Masking products and tips?

[Digitalwave]

I have a feeling masking off the lips of my rims is going to be very difficult. There is really no hard edge for me to follow with the tape. I was only going to do the flat part of the lip, but noticed the edge isn't even for that. So I figured I might as well do the inner part of the lip as well, because it will look better and give the rim more depth. What I want to do is illustrated in the Photoshops below.

Does anybody have any recommendations on masking these off? As you can see, there are a lot of curves around where the spokes meet the lips. Any products or techniques would be greatly appreciated.

I also am afraid of residue being left on the lips after masking. Should I clear coat the lips before I mask them, or wait until the spokes are sprayed and clear the whole thing together?

[Schniddy]

I just gota say that will look soo damn hott :shock:

[nameisbradgreen]

:stupid:

[bimmer8604]

Theres a new flexible masking tape that bends around curves. Also, just make sure you clean your rims really well and dont leave any oily residue or the tape wont stick very well. You can also put the tape on, and use a razor blade to cut your lines...

Kyle

[uofom3]

3m makes this tape that is not very wide, like less than a quarter inch, and can bent in all directions to conform to contours. What I would do is make off with that to start, and then go to home depot and pick up some of the blue masking tape (made by scotch or 3m... can't remember). A few members of this forum have pictures of it used to tape off headlights/ect for track days. This stuff will leave no residue AT ALL on any finish you apply it to. Get some 1 inch thick of that stuff, and then work out to the 3 inch thick tape. This will allow you to follow the line made by the initial mask. This method works really well... i've used it in tight detailed spaces before with great results.

That p-shop looks awesome.. your car will look so sick when you're done.
hth

[Digitalwave]

I was thinking about that Ted. Something similiar to a pin stripe for the tight contours, and work out to thicker tape. I just hope I can do a good enough job and that they all look even.

[Drake]

Another option is to use larger tape and cut it around the spokes. I've used a guitar pick to do this before and it worked great. Obviously avoid any sort of actual knife.

[nickmp0wer]

maybe try painting it all black then masking off the centers

[BS87]

maybe try painting it all black then masking off the centers

He would still have to mask off the same exact edges...

[nickmp0wer]

but he could rap it around the spokes instead of doing it to the rim

[surebimmer]

You are only painting the centers right? Isn't that a cover that you can un screw from the wheel? Just like the E34 M5 wheel's covers? Or are they different BC of the 4 Lug. Must be, otherwise I think you would have just done that.

[Bryson]

You are only painting the centers right? Isn't that a cover that you can un screw from the wheel? Just like the E34 M5 wheel's covers? Or are they different BC of the 4 Lug. Must be, otherwise I think you would have just done that.

haha, you just had a conversation with yourself online, how do you feel?

TJ - are you going to be polishing the lips or leaving them silver? I like the silver, but I think polished could come out very nicely

[uofom3]

I was thinking about that Ted. Something similiar to a pin stripe for the tight contours, and work out to thicker tape. I just hope I can do a good enough job and that they all look even.

I bet you can.. it looks like you kind of have an outline there to work off of. Go to an auto paint specific supply store and they'll have this 3m stuff in different thicknesses. down to like 1/8 inch i think, maybe less.... I was looking at your wheels again, and given that you don't have a large amount of area to cover as far as the spokes themselves are concerned, you can probably get away with just using tape and nothing else to mask off the wheel... but as far as the wheel wells go... some of the masking paper from home depot would work really well I think... I've used it on a few things with good results.

I think the idea of taping over the the area and then cutting out the tape is not bad at all. Get a box of good razor blades and cut off the over mask. You don't have to dig into the wheel to get the tape cut if you switch blades consistantly. Even if the blade did dig in, you wouldn't notice it after the paint was done ;). I'd opt for masking before cutting stuff though.

[BMW BMXER]

Might be a dumb idea, but playdoh/stickytack/plastercine?

Edit: Just for the very edge/crevas not for the whole lip.

[el_4ever]

I know you talked about this in another post but, in my opinion, they would look better all black T, for sure.