Painting Fuchs--taping advice needed

TopsailBeach · TopsailBeach's Garage

What's the best tape to use to mask the lip of a wheel from the black petal area? I'm assuming a fine line tape to allow for the curves, followed by something wider.

Any experienced folks able to help?

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Not rocket science...I've used blue painter's tape and other times electrical tape....1-2 inch, sometimes less....whatever is laying around.

89911 · 03-25-2006, 09:19 AM

The tape is not as important as the time it takes to do it right. I used thinner tape to to the bends and used reference marks to keep the petals uniform.

Ohio911guy · 03-25-2006, 12:15 PM

89911, What did you use to strip the wheels with, and did you polish them before or after you painted them?

msk1986911 · 03-25-2006, 01:15 PM

I used blue electrical tape since it is pretty flexible. The color difference between the painted portion of the wheel and the tape made the tape job easier.

89911 · 03-25-2006, 02:33 PM

There are so many articles I would just be repeating myself. Do a search with "fuchs" and "polish" or "refinish" and you should find a boatload.

coloradoporsche · 03-25-2006, 04:52 PM

Masking tape will do. Lots of little pieces will make a circle.

S2GART · S2GART's Garage

I used 2 inch wide blue painter's tape. I wetn around the rim, but wasn't being too careful because I followed up using a very sharp utility knife to go around the edge.

juanbenae · juanbenae's Garage

masking wheels is one of those jobs you get good at just about the time you are done.

another is reinstalling the rubber trim on your rocker panels.

Dantilla · 03-25-2006, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by k911sc
masking wheels is one of those jobs you get good at just about the time you are done.

another is reinstalling the rubber trim on your rocker panels.

Hmmmm..........

Two jobs I'm facing right now.

gr8fl4porsche · gr8fl4porsche's Garage

I used 3M automotive masking tape - the blue plastic stuff about a half inch wide then followed with 3M blue painters tape to cover the rest of the wheel. When you are done painting - trace the edge of the tape with a razor blade to make sure you do not pull any of the fresh paint off.

Brant · 03-25-2006, 07:43 PM

professional body shops sell fine line tape.
its worth it for 5$

I use a 1/8 inch wide blue vinyl fine line type.

the beauty of the fine line is that it will make the corners as mentioned above, but also it is designed to leave a fine line and does not require the razor blade trick for removal. It is specifically designed to leave a very sharp paint break or transition between painted and unpainted surfaces.

DarrylD · 03-25-2006, 09:06 PM

When I restored my Fuchs, I made this masking tool to speed the taping stage. I took some sheet aluminum cut it to fit the area between the spokes, then stapled wood to the back to step it out to where I wanted the paint line to be. Note the cut-out for the valve stem.

.

The task of masking was reduced to a couple minutes per wheel because I could cover the spokes with masking tape and then put this tool into the gap between the spokes and cut along the edge of the aluminum sheeting with a razor blade.

The result is 100% uniform spoke masking on all 4 wheels.

moneymanager · 03-26-2006, 06:36 AM

Use the blue 3M product...about 1/4" wide and made for pin-striping by pros. Do the lines you are going to paint up to with this, and cover the rest of the protected areas with anything that sticks. Carefully pull the tape off before it dries, to give a slight bevel to the edge of the paint. Avoid (at the critical edge) normal household masking tape, which can work fine but which can also occasionally leave you with an ugly smear.

juanbenae · juanbenae's Garage

Darryl D, can look like a white fred sanford in his avatar shot, and have all the spare time i don't to do the stuff i am not smart enough to figure out, nor the time to even do it half assed.

DD thinks first, does second, and ends up better off for it. don't know if it's all the beers or not, but i think he's the tops.

bmgmd · bmgmd's Garage

Just did this myself. Used electrical tape around the rim then blue painter's tape.

Nine9six · Nine9six's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Ohio911guy
89911, What did you use to strip the wheels with, and did you polish them before or after you painted them?

Do you seriously think he had them polished AFTER paint?
If so, 89911 is extremely talented in achieving a uniform polish right up to the edge of the paint.
Did you use one of those super micro dremmel polishing tools?

}{arlequin · }{arlequin's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by k911sc
Darryl D, can look like a white fred sanford in his avatar shot, and have all the spare time i don't to do the stuff i am not smart enough to figure out, nor the time to even do it half assed.

DD thinks first, does second, and ends up better off for it. don't know if it's all the beers or not, but i think he's the tops.

LOL he's my hero too... not only inventive but also very entertaining. i still laugh at the "fuch polishing fool" tag line

VaSteve · 05-10-2006, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by }{arlequin
i still laugh at the "fuch polishing fool" tag line

The funny thing is when you mention it in in-person conversation and everyone knows what you're talking about. We all spend too much time here.

I'll have to say that tool is crafty!

I used blue painter's tape on my cookie cutter track wheels. I found that it didn't bend enough and I had to use a lot of little pieces. I will try electrical tape for the Fuchs - this summer, I swear.

Wil Ferch · 10:54 AM

black electrical tape works well...leaves a fine edge and can be "stetched" around compund curves....

no need to make this complicated....

- Wil