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AFV Painting & Weathering
Answers to questions about the right paint scheme or tips for the right effect.
Removing Tape Residue
GulfWarrior
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ARMORAMA
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Posted: Friday, August 28, 2020 - 02:01 PM UTC
I've noticed a couple of spots of residue from the Tamiya masking tape on some of my windows of a recent build. Has anyone got any ideas on how to remove it without messing up nearby paint?

Thanks in advance...


18Bravo
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Posted: Friday, August 28, 2020 - 02:11 PM UTC
So many options. First you can try another piece of the tape to remove the residue.
Other methods I've used: Good Off, heat, freezing, WD-40, plain old soap and water. I'm sure there are many more.
Scarred
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Posted: Friday, August 28, 2020 - 02:34 PM UTC
IPA on a qtip. Barely dampen it and test to make sure it doesn't lift your paint.

sometimes just carefully dragging your finger tip across it can remove it or a pencil eraser can grab the residue.
jon_a_its
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Posted: Friday, August 28, 2020 - 09:07 PM UTC

Quoted Text

So many options. First you can try another piece of the tape to remove the residue.
Other methods I've used: Good Off, heat, freezing, WD-40, plain old soap and water. I'm sure there are many more.



In this order: BIN your old Tamiya Tape, it does go 'off' eventually (still the best out there though...)

Then, use fresh (new) tape to dab it off.
If not, Blue-Tac, 'dabbed & rolling' action.
If not, try dish soap & water, unlikely to damage paint.
lastly, traces of IPA on a q-tip, this will damage acrylic paint, but unlikely to lift enamels or lacquers.

Vicious
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Posted: Friday, August 28, 2020 - 09:57 PM UTC
like Jon say,Alcohol IPA on a Q-tips,it's ok on plastic but if you use acrylics stay away from the paint job,if Enamel or lacquer no problem
Grauwolf
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Posted: Saturday, August 29, 2020 - 03:26 AM UTC
If the residue is really close to the paint, get some Tamiya cotton swabs (87105),
these are really tiny and pointy and work away with IPA alcohol, chances of damaging the
paint are close to none.

https://www.tamiya.com/english/products/87103_107swab/index.htm

Cheers,

18Bravo
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Posted: Saturday, August 29, 2020 - 03:51 AM UTC
IPA? Voodoo Ranger? Rogue? (Brewed by ex SF friend in Astoria, OR.
Didn't know it worked for that. Seems like a waste...
Scarred
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Posted: Saturday, August 29, 2020 - 07:02 AM UTC
Isopropyl alcohol. We used 99% IPA by the gallon to clean the machines and robots before buttoning them back up and pumping them down to vacuum. When I first heard of IPA, the drinking kind, I was a bit confused because nobody in their right mind would drink IPA, it'd kill them.

Another great little cleaning tool are those sponge tipped swabs. The don't shed bits of fiber and have a bit of texture to them to scrub with. Warning some will melt if used with solvents. I just use them with IPA or Windex. I got some from a beauty supply store and you can get them online.
18Bravo
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Posted: Saturday, August 29, 2020 - 07:31 AM UTC
Ummm... That was a joke. While Rogue IPA has alcohol in it, I wouldn’t waste it cleaning tape residue.
barnslayer
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Posted: Saturday, August 29, 2020 - 07:51 AM UTC
Check out Micro brushes. You can find them on amazon and MicroMark

https://www.micromark.com/Microbrushes
GulfWarrior
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Posted: Saturday, August 29, 2020 - 08:04 AM UTC
Thanks for the info guys! I think I have an IPA while I mess around with the IPA! 🍺



Scarred
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Posted: Saturday, August 29, 2020 - 08:20 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Ummm... That was a joke. While Rogue IPA has alcohol in it, I wouldn’t waste it cleaning tape residue.



Yeah, that's alcohol abuse. And I will not tolerate it! It means less IPA for the rest of us.
Klaus-Adler
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MODELGEEK
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Posted: Saturday, August 29, 2020 - 10:28 AM UTC
yep just gone through that myself tonight, i left some masking tape on for a few days/weeks and now i have had a few issues getting it off. I just grabbed new tape and rolled it back over the residue a few times and it finally came off, so this method does work.
GulfWarrior
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Posted: Saturday, August 29, 2020 - 12:30 PM UTC
I picked up a bottle of Goof Off today and will try that. I'll try a little hair of the dog with some more Tamiya tape if that fails.

Thanks for the ideas guys!



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