10 November 2022

Features of the best masking tape for automotive painting

The characteristics of the best masking tape for automotive painting are five: resistance to high temperatures, easy removal without traces, easy tearability, conformability to curved lines, and compatibility with the most common paints.

automotive masking tapes


Here is what we are going to talk about in this article:

In order to get the best results when painting and refinishing the bodywork of a vehicle, every body shop must rely on the most suitable tools and materials. This means always choosing the best automotive masking tape for painting, but how can you recognize it?

Here is PPM’s professional advice: to choose the best masking tape, you need to consider some of the most important features, such as its resistance to heat or easy hand-tearability.

Essential features of the best masking tape

The main features that distinguish the best automotive masking tape from all other standard tapes are 5:

  1. Temperature resistance
  2. Easy removal
  3. Easy tearability
  4. Conformability to curves
  5. Compatibility with an extensive range of paints

1 – Temperature resistance

The best masking tape must withstand the high temperatures reached by booths or infrared lamps: this means that it must not come off, fall, slide along the surface of the body, crumble or have other behaviors that could ruin the result of the painting.

2 – Easy removal

It is of paramount importance that the masking tape, once removed, leaves no traces of glue on the shock. In the same way, it is essential that when you remove it, you do not remove any parts of the bodywork paint, and the edges result clean.

3 – Easy tearability by hand

During painting and finishing body work, having to cut the masking tape with scissors slows down the pace of work, it is dangerous and uncomfortable too. That’s why the best masking tape for automotive painting can easily be broken with your hands, even into tiny pieces.

4 – Conformability to curves

The lines that define the bodywork shapes are straight only in a very small part: mostly, automotive painting is about turning around curved lines. As a result, it is of fundamental importance that the masking tape is easy to lay down even where it has to follow curved trajectories.

5 – Compatibility with various paints

Finally, the best masking tape for automotive painting is the one that fits without any problem to all types of most common paints, primers, and fillers. This means that the adhesion is always impeccable – even when using water-based paints – and that the shape and characteristics of the tape do not change during the application of the paint, but always remain at their top.

PPM’s range of automotive masking tapes and which jobs are they suited for

Even if an automotive masking tape has all these 5 features, it doesn't mean that it's suitable for the job you need to do, do you agree? There's no such thing as a masking tape that works for each and every application: you've got to find the one expressly made for the results you want to achieve!

Now, let’s define what the best tapes for automotive painting look like and the applications you can use them for. Here at PPM, we have been dedicating years and experience to the study and development of the best masking tapes. Here are our 3 best products:

What to use for entry-level applications? PPM's versatile 3008 masking tape!

When it comes to entry-level jobs, there's no need to look for the perfect masking tape. What you actually need is a professional solution offering good holding power and moderate temperature resistance for short periods of time.

3008 best masking tape for car painting

 

3008 – Entry Level Body Shop Masking Tape is a utility-grade solution that allows for high versatility when it comes to simpler jobs – not only in the automotive field but also for building and construction purposes.

It can easily adapt to irregular surfaces and dissimilar materials and guarantees clean edges. It's super easy to remove and won't leave any residue.

Need a tape for automotive refinishing and nautical applications? Here's 3010 car masking tape

Now, the automotive and nautical fields often require solutions that are not only waterproof but also resistant to the high temperatures used to dry car paint. Thus, the automotive tape for paint you should look for must be the most resistant ever!

3010 automotive masking tape

3010 – High Grade Body Shop Masking Tape is designed for high-temperature drying cycles of up to 90°C (60 min) or 110°C (30 min). 3010 is particularly suitable when high adhesion is required.

This car masking tape is made with an innovative formula, which makes it ideal for irregular surfaces. Easy removal without residues is always guaranteed, as well as 3-day UV protection.

Looking for the best automotive tape for spray painting? Here's 3610 car masking tape

Spray painting might look like a simple job but it's actually pretty complex: paint can seep through the tape, drying cycles can affect tape adhesion... So many things to look after!

3610 automotive masking tape

3610 – Premium AquaColor Body Shop Masking Tape is one of the best tapes for car painting thanks to its flexible crepe paper backing and a solvent-borne rubber resin adhesive.

Among its features, it guarantees:

  • temperature resistance for up to 110°C
  • easy removal without traces
  • UV protection for 3 days
  • compatibility with irregular surfaces

It is available in different, lively hues that improve its visibility during the application process.

What's the most waterproof solution for automotive spray painting? It's 3710 car masking tape!

Another thing you must not underestimate when performing spray painting jobs is that moisture can damage or affect the performance of an automotive masking tape. This won't happen, though, if you choose the most professional solution!

3710 automotive masking tape

Finally, 3710 – Waterproof Superior Color Body Shop Masking Tape is a masking tape for automotive painting with a crepe paper backing and a solvent-borne rubber resin adhesive. It’s a professional and high-quality solution for short spray-painting operations.

The features that make 3710 one of the best automotive masking tapes are:

  • temperature resistance of up to 90°C (60 min) or 110°C (30 min)
  • preventing the paint from seeping through
  • 3-day UV protection
  • easy and clean removal

The best automotive masking tapes to achieve precise curves? Take a look at 5040 automotive tape for painting

Now, if you’re looking for a solution that can help you achieve the most refined results when it comes to curved objects, you must choose a flexible tape that easily adapts and strongly adheres to these surfaces.

5040 best automotive tape for curves

Here's the automotive masking tape you should take a look at: it’s 5040 – Precision Line Body Shop Masking Tape

This is the best tape for clean, razor-sharp lines. Thanks to its conformability, it is recommended for small and curved body parts like profiles, bumpers, head & bottom lights, and car handles.

5040 is the best automotive masking tape for curves because it can withstand drying cycles at high temperatures of up to 120°C (60 min) and is compatible with irregular surfaces. Finally, it is ideal for extremely narrow grooves, thanks to its incredible performance.

And if you’d like to know more about how we operate as automotive masking tape manufacturers, I suggest you read this article.


These are just our best automotive painting masking tape; if you want to find out the full range, visit our 
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