Body/Paintwork protection
Discussion
hi all,
I've just joined the forum so my first post here. I've just ordered a 175 SV Roadsport which I take delivery of in November. At the moment I'm kitting out my garage awaiting it's arrival. I have a(very) simple question which I would like some input/thoughts on. As I will be spending £2K on a nice paintjob I don't want to damage it during the build and am looking at the best way to protect it. Is masking tape and cardboard the best way to go? My concern is leaving the masking tape on for any extended time period will remove the finish from the paintwork when I remove it. cheers for any advice on what has worked for others and apologies if this has been covered before.
Paul
I've just joined the forum so my first post here. I've just ordered a 175 SV Roadsport which I take delivery of in November. At the moment I'm kitting out my garage awaiting it's arrival. I have a(very) simple question which I would like some input/thoughts on. As I will be spending £2K on a nice paintjob I don't want to damage it during the build and am looking at the best way to protect it. Is masking tape and cardboard the best way to go? My concern is leaving the masking tape on for any extended time period will remove the finish from the paintwork when I remove it. cheers for any advice on what has worked for others and apologies if this has been covered before.
Paul
I would expect a £2k paint finish to be able to withstand a bit of masking tape! In fact, in my book, a £2k paint job should come with a roll of automotive low-tack masking tape, especially if the customer asks nicely. Just ensure you pay particular attention to the front upper wishbone location, front brake hose penetration through the side skin, any roll cage or roll bar mounting points, bonnet fixings and catches and external wing and rear suspension mountings. Be aware also of the risk of fluid spillage, particularly brake fluid.
In my experience the most effective protection against accidental damage is NEVER continuing to work on the car whilst impatient, pissed off, irked or desperate! Oh and keep EVERYONE else away from it. And your pets.
In my experience the most effective protection against accidental damage is NEVER continuing to work on the car whilst impatient, pissed off, irked or desperate! Oh and keep EVERYONE else away from it. And your pets.
You're right to be concerned about normal masking tape.
If it's left on for too long, the glue is a barsteward to get off!
The stuff you want is 3M Scotch painters tape. The model # is 2090. (It's blue in colour) they say you can leave it on for a week, but from personal experience, you can leave it much for longer.
I work on yachts, and I use it for masking up for varnish.
Due to the size of the jobs, and the weather (It's O.K. to get it wet, which with normal masking will leave the glue behind) it's sometimes on for over a week, and it always comes off easily when you want it to.
Use it to tape cardboard to the side panels.
Get some foam pipe lagging for the chassis tubes too. Handy for putting the engine in without chipping the powder coating.
Enjoy the build. And Welcome.
If it's left on for too long, the glue is a barsteward to get off!
The stuff you want is 3M Scotch painters tape. The model # is 2090. (It's blue in colour) they say you can leave it on for a week, but from personal experience, you can leave it much for longer.
I work on yachts, and I use it for masking up for varnish.
Due to the size of the jobs, and the weather (It's O.K. to get it wet, which with normal masking will leave the glue behind) it's sometimes on for over a week, and it always comes off easily when you want it to.
Use it to tape cardboard to the side panels.
Get some foam pipe lagging for the chassis tubes too. Handy for putting the engine in without chipping the powder coating.
Enjoy the build. And Welcome.
The comments above are absolutely spot on. I just finished my build (waiting for the MOT, post-build check is complete). I bought a pack of thick card from Staples to tape up big areas. I used a German brand of tape (Tesa band), but that is neither a recommendation nor a warning. The only tape that was tough to remove was some protective tape caterham left on near the front bonnet catches. Replace this asap.
I was building an EU spec model, so certain things tripped me up, but these probably won't be relevant for you.
Take your time, don't rush. There may be things missing from the kit. Work through the puzzle, and have fun. Avoiding working when tired, too.
Oh, if you have a spare tyre holder at the back, check the backet before drilling out the popper above the spare wheel boss. You may find that the bracket doesn't fit and you need to drill holes lower down. Also, if your rivet gun doesn't fit inside the poppers when riveting, use a couple of very small nuts as a spacer.
And ask (forum or Caterham if something doesn't seem right). And have lots of tea breaks.
I was building an EU spec model, so certain things tripped me up, but these probably won't be relevant for you.
Take your time, don't rush. There may be things missing from the kit. Work through the puzzle, and have fun. Avoiding working when tired, too.
Oh, if you have a spare tyre holder at the back, check the backet before drilling out the popper above the spare wheel boss. You may find that the bracket doesn't fit and you need to drill holes lower down. Also, if your rivet gun doesn't fit inside the poppers when riveting, use a couple of very small nuts as a spacer.
And ask (forum or Caterham if something doesn't seem right). And have lots of tea breaks.
Always worth being a forum member!
I should add that automotive paint 'goes off' quite slowly- two weeks is a general rule before the paint is fully cured, but it continues to harden for years.
If you're really concerned about damaging the paint, don't stick anything to it for two weeks after the paint is applied. Of course, you could cover everything without applying a single bit of adhesive to the paint if you get a bit creative with your taping methods, i.e. wrap the masking paper/cardboard around the panelled parts, and tape the edges together on the inside of the engine bay.
I tend to worry less than most because my car is a racer and is regularly plastered with very sticky vinyl stickers, which get unceremoniously torn off every year or two. Only recently, with the paint being 10 years old and undermined by corrosion of the aluminium, has the paint started to flake off in places. It was originally painted by TSK.
I should add that automotive paint 'goes off' quite slowly- two weeks is a general rule before the paint is fully cured, but it continues to harden for years.
If you're really concerned about damaging the paint, don't stick anything to it for two weeks after the paint is applied. Of course, you could cover everything without applying a single bit of adhesive to the paint if you get a bit creative with your taping methods, i.e. wrap the masking paper/cardboard around the panelled parts, and tape the edges together on the inside of the engine bay.
I tend to worry less than most because my car is a racer and is regularly plastered with very sticky vinyl stickers, which get unceremoniously torn off every year or two. Only recently, with the paint being 10 years old and undermined by corrosion of the aluminium, has the paint started to flake off in places. It was originally painted by TSK.
mickrick said:
Just to add, if you're patient and take your time, you shouldn't need it.
I didn't mask mine at all. Except the exposed black powder coated parts of the chassis when I polished the bare alluminium.
Then I just assembled the suspension with care.
Unfortunately (or fortunately) I work in the oil and gas industry and one thing I have learned over the last 25 years is 'if something can go wrong.....it will'. Hence the reason for my question. I am reasonably patient but I know that all it takes is one moment of rashness and all is undone!I didn't mask mine at all. Except the exposed black powder coated parts of the chassis when I polished the bare alluminium.
Then I just assembled the suspension with care.
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