Liquid Mask Tutorial (picture intensive)

[Silent]

So, you got that new airbrush for Christmas and considering Liquid Mask?
At first it's intimidating, but once you try it, you'll never go back. I hope this tutorial will get you to try it, you will love it!

This tutorial starts in assuming that you have the body prepped and washed.

 

[Mayhem]

Very Nice tutorial! Check your PM's

 

[Lessen]

NICE JOB! I want to do a #42 Mcmurray but I'm too anal about having everything on the car. There's no way I could do any other small sponsors. But that's one hell of a job w/o decals.

Now go paint that rear window rail! hehe

 

[robmob]

Sweet work.

 

[Lessen]

Is that an A4?

 

[Candyman]

NIce tutorial. I have used BD liquid mask before and have had trouble peeling it off between coats. Have you experienced that? Is it because it's too thin? Or does the paint do something to it? It just seemed like it didn't want to come off easily. It ripped into tiny little pieces and was a pain in the butt.

 

[DarthRacer]

NIce tutorial. I have used BD liquid mask before and have had trouble peeling it off between coats. Have you experienced that? Is it because it's too thin? Or does the paint do something to it? It just seemed like it didn't want to come off easily. It ripped into tiny little pieces and was a pain in the butt.

I had that problem too and I swore I would never use the stuff again. I read a maksing article in a mag recently and the trick is to use THICK coats of mask letting it dry well between coats and very sharp blades on your knife. I may try it again soon.

 

[Lessen]

I'm tellin ya, you guys gotta use Plasti-Dip spray. You'll never use anything else.

It's sprayed rubber, stretches like crazy. 3 coats takes 10 minutes and you're good to go. Kinda expensive but it works great. (definately gotta spray it outside though)

 

[ImBroken]

Hey Lessen, got a link to that stuff ??

As far as Bob Dively's liquid mask, I had the same problems that Candy & Darth spoke of... What a pain in the ass...
BUT.... After doing some more research, I found that I was doing it all wrong.
You do, in fact, need at least 4, very heavy coats of this stuff, for it to work well. In an article I read, the painter actually suggested pouring in a large puddle of the stuff, then spreading it around with a brush. When done right, it works extremely well. Working the exacto is the tricky part... lol I've read that holding the exacto near the end & lightly dragging it, makes for straighter lines..

Silent, awesome tutorial man... Great job.. This could possibly become a sticky in the Body Shop forum.. Thanks..

 

[Lessen]

Here's a link from where I got it. Price ain't too bad ($5.50/can) but shipping kicks it up to the expensive bracket, I don't remember how much though. But if you figure how much you can use it it's not too bad I don't think. I've done both NASCAR bodies so far with one can plus fiddling around with painting practice, I'd guess I got enough for another body... maybe 2, but that's probably pushin it.

Quilter's Husband

 

[ImBroken]

Does it leave any residues behind, that need to be cleaned off before dropping paint? Easy to cut & remove? I definately like the idea of spraying it on....
Thanks Lessen, I'll have to try it out... I'll have the wife check for it at the craft stores for me...

 

[NCNitro]

Great tutorial man! But I personally will never use liquid mask again. As we speak I am having a hell of a time removing it from a body I am working on. The large areas pull clean fairly easily, however the smaller areas are a total bitch. I am about to say f-it and just flat black the damn body.

If its just spray plasti-dip, it should be available at home depot.

 

[Lessen]

Does it leave any residues behind, that need to be cleaned off before dropping paint? Easy to cut & remove? I definately like the idea of spraying it on....
Thanks Lessen, I'll have to try it out... I'll have the wife check for it at the craft stores for me...

As far as I can tell no, there is no residue. I havn't had a problem so far. it's extremely easy cut, very light pressure (the really good thing is that because it's rubber it has a bit of grip against the razor blade, therefore it's harde to slip) from the sound of all the complaints I've read about using other types of liquid masks it's far superior when it comes to removing. because it stretches so well you can pull it out and away from the line giving a super nice and clean line. Like I said it's got a lot of grip so it bonds EXTREMELY well to the lexan, it takes a good amount of tuggin to get it off. But it's strong so it doesn't break into little itsy bitsy pieces like other types of stuff. I just use a little pin needle to lightly pry up a corner then grab it with my other hand. and again, because it's so grippy it's easy to get the pin into it (w/o scratchin the body) because it doesn't slide around. yes, you can get it at Lowes or Home Depot however I had to get it from the NET because they didn't carry clear. I guarantee, you guys use this stuff once and you'll never use any other liquid mask again. hell, you may not ever use tape again! well, maybe that's pushin it. hehehe

oh btw, my only painting experience has been with Faskolor but I've also found that it won't pick up paint. So you can use it for doing layered schemes also!.

 

[ImBroken]

What the hell.... Just ordered 2 cans to try out... How many coats you put on, and is it pretty clear when dry? Enough to see a sharpie line on the opposite side? Thanks for the link btw...

 

[Lessen]

It'll be foggy but still easy to see through. you can use a soft artist pencil also since it has texture (erasable!)

Those sharpie lines are on the inside.. see how foggyit is

I do three somewhat heavy coats. doesn't take very long to dry. use a hair dryer but do it outside. It odor is real strong even after it's dry.

 

[Silent]

Hey guys, glad you enjoyed the Tute. I've heard it can be a pain if its too thin. You want to put 4-6 coats of it on. They don't need to be thick coats, just coat the lexan, let it dry and coat again..(and again, and again) I'll brush coats against the last grain sometimes, but I don't think it matters. I've done it with as little as three coats, and its worked ok. I've read some like 6. **It'll seem THICK when your putting it on, but it dries very, very THIN.**

Lessen, what is an "A4" ? Rail in the back? You are a stickler for details! But then your bodies show that! And the Plasti-dip spray looks good too, if toxic though. The Bob Dively's liquid mask is water-base, and the brush cleans up with soap and water (cleaned between coats).

 

[Lessen]

you're touring car.. kinda looks like an Audi A4 from that angle. I was just curious.

I was referring to the rail that's on the rear window on the left side, for stabilizing. I just noticed you didn't paint it. I was just with ya. Just a little fun, I don't mean anything by it.

oh, sorry bout stealin you're thread bro. It's a really good tutorial, lotsa peole will wanna check this thread out. Again, good job!

 

[R40Victim]

The body is a Vauhall Astra, closest thing I could find to a VW jetta. I'm the proud new owner, ran it in its first race today. On the Pro4 it handles perfectly. I'm still adapting to the oneway front diff, but otherwise, it turned out awsome.

 

[Mayhem]

You can now see this tip here so it won't fade into the archives.

 

[Silent]

Naw, I'm flattered by the note about the stabilizer detail Lessen. It tells me your looking at it pretty close. I never really gave it any thought. I did mean to paint yellow pinstrips on the flames, and kind of forgot <G>. The internet pictures of Jeffy's car that I used for reference shows the deck lid and rear body red too, but my "artistic vision" didn't see it that way. haha I find the differences between the Nascar lids you've done, and mine interesting. I think we can both learn something. The detail on yours are outstanding. I hope I see more, as I'm doing an Earnhardt JR car in a couple months. Maybe you, me and NCNitro can compare our #8 paintjobs. I think you both said you have the sheets.

Yeah, that body handled well on your Pro4 today Brad (R40Victim). I thought you would launch it off a disc like you do the R40, but the thing handled so well, you were never in any danger of scratching the roof <G>. Glad you like it.