should apply the premium fine line tapes that JTAPE offer.

Step 1: Choose the right tape

JTAPE have various fine line masking tapes that are slightly different so that they can be used in specific circumstances. For this reason, your first step should be deciding on which tape is right for the job based on the unique properties of each tape.

Step 2: Surface preparation

The next step is to prepare the surface. For the tape to adhere to the paint properly, the surface needs to be properly cleaned. Ensure that the surface is free of grease, dirt or dust before moving onto the next step.

Step 3: Apply the tape using the anchor method

When applying the tape, you should use the anchor technique to ensure a smooth application. Draw about 15cm of tape off the roll, anchor the top of the tape to the surface, and use light tension to guide the tape down onto the surface. Ensure the paint-side of the tape is well secured using your thumb.

Step 4: Remove the tape when the paint is almost dry

Removing the tape when the paint is still wet will lead to dripping, but removing the tape when the paint is dry might lead to cracking. Wait until the paint is sticky to the touch, and then gently peel away the tape.

Fine Line Tape Applications in Automotive Painting

Striping – Straight & Curved Lines

Fine line tapes are an incredible tool to use for pinstriping, whether for straight or curved lines.

When pinstriping, these tapes act as a guide to ensure your lines remain uniform and consistent across the vehicle’s bodywork. By using the tape to mask off the areas around your stripe, you can achieve a finish that looks like it came straight from the factory.

Two-tone & Multi-tone Paint Jobs

Two-tone finishes are a popular way to add a high-end look to a vehicle, but they require precision to ensure the transition between colors is seamless. Fine line tapes are used here to create a crisp “break” line. Because fine line tape is thin, it prevents a heavy paint build-up at the edge, meaning you won’t be left with a noticeable ridge once the masking is removed.

Custom Designs

For more bespoke projects, fine line tapes allow technicians to get creative. Whether you are masking out flames, geometric patterns, or unique shapes, the low profile of the tape ensures that even the most complex designs remain sharp. Our Customizing Tape is particularly useful here; it allows you to lay down a wider strip and then pull away sections to create perfectly spaced parallel lines.

Lettering

Lettering requires a high level of accuracy that standard masking tapes simply cannot provide. Fine line tape is used to “draw” the outlines of letters or numbers directly onto the vehicle. Its ability to be manipulated into tight radiuses makes it the ideal tool for script-style lettering or bold block fonts.

Introducing JTAPE Fine Line Tapes

At JTAPE, we have developed a comprehensive range of fine line masking tapes to suit every automotive application. Recognizing that different jobs require different levels of flexibility and heat resistance, our range includes:

Purple Fine Line Tape

Purple Fine Line Tape is a medium-flexibility tape that is excellent for general-purpose masking and can withstand curing oven temperatures.

Orange Fine Line Tape

Orange Fine Line Tape is Thinner and even more flexible, making it the go-to choice for masking tight curves on plastic bumpers or side mirrors.

Customizing Tape

Customizing Tape is the ultimate tool for pinstriping and bespoke designs, allowing for multiple stripes from a single application.

Each tape in our collection is designed to leave no adhesive residue and provide the sharpest possible paint edge. To see which tape is best suited for your specific project, we recommend using our Fine Line Masking Tape comparison guide to view the full specifications.