Painter's Blue Masking Tape. Peel it off before paint dries or not.?

Question

I want to paint stripes below the chair rail in the kid's room. I have BLUE Painter's masking tape. Do I peel the tape off while the paint is wet, semi-dry or dry?

The Blue tape is great around windows and edges, but for flat graphic design like stripes (where there are no corners, Windows or edges), it seems a bit risky in peeling some paint off too.

Answer 1

I WAIT TILL PAINT DRIES..
TOUCH UP SPOTS......

Answer 2

That is a good question, one that my crew asked ourselves when we were painting a set at school and using tape to create horizontal lines. Since we weren't sure, we tested it out both ways.

It works best if you peel before the paint dries completely, but be careful if you have horizontal lines and the paint is on too thick- you may still drip. In that case, it's okay if you wait a little bit (not until it dries completely, but is no longer going to drip) before you peel.

However, it's not too bad if you peel after it dries. There is occasion that it will flake off some paint (depends on brand of paint), but you can usually get away with it. To be sure, it's better not to.

I recommend peeling before drying, but watch to make sure that the paint isn't too thin or it might run. I hope this helps.

Answer 3

Before so that you don't get runs or peal your dried paint off when you peel the tape off. I was painting a room and was getting close to the end of the role, so I painted the remaining portion and left the tape after the first coat so that I could paint the second coat, when the second coat was done, I peeled the tape and took some of the dried paint off also.

Answer 4

I feel for you Gary. That would make me blow a gasket. It's not an easy job, painting.. BUT you should have not bothered with all that nonsense and just got a pot of Kitchen & Bathroom paint. Sand the walls, wash them down with Sugar Soap and paint. I prefer Crown Paints as they can be thinned with water (1/20) You need to go back to the drawing board & keep the bathroom FREE of moisture (ie steam) for at least 18 hours after painting. IF the paint was not completely dry when you applied the tape, its gonna peel. Use top of the range masking tape, not the cheap super sticky stuff when decorating.

Answer 5

wet if it dries to have to run a razor over the edge before you peel also us care in what you tape it can remove fresh paint and the coating on the sides of new cabinets i learned that the hard way

Answer 6

You should wait until the paint is dry to the touch. If you remove the tape while the paint is wet you may smudge the line. This site explains the process.

Answer 7

before paint dries definitely! If THE PAINT DRIES IT WILL PULL OFF EVERYTHING ELSE WITH IT!

Answer 8

yes

Answer 9

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/paint_contractor/home/product_information/tips_techniques/masking_tips