Vinyl mask removal

[rossb]

I just painted my base colors and I'm ready to remove my vinyl masks to paint the masked designs. My masks have some small pieces, what is the best way to remove the mask without damaging the surrounding base color areas? Some of the small pieces look like they will be very difficult to get off.

 

[scoobydoo2u]

Wait for feedback from the other members, but I believe you use a razor blade or exacto knife blade point to left the edge with out scratching the body behind the mask.

I'm not positive, but I believe thats how it's done.

 

[NCNitro]

I use an exacto knife, get under a corner and carefully lift it intil I can grab it with a pair of tweezers. Then I try and keep the mask as close to the body as I peel it back rather than up.

 

[Lessen]

I use a pin instead of my exacto but that's trivial. However I don't like to get under the masj from the outside.. that is the paint side, not the mask side. I prefer to lift from within the masked section so I don't mar up the freshly painted edge. I use a pin to "poke and lift" the mask about 2-4mm inside the edge. once you get a corner or edge lifted your in good shape.

 

[Candyman]

I always worry about scratches, so I use a sharp toothpick to lift a corner or point and then peel it slowly off.

 

[rossb]

Thanks.

 

[rossb]

This paint I am using seems to be fairly thick and it is bonding with the mask edges. I never had this problem before.

I tried a toothpick and I started to damage the surrounding paint. An exacto works but I tend to scratch the lexan when doing that. I also was able to get some small pieces to lift by sticking a piece of tape to them, and then pulling the tape off.

 

[Candyman]

That's a problem I've had before. The only real safe way I've seen to address it is to score the perimeter of the mask with the x-acto blade before peeling. It's a bit extra work, but it keeps from ruining the paint. I have the most trouble with metallics, especially silver. That seems to set up like aluminum foil inside the body.