Another Taping Question

[brims]

I've read several opinions on taping, do it, don't do it, tape only while polishing, tape for polishing and waxing. Someone had mentioned that if you tape for polishing and leave it on, you could knock stray polishing particles loose while waxing.

I'm thinking I should tape for polishing and waxing, for those that do, do you tape, polish, remove tape, wipe off any stray polishing compound, then reapply tape, then wax? I see how this would be the best way, but I can also see where this would be horrible as far as time goes.

[RaskyR1]

Re: Another Taping Question

I tape only durring polishing and will remove it for waxing. I just take my time on waxing not to get it on the trim.

It really varies on a car to car basis though. Some cars I won't tape at all, other require a lot of taping.

[john m.]

Re: Another Taping Question

^yeah, I find that my car really doesnt require much tape. And like rasky said, if you are careful while waxing and not flailing your arms everywhere you probably shouldnt have to worry to much about waxing without tape.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Another Taping Question

Taping is good for things like pebble textured black plastic trim and rubber and plastic gaskets/trim.


What are you working on?

[brims]

Re: Another Taping Question

I'll be working on an 08 Silverado with my new DA (and other new products). As I think about it, I don't think it will take that much to tape it all up.

The door handles, the plastic near the hood hinges, the badges, and maybe the edges of the door bump protectors (they have some sharp edges that could mess up the pads) is what I'm thinking I'll do. Thanks for the input guys.

[Bounty]

Re: Another Taping Question

I'll be working on an 08 Silverado with my new DA (and other new products). As I think about it, I don't think it will take that much to tape it all up.

The door handles, the plastic near the hood hinges, the badges, and maybe the edges of the door bump protectors (they have some sharp edges that could mess up the pads) is what I'm thinking I'll do. Thanks for the input guys.

I like to tape up only when polishing and do so in the areas I know I'll be using a big pad (5.5" and up) where you don't have as much "overbuff" control as say a 4" pad.

Typically I'll tape up trim, emblems, any metal parts, near glass, and turn signals/marker lamps/etc.

Here's a few examples of my partial taping process from a recent BMW detail:





Nevermind the tape stripe going down the middle of the trunk as that is from a test spot...





Hope this helps...

[Ivan Rajic]

Re: Another Taping Question

^^ perfect taping job and exactly what I tape as well...

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Another Taping Question

I tape so I have less clean up at the end. I just try to tape what is necessary. That is a good tape job.

[brims]

Re: Another Taping Question

I like to tape up only when polishing and do so in the areas I know I'll be using a big pad (5.5" and up) where you don't have as much "overbuff" control as say a 4" pad.

Typically I'll tape up trim, emblems, any metal parts, near glass, and turn signals/marker lamps/etc.

Here's a few examples of my partial taping process from a recent BMW detail:





Nevermind the tape stripe going down the middle of the trunk as that is from a test spot...





Hope this helps...

That helped out. I taped up anything I thought I didn't want polished, something similar to this, not as much. My black rubber around the windows are a little recessed it seems, so I didn't have to worry about those.

Thanks for all the replies. My first real exterior detail went pretty well.