Masking tape for marking up enclosures etc

Keefy

The beige masking tape that you get for general decorating use always has a coarse textured surface. As a result it can be hard to draw a good continuous straight line on it with a pencil and accurately mark a drilling centre on a pedal enclosure, chassis etc.

Is there a version with a smoother surface that takes a pencil line clearly? I'm not bothered about things like paint bleed, as long as any small amount of residue can be easily removed.

brucegill

Hosa Tech Scribble Strip Console Tape is nice and smooth. Pricey though. 

Kittyfrisk

Try searching for 'kraft parcel tape'. It is smoother than the decorating type. Can be self adhesive with low-tack adhesive or if water activated can be re-wetted & removed.

Keefy

brucegill said:

Hosa Tech Scribble Strip Console Tape is nice and smooth. Pricey though. 

Pricey? You''re not kidding!

Kittyfrisk said:

Try searching for 'kraft parcel tape'. It is smoother than the decorating type. Can be self adhesive with low-tack adhesive or if water activated can be re-wetted & removed.

Thanks, that's useful.

Flip

Is either of the Frogtape variants any better than the usual stuff you mentioned, especially the yellow, low-tack variant?

Grangousier

It's probably too expensive, but there is designer's low-tack tape - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Scotch-3M-Magic-Removable-Finish/dp/B00006IF61/ref=sr_1_54?keywords=low+tack+tape&qid=1653845539&sr=8-54

It's translucent, smooth, takes pencil and felt-tip and is easily removable.

Keefy

Flip said:

Is either of the Frogtape variants any better than the usual stuff you mentioned, especially the yellow, low-tack variant?

That’s come up on my searches but I’ve never seen the product in person.

Grangousier said:

It's probably too expensive, but there is designer's low-tack tape - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Scotch-3M-Magic-Removable-Finish/dp/B00006IF61/ref=sr_1_54?keywords=low+tack+tape&qid=1653845539&sr=8-54

It's translucent, smooth, takes pencil and felt-tip and is easily removable.

Ooh that looks like a winner, unless it’s clear - for my current project the chassis has a black crackle finish.

Sporky

I always marked the bare enclosure before painting. Paper template taped onto the enclosure, centre punch through that, drill, paint. 

LastMantra

I use a rule and scribe, or just pencil, then centre punch.

Saying that I never had a problem writing or drawing on the white masking tape. I've used it to make labels for lots of stuff.

Keefy

Sporky said:

I always marked the bare enclosure before painting. Paper template taped onto the enclosure, centre punch through that, drill, paint. 

LastMantra said:

I use a rule and scribe, or just pencil, then centre punch.

Saying that I never had a problem writing or drawing on the white masking tape. I've used it to make labels for lots of stuff.

I'd struggle to see pencil lines on a black crackle panel! A scribe is fine for the final centres, but I sometimes want to draw construction lines in pencil.

I picked up a roll of 3M Scotch blue from Screwfix this morning and that seems to take a much clearer pencil line. The only downside is somewhat reduced contrast.

Simo

Try some Application Tape. It's used for applying vinyl stickers but makes a great masking tape. It comes in different levels of adhesive (the low tack tape is very useful for masking off guitar bodies while doing fretwork etc) and is as easy to write on as a piece of paper. Works very well with paint too, I used to use it to signwrite banger cars and had no issues with bleed.

Keefy

Simo said:

Try some Application Tape. It's used for applying vinyl stickers but makes a great masking tape. It comes in different levels of adhesive (the low tack tape is very useful for masking off guitar bodies while doing fretwork etc) and is as easy to write on as a piece of paper. Works very well with paint too, I used to use it to signwrite banger cars and had no issues with bleed.

Cheers I’ll look into that.

LastMantra

Keefy said:

Sporky said:

I always marked the bare enclosure before painting. Paper template taped onto the enclosure, centre punch through that, drill, paint. 

LastMantra said:

I use a rule and scribe, or just pencil, then centre punch.

Saying that I never had a problem writing or drawing on the white masking tape. I've used it to make labels for lots of stuff.

I'd struggle to see pencil lines on a black crackle panel! A scribe is fine for the final centres, but I sometimes want to draw construction lines in pencil.

I picked up a roll of 3M Scotch blue from Screwfix this morning and that seems to take a much clearer pencil line. The only downside is somewhat reduced contrast.

Ah, I usually drill first. 

Keefy

LastMantra said:

Keefy said:

Sporky said:

I always marked the bare enclosure before painting. Paper template taped onto the enclosure, centre punch through that, drill, paint. 

LastMantra said:

I use a rule and scribe, or just pencil, then centre punch.

Saying that I never had a problem writing or drawing on the white masking tape. I've used it to make labels for lots of stuff.

I'd struggle to see pencil lines on a black crackle panel! A scribe is fine for the final centres, but I sometimes want to draw construction lines in pencil.

I picked up a roll of 3M Scotch blue from Screwfix this morning and that seems to take a much clearer pencil line. The only downside is somewhat reduced contrast.

Ah, I usually drill first. 

Been there, done that!