Swirls Underneath Blue Tape

Marc08EX

Marc08EX

New member
Hey everyone!



Just a quick question... We know that taping is a necessary step in detailing a car. This allows us to protect the areas we don't want cleaner/polishes to hit. Here's my question... Some people also tape the spaces in between body panels (i.e. the space between the hood and the fender. The space between the fender and the door. ETC) Since the tape covered up a little bit of paint on each panel, would there be swirls left in these areas? What's the solution to this?



I myself don't tape over these spaces but it might be good practice.



Thanks!
 
bri7 said:
Hey everyone!



Just a quick question... We know that taping is a necessary step in detailing a car. This allows us to protect the areas we don't want cleaner/polishes to hit. Here's my question... Some people also tape the spaces in between body panels (i.e. the space between the hood and the fender. The space between the fender and the door. ETC) Since the tape covered up a little bit of paint on each panel, would there be swirls left in these areas? What's the solution to this?



I myself don't tape over these spaces but it might be good practice.



Thanks!
Click to expand...
If you tape an area that means you dont want your polish to touch that area. Why would there be swirls there? Dont quite understand your question. If there were swirls on the taped panel why would you tape it in the first place?
 
Pic taken from Grouse:

26_115_concoursIMG_4335-01_lg.jpg




I'm talking about when he taped the space between the front hood and the front bumper. He probably didn't want the product to build up in the space but the tape covered a slight part paint on both the hood and the bumper. When inspected, you'll probably see some swirls where the paint was originally placed.



Pic taken from Grouse:

26_111_caddy_SRXIMG_4188-01_lg.jpg




I'm talking about when he taped the space between the rear passenger side door and the rear quarter panel.



Pic taken from JoshVette: (perfect example)

DSC06249.jpg




I'm talking about the tape between the front door and front fender. The tape between the front door and the rear quarter panel. The tape between the front fender and the front bumper. ETC!!!



Pic taken from JoshVette: (perfect example)

DSC06248.jpg




I'm talking about the tape between the front hood and the front bumper. The tape between the front fender and the hood. ETC!!!



Pic taken from JoseVette (perfect example)

DSC06252.jpg




I'm talking about the tape between the sunroof and the roof itself.
 
BigAl3 said:
why not take a foam applicator and polish and work it in around those areas...
Click to expand...



well my question is why do we need to tape it up? If there's no tape in the first place then the swirls will be corrected in these areas.
 
bri7 said:
well my question is why do we need to tape it up?
Click to expand...



one reason is you don't want to burn through the paint since it's pretty thin at the edges (just in case the two panels aren't at the same height) ...
 
yeah with a pc or flex i dont see the need for taping between panels. with a rotary yes, unless you are really good. but then again i wouldnt chance a rotary with out tape
 
WOW...lots of tape on that Porsche! But I can see the reasoning. I use some tape at the shop. Primarily where the sheet metal meets the plastic cladding (bumpers, rocker panels, etc). The other areas get power washed after rotary work to remove excess product.



The Porsche might not have had the availability of power washing and taping will definitely make clean up a breeze.



Toto
 
The other thing you have to remember is that some of these seams are where 2 panels, made of different materials come together. In other words, there might be a seam between a steel hood, and a plastic bumper. I like to tape these, because different materials generate heat at different rates. I would hate to go across a seam, and have the edge of the steel hood looking perfect, but burn the edge of the plastic bumper for instance.
 
BigAl3 said:
one reason is you don't want to burn through the paint since it's pretty thin at the edges (just in case the two panels aren't at the same height) ...
Click to expand...



WOW! Thanks for the response! I didn't know it was because of this reason. I've always thought that people don't want to get some products in those tight spaces since it's hard to remove...



:goodjob
 
yes, don't learn the hard way that crossing a rotary from panel to panel is not a good idea due to slightly different heights, thinner paint, etc. That is a mistake you make only once...
 
If the scratches are too deep to remove by regular polishing or oxidized, i don't tape, because you will have noticeable unpolished areas. Otherwise, I remove before the 2nd stage of a 3 stage polish, so that the less aggresive polishes have a chance to work those areas and blend. I usually don't have to tape though.
 
i think that you can go over the taped areas by hand after you're done... i do door handles and such by hand now that i've burnt mine lol... the more mistakes i make the wiser i become!
 
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