Hello, I am currently painting the nonskid on my 1981 Hunter 30. I bought a roll of the 3M "fine Line" tape from West Marine (item #218 I believe), and I cannot get the tape to track circles and round corners properly. What do you guys do to mask round areas?
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applying fine line masking tape
You just sort of pinch and turn the tape gradually around the corners, pressing it down as you go. It's not perfect, but really good enough once the paint is on and the tape is off. You can also get the fine line tape at Home Depot or Lowe's for much less.
You just sort of pinch and turn the tape gradually around the corners, pressing it down as you go. It's not perfect, but really good enough once the paint is on and the tape is off. You can also get the fine line tape at Home Depot or Lowe's for much less.
painting nonskid
I'll be painting my nonskid this coming spring, you should find something that is about the same curve as the ends of the area you going to paint. I like to find washers and then take a bolt and liquid steel them together and mark the areas for the corners. you can also grind or file these to make special edges. then use it as a templete to cut the tape around the edges, cut just enough to cut just the tape. practice a few time to get the hang os it. let me know how you made out
I'll be painting my nonskid this coming spring, you should find something that is about the same curve as the ends of the area you going to paint. I like to find washers and then take a bolt and liquid steel them together and mark the areas for the corners. you can also grind or file these to make special edges. then use it as a templete to cut the tape around the edges, cut just enough to cut just the tape. practice a few time to get the hang os it. let me know how you made out
Fine line will work
Fine will work but as the other post mentions the tape will not end up perfectly smooth or flat. I just did my boat last week and the trick was to get the edge that must follow the contour down first, then simply flatten as best you can the far side. Helps if your hands are nimble, which my are not. While it doesn't look great it works. Good luck.
Fine will work but as the other post mentions the tape will not end up perfectly smooth or flat. I just did my boat last week and the trick was to get the edge that must follow the contour down first, then simply flatten as best you can the far side. Helps if your hands are nimble, which my are not. While it doesn't look great it works. Good luck.
Fine line tape
I restored the deck on my O'Day 22 3 years ago. in painting the non-skid, I took 3M blue tape and cut 1/8" slices which would then be streched around the curves as needed. I then went back and filled in to add thickness to the 1/8". The results were very good. I just repainted the non-skid this summer using the same technique.
I restored the deck on my O'Day 22 3 years ago. in painting the non-skid, I took 3M blue tape and cut 1/8" slices which would then be streched around the curves as needed. I then went back and filled in to add thickness to the 1/8". The results were very good. I just repainted the non-skid this summer using the same technique.
Simple Answer
The first thing is go to Home Depot or Lowe's for your brushes and tape. Next thing is to tape all the straight edges. That done just cut in the curves by hand. Works very well. Don't forget to sprinkle pumace on the first coat followed by two more coats for a nice nonskid deck. Just did mine and it turned out great.
The first thing is go to Home Depot or Lowe's for your brushes and tape. Next thing is to tape all the straight edges. That done just cut in the curves by hand. Works very well. Don't forget to sprinkle pumace on the first coat followed by two more coats for a nice nonskid deck. Just did mine and it turned out great.
taping curves in painting non skid
Best way I've found by far to tape curves is to cut the appropriate radius out of wide blue masking tape using a razor sharp box cutter blade and an appropriate radius can or cookie cutter as a template held down firmly on the tape over a cutting board . Peel it off, stick it down. Straight sections of tape then fill in the rest. This works for concave or convex curves, just use the side of the tape you need after the cut. Find a different template for the several radii needed and then the curves are uniform. For the large radius curve at the winch, I used a suitable can as before and also traced the circle on the surface as guide for installing the tape.
Best way I've found by far to tape curves is to cut the appropriate radius out of wide blue masking tape using a razor sharp box cutter blade and an appropriate radius can or cookie cutter as a template held down firmly on the tape over a cutting board . Peel it off, stick it down. Straight sections of tape then fill in the rest. This works for concave or convex curves, just use the side of the tape you need after the cut. Find a different template for the several radii needed and then the curves are uniform. For the large radius curve at the winch, I used a suitable can as before and also traced the circle on the surface as guide for installing the tape.
Attachments
Thanks guys!
So far I have founr that cutting the tape is the best method. I will expiriment with the cans and washers as a template as well. Thanks for all your replies!
So far I have founr that cutting the tape is the best method. I will expiriment with the cans and washers as a template as well. Thanks for all your replies!
final report
I finished painting on Friday(10/3/03), and I came to a few conclusions: 1) You cannot put too much sand in the paint. I began by following the instructions on the can (mix one can sand with one gallon of paint), but I steadily increased the amout of sand as I went(I would say that I ended up using about twice the ratio I started with), and I like the final mixture much better than the original mixture. 2) My method for masking curves was to lay down a piece of tape, use a pencil to draw the outline of the curve, then move the tape to a plastic cutting board and cut along the line. I had far less paint bleed than I thought I would with this method. There are a few places, but I think I can clean it up without any major issues. 3) Cooler temperatures greatly slow the drying time of the paint. It has been 70's during the day, and low 60's at night, and even after 3 days you can tell that the paint is soft and is still curing. 4) A 4 inch roller is your best friend when painting nonskid. I found that a 4 inch roller would let me get into most small areas and was still very fast, and put down much more paint than a brush. I was worried that the grit wouldn't come through, but that was not a problem at all. I also used a brush and a 9 inch roller, but I found that with proper masking, you almost don't need the brush, and the 9 inch roller is too big to get into most places. Thanks for all your help!
I finished painting on Friday(10/3/03), and I came to a few conclusions: 1) You cannot put too much sand in the paint. I began by following the instructions on the can (mix one can sand with one gallon of paint), but I steadily increased the amout of sand as I went(I would say that I ended up using about twice the ratio I started with), and I like the final mixture much better than the original mixture. 2) My method for masking curves was to lay down a piece of tape, use a pencil to draw the outline of the curve, then move the tape to a plastic cutting board and cut along the line. I had far less paint bleed than I thought I would with this method. There are a few places, but I think I can clean it up without any major issues. 3) Cooler temperatures greatly slow the drying time of the paint. It has been 70's during the day, and low 60's at night, and even after 3 days you can tell that the paint is soft and is still curing. 4) A 4 inch roller is your best friend when painting nonskid. I found that a 4 inch roller would let me get into most small areas and was still very fast, and put down much more paint than a brush. I was worried that the grit wouldn't come through, but that was not a problem at all. I also used a brush and a 9 inch roller, but I found that with proper masking, you almost don't need the brush, and the 9 inch roller is too big to get into most places. Thanks for all your help!
What type of paint/coating did you use?
I have been looking for options to re-paint my non-skid. What did you use, gloss vs. matte, paint vs. epoxy, etc?
I have been looking for options to re-paint my non-skid. What did you use, gloss vs. matte, paint vs. epoxy, etc?
Paint type
I used Pettit "Easypoxy 1 Part Polyurethane Enamel". I bought it at West Marine. I put the link to it below.
I used Pettit "Easypoxy 1 Part Polyurethane Enamel". I bought it at West Marine. I put the link to it below.
blue tape
hi, i was thinking about doing mine as well. i plan on getting the wide blue tape and with sissors cutting the round corners into the tape before i stick it down
hi, i was thinking about doing mine as well. i plan on getting the wide blue tape and with sissors cutting the round corners into the tape before i stick it down
Looks good
TERRY: Your photo looks great! Did you remove or tape the teak handholds (don't see any bleed)? Nice job! Gord
TERRY: Your photo looks great! Did you remove or tape the teak handholds (don't see any bleed)? Nice job! Gord
Looks good
TERRY: Your photo looks great! Did you remove or tape the teak handholds (don't see any bleed)? Nice job! Gord
TERRY: Your photo looks great! Did you remove or tape the teak handholds (don't see any bleed)? Nice job! Gord
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