One of the last things I have left to do on my '67 is to paint the gas cap cover and I am finding it a real pain to mask off. Are there any tips or tricks to masking off the crossed flags besides using fineline tape, an x-acto knife and a few hours time?
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Re: Best way to mask off crossed flags on gas lid?
Scott,
That's all I have left to paint on my 67 and I have been walking around it because I know it will be difficult.
I did it 2 or 3 different ways in the past and the 1st was to take a fine paint brush and put grease on the places I didn't want paint to stick (thin chrome), then wipe off the grease off the chrome when the paint dried.
That worked good but not my choice on the 67 cover.
I also had a job look great by streatching a cloth like a hankie around my fingertip that had acetone on it, then wiping the paint off the chrome as it dried. That also worked when the paint was almost dry, Q-tip with acetone works also.
One other way was to take a fine paint brush and do it by hand, spraying thinner over the fresh paint as I painted it so it would level out the brush marks.
A Q-tip would work removing the thinner in the unpainted areas as well as wiping any paint off the thin chrome borders.
I did my cluster, (both the flat & satin) that way and it is awesome, but there was masking between the flat & satin needed. The cloth & Q-tip in acetone wiped the chrome around the instruments and the names over the switches.
DOM -
Re: Best way to mask off crossed flags on gas lid?
Thanks Dom, I should have mentioned that this is BC/CC and metallic, I'm not sure a brush will work for me. I used the rag and thinner technique to do my instrument cluster as well, very easy and turned out great.Comment
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Re: Best way to mask off crossed flags on gas lid?
Scott,
Me also, BC/CC and green metallic. I was thinking more of the red & white in the flags that's on the gas door.
I will spray my green first, then do the flags last.
My latest excuse is that I need to wait till it cools off here.
DOMComment
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Re: Best way to mask off crossed flags on gas lid?
Scott, I watched an Auburn Cord Duesy restorer do one many years ago. He used masking tape then went around it with an Exacto knife. A couple minutes after painting he removed the tape carefully to prevent chipping. Jim spent quite a long time with the knife and he had a very steady (he also lettered my helmets by hand) hand but it came out straight and a good looking job.
SteveComment
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Re: Best way to mask off crossed flags on gas lid?
There's a product you can buy at hobby shops, called "Bare Metal Foil". It's a thin silver foil material, that I think was originally created for builders of model airplanes. You laid it against the surface that you wanted to cover, and rubbed it down. It was thin enough that it followed all of the contours, and even formed around a fuselage's rivets. When model car builders discovered it, they started using it for chrome trim and emblems. You rub it down on them emblem, and then trim off the excess with a hobby knife.
It's very thin, and is easily trimmed, making it a pretty good material to use for masking. It's pretty easy to scrape or peal off after. I might practice on an old lid, or something else first, butI would think that it would work very well, for masking off the 67 gas lid flag emblem. I just wouldn't put the paint on too thick.Comment
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Re: Best way to mask off crossed flags on gas lid?
Scott,
Took a look at my gas door and realized that I gave you the info that worked on a badge and not a set of cross flags thatare chrome to the base od the gas door.
I think Glen has the best Idea.
After looking at mr gas door again I know why it;s still sirring on the (to do) bench.
DOMComment
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Re: Best way to mask off crossed flags on gas lid?
Glen has a very good idea, but what I use is a little different although similar.
In the Heating and Air Conditioning industry there is a tape called "Foil Tape". It is essentially foil with glue on the back of it.
It is very easy to bend and follow contours as if you were using foil, yet it sticks where you put it because of the glue.
It typically comes off very easily and on occasion it my take a little heat from a heat gun to get some of the more difficult pieces off.
In my opinion it is definitely worth a try.
When you go to buy it it looks like a roll of foil about 1 1/2" wide.Comment
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Re: Best way to mask off crossed flags on gas lid?
Thanks for the ideas guys, quick update though, I sprayed it with some liquid masking. It needs to dry overnight, tomorrow I'll trim it and see how it works.Comment
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Re: Best way to mask off crossed flags on gas lid?
Nex time I post I will find my glasses before I type.
DOMComment
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Re: Best way to mask off crossed flags on gas lid?
Success, I used Bob Divey spray on liquid mask from a hobby store, and trimmed around the flags. The stuff tears pretty easy and it took me two time of coating to get it right but I'm happy with it and for me it was easier than using fineline tape. I had too much wicking with the primer and tape, no wicking with the paint.mask.jpgCamera360_2013_8_18_081807.jpgComment
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Re: Best way to mask off crossed flags on gas lid?
Scott,
It turned out really nice. Do you have any more pictures of different steps you took. Even though it may seem like there is not much to see it sure would be nice to see a few pictures during prep.
My gun is coming out today for first color. Trim pieces, grates and a bunch of other small stuff.
Wish me lick,
MComment
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Re: Best way to mask off crossed flags on gas lid?
Monte,
The liquid masking comes in an aerosol or in cans and can be brushed on. It is similar to the mask that you see on wooden doors and windows at the home center. This is usually sprayed on and can be easily scraped off after painting.
PaulComment
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Re: Best way to mask off crossed flags on gas lid?
Monte, I don't have any other photos. Its pretty straightforward, warm the part with a hair dryer so it sticks to the chrome better, than spray it on with two heavy coats. Dry overnight, then use plenty of new xacto blades, I used a magnifying headset since I can't see for beans up close and trim away. Then paint and clear coat. I scored around the masked off area first before peeling off the masking. I had some dust in the clear which required sanding with 2000 wet, and then hand buffed with various buffing/polishing compounds while the chrome surround was still masked off.Comment
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