How To Tape Off Circles For Painting

What is the best way to mask off circles prior to painting with an airbrush ?

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Brian John	14/01/2015 06:16:18
1484 forum posts 582 photos	What is the nest style to mask off circular shapes on a piece of work prior to painting with an airbrush ? Previously I rolled some Blueish Tac flat and cut circles out of it utilise a set of hole punches. This did piece of work well for smaller circles but became more hard as the circles got larger. I also tried cut circles in masking tape using the hole punches simply this was not successful.
mick H	xiv/01/2015 06:31:15
766 forum posts 28 photos	What about cut circles in plasticard and using minute amounts of blu tac to hold it in position? I suspect that y'all may still non get a sharp edge but this could be remedied with a lining pen. Mick
Harry Wilkes	fourteen/01/2015 06:38:19
1322 forum posts 65 photos	Hi Brian not knowing your sizes have you thought of self agglutinative circles Staples,ebay have them 8 - 25mm. H
mick H	fourteen/01/2015 07:31:18
766 forum posts 28 photos	That sounds similar a very good thought Harry, with the caveat that the underlying pigment movie should be properly cured, say 2 weeks, otherwise the agglutinative may elevator it. Mick
JasonB	14/01/2015 07:40:38
Moderator 22541 forum posts 2627 photos 1 articles	Masking pic though sticky backed plastic "Fablon" will besides work and a compass cutter or scalple blade held in a normal compass. On the modest size stuff yous seem to be working with masking record does non give a crisp enough border. Loose masks are OK if using inks and h2o colours on a white (paper) background every bit you are not spraying much material but if its enamel on a model then you need something that will not lift from teh air or allow the pigment to creap under. If its a round component you don't want to get pigment on like the end of a cylinder and so apply masking tape and so pull a needle file backwards at 45degrees around the border, this will carve up the masking record and y'all can peel away the excess. Very similar to using a hammer to trim a Gasket. J Edited By JasonB on fourteen/01/2015 07:45:08
Ian S C	fourteen/01/2015 10:12:50
7468 forum posts 230 photos	For the likes of a 6" circle, masking tape volition practise it, brand sure information technology sticks on the inside of the circumvolve(presuming that's the flake to be painted), don't worry nigh the out side of the arc, you can put paper nether the outside to extend the masking. Smaller the diameter the narrower the tape. Ian Southward C Edited By Ian S C on 14/01/2015 10:14:57
Steve F	xiv/01/2015 10:46:26
91 forum posts 24 photos	Hi Depends what size. In the by i have used dark-brown parcel tape and cutting out circles with a "compass cutter" LINK Sorry ebay link just you tin can buy them in most craft shop & "The Works" regards Steve
Bazyle	14/01/2015 xiii:00:54
6293 forum posts 222 photos	I got my compass cutter from one of the 'junk' stands at the ME show years ago. Almost Christmas cracker quality merely it works. Pretty easy to make one though. A tip with peel off plastic templates like Fablon is to remove the backing, then cut 1/four to 1/8 off the bankroll around the target profile edge and put information technology dorsum on the sticky bit. Then you can utilise to the work with only a sparse line of viscous border which is more controllable and easier to remove afterwards.
Neil Wyatt	fourteen/01/2015 14:32:51
Moderator 18985 forum posts 734 photos lxxx manufactures	That'southward a good tip Bazyle. Neil
Chris Gunn	14/01/2015 xvi:03:32
429 forum posts 27 photos	I simply read a slice about painting a loco, and the writer needed 1/iv circles for the corners of his lining. He used Frisket Film, which is a low tack masking film used by the air brushers. it is also very sparse, .001" much meliorate than normal masking record, and shapes can be cut using templates and a scalpel. I need to do this on my 4CD so intend to give it a try. If you lot google it there are dozens of sellers, a pack of ten sheets can exist had for a tenner or thereabouts. I would exist interested to know if anyone has tried it. Chris Gunn
JasonB	14/01/2015 sixteen:eleven:00
Moderator 22541 forum posts 2627 photos 1 articles	As I said above masking motion-picture show tin be used "Frisk" is a brand name much like Hoover. As its low tack information technology does not take so well to compound curves but takes well to flat or single curved surfaces. The Matt one is easier to employ equally it can be drawn on with a pencil if needed. I know of at least 2 Model Engineers that have small desktop stencil cutters much like you observe in a Signwriters that does the vinyl cut letters. I think you lot are a member of Traction Talk, if you have a look back through Julia'due south GMT build she showed these computer cutting masks existence used. J
"Bill Hancox"	14/01/2015 16:17:12
257 forum posts 77 photos	I unremarkably use my Ioline vinyl sign plotter for cutting masking circles from adhesive sign vinyl. For airbrush work on signs etc, I utilize the airbrush industry standard material called "frisket". Here is a link to one supplier LINK. It has a very light bonding adhesive that allows it to be applied to dry-to-touch painted surfaces. It cuts hands and gives a superb crisp edge. It is piece of cake to remove immediately after airbrushing. Background masks are simple to remove. Positive masks such as those required by Brian are also like shooting fish in a barrel to remove. Notwithstanding, in order not to disturb the clean edge I utilise a tab of masking tape close to the edge of the frisket to enable me to lift the border without damaging the pigment work. The frisket cuts superbly with a skilful knife such as "Exacto". I prefer autopsy scalpel blades myself. Frisket is available in many creative person shops. Bill
"Bill Hancox"	14/01/2015 xvi:18:11
257 forum posts 77 photos	I gauge I was a footling boring typing out this one. Bill
Chris Gunn	14/01/2015 21:12:41
429 forum posts 27 photos	Jason, only looked up Julia Old's thread on Traction talk, for anyone interested it is pages 92 and 93. I read that Julia was able to use a Craftrobo stencil cutter to cut stencils for her 6" GMT abdomen tank. She also used stencils for the wheel spoke lining which seemed a much quicker method than I just used to do the wheels for my 6" 4CD. I used lining tape, I got reasonable results on the direct sections, mixed results on the curved ends, only I knew that before I started. Stencils would have been a amend bet as far as curved and tapered lines are concerned. Neb, I think I was reading your piece almost Frisket pic. Chris Gunn
Brian John	xv/01/2015 03:30:45
1484 forum posts 582 photos	I think the self adhesive circular labels are a good idea if they can be found in the correct sizes....which they probably cannot ! I will club a compass cutter and have a go at this method. The smaller circles (5mm diam) are the catchy ones ; I think the larger circles (20mm diam) would be a bit easier. I may use the Blue Tac for the smaller ones and the compass cutter for the larger ones.
pgk pgk	15/01/2015 07:26:46
2548 forum posts 293 photos	Never used it for this application just you can buy masking fluids from whatever art shop when doing water color washes or whatever hard edge technique with acryllics. Pigment on. I hate decorating so i buy a cheap low tack blue newspaper masking record from a (scottish) auto detailing co on-line and can spend a few hours masking up architraves, skirtings etc and then dosh out emulsion with a wide brush and roller - avert all the stress (and care) of cutting in. Walls and ceilings only ever get washed in white (cheap, clean and in huge tubs). Woodwork is stained or varnished (never painted). A whole room gets done in a day and the tape comes off without marking the underneath or lifting information technology.For difficult edge spray lines on heli canopies I've used the plastic 3M masking record
Chris Gunn	26/01/2015 fifteen:28:28
429 forum posts 27 photos	Since posting some days agone, I take got some Frisket moving picture, and I fabricated some templates out of thin contumely to cut out masks from the motion picture to paint the quadrants of a circle at the corners of my tanks. I found that cutting the flick needs a abrupt scalpel, (thanks Dave), and the border of the brass template needs to be nice and polish. I cut the first set from the masking paper through, just seemed to go some feathering on the edge of the cutting. I did some from the film side and these seemed ameliorate. I positioned 4 masks to form the corners of a rectangle, and painted through with Craftmaster lining paint, removing the masks after the paint had gone off for about 20-25 minutes, and I got acceptable results. At that place was a little bleeding of the pigment here and in that location, simply this was down to me I call back. I joined the corners up with the lining masking tape, and the job was done to an acceptable standard. I think with exercise the results will improve. Chris Gunn