Hey Richard, i use a cocktail stick to apply maskol with. The effect i am after determines the amount of maskol i "pick up" with the cocktail stick. When the desired amount is on there i apply it to the surface, putting on more rather than less. You have to work quickly as it dries very easily, and you need to keep the build up of maskol on the cocktail stick to a minimum.
When removing it, i used either tweezers, a clean cocktail stick, or my finger. it comes off like blue tac in my experience. Always make sure you apply it to a clean dry surface, hope this helps.
Regards from the Swamp
Eth