How soon can I tape freshly sprayed single stage?

[MAKZ06]

I’m spraying the Motocryl single stage this week. I sprayed the back side of the doors and need to tape and mask-off that side when I spray the outside… Yeah, should have built a jig to hold them and spray both sides at once.
How soon after the spray can I safely tape that shiny new paint?

 

[RenewAP]

There's no way to tell for sure. It depends on the paint thickness, temps, activator used, ect. The simple answer is, only after the solvents have all left the paint. Time in the sunshine will do the most good. If you think it is cured enough, try taping a inconspicuous spot for a few hours, then see if it leaves tape marks when removed.

 

[Chris_Hamilton]

To be safe you need to give it some time, 3 days in the sun would be a good idea. Generally anywhere from 2-5 days. Personally I would give it 5 days with several of those days in the sun. When you do tape, get the tape on and off as quickly as possible. Mask just before you paint and you want to be unmasking shortly after (10 minutes or so) you paint. Unmask while it's still wet and you have less trouble with paint peeling along with your masking. You never want to leave mask and tape on something fresh for more than 12 hours, even after the above recommendations.

 

[MAKZ06]

To be safe you need to give it some time, 3 days in the sun would be a good idea. Generally anywhere from 2-5 days. Personally I would give it 5 days with several of those days in the sun. When you do tape, get the tape on and off as quickly as possible. Mask just before you paint and you want to be unmasking shortly after (10 minutes or so) you paint. Unmask while it's still wet and you have less trouble with paint peeling along with your masking. You never want to leave mask and tape on something fresh for more than 12 hours, even after the above recommendations.

Well that’s unfortunate. Didn’t think this all the way through like I thought I had. Crap! Not sure what to do now. Was on a tight schedule and headed out of town for over a month at the end of the week. I may just have to tape those folded over edges on the backside and touch-up later if/where the paint pulls off.
thank you

 

[OJ86]

I dont think the paint will pull off if prepped properly, it will just mark up the paint where the tape was applied. Light sand and polish will fix it.

 

[MAKZ06]

I dont think the paint will pull off if prepped properly, it will just mark up the paint where the tape was applied. Like sand and polish will fix it.

That‘s encouraging. Tape will only have to be applied on those edges of the door skin that fold over to the backside and i think I can attach to the inside of the window rails below the exposed edges. Plan to sand the entire job job anyway. Thanks

 

[MJM]

To decrease the tapes adhesive, pull a piece of tape off the roll and slide the adhesive side across your pant leg or shirt. It will still have enough adhesive to hold itself in place on the car. I've done this several times with good results.

 

[MAKZ06]

To decrease the tapes adhesive, pull a piece of tape off the roll and slide the adhesive side across your pant leg or shirt. It will still have enough adhesive to hold itself in place on the car. I've done this several times with good results.

Thanks. I’ll do that. I was thinking I would tape it to something still in epoxy first, pull it off and then apply where I wanted. dusty pant leg would probably work better.

 

[MJM]

Thanks. I’ll do that. I was thinking I would tape it to something still in epoxy first, pull it off and then apply where I wanted. dusty pant leg would probably work better.

Pulling off of epoxy would work, however, I wouldn't use a dusty pant leg. It would probably kill all the adhesive, and I would want dust particles near when spraying.

 

[MAKZ06]

Pulling off of epoxy would work, however, I wouldn't use a dusty pant leg. It would probably kill all the adhesive, and I would want dust particles near when spraying.

Thanks, that’s what I did. Needed long pieces and handy to peel them off the side of the bed as needed.

 

[MAKZ06]

I was able to get it on and off without any problems. It had cured around 20 hours before I applied the tape.
would not have tried it if it was going anywhere other than those back pinched edges of the door skins and inside the window track.
thanks everyone for the help and quick responses.

 

[MJM]

Good to hear everything worked out.

Out of curiosity, what color tape did you use?

 

[MAKZ06]

Good to hear everything worked out.

Out of curiosity, what color tape did you use?

I did not use my Scotch green or yellow auto-specific masking tape. They just seemed way too sticky. I grabbed some of my Duck brand blue easy release tape.

 

[Lizer]

When I painted a camper with Motorcryl I gave it minimum overnight per Barry’s advice to tape and mask. It was sitting outside the entire time though. No problems whatsoever. I am using 3M yellow. The tape was only on for several hr.