masking fluids, frisket and tapes

[Ottersong]

Here is a sample of the different tapes I tried last night to see what would work on larger areas for masking during a pour. The only one I had trouble getting off was the scotch tape but then I did use a hair dryer on it and it was warm, probably stuck itself to the paper harder. the scotch tape is in the upper left corner. The frisket film seemd to allow bleeding underneath but not bad. I don’t know why regular contact paper wouldn’t work as well for large areas if you run your fingernail around the edges.

Marymc

SACRED COWS MAKE THE BEST HAMBURGER (Mark Twain)

[hazegry]

I have painted a few cars and when we are worried about the tape pulling up the fresh paint we just laid down we would stick it to our jeans first the tape still stays sticky enough to give a good line but isn’t as hard to remove. I don’t know how this would work with watercolors though.

[Ady_Yong]

I sometimes tip a small amount of masking fluid onto a plastic / glass surface (whatever is nearest to hand) let it dry and peel / roll it off. Then use this dried stuff to remove the masking fluid on my paper. Seems to work well for me. I read once you can use the goo that collects inside the top of the masking fluid bottle instead of pouring some out.

I recently bought the Roland Roycraft book and he suggests using a bit of hemp rope. Tape or tie a short length to the handle of a paintbrush and use the frayed end of the rope. Then when youre done, cut off the end and hey presto, fresh clean end to use next time. I don’t think the bit of rope I have is hemp but it works fine all the same. Great for doing random shapes and sizes for trees or snow for example. Roycraft also suggests using sharpened twigs and scrunched up plastic food wrap.

Someone earlier in this thread suggested using liquid soap to protect your brush if you’re using a paintbrush to mask – just want to add – it really works!!

Ady:wave:

[font=Comic Sans MS]Ady Yong[/font]
[font=Comic Sans MS]Birmingham, UK[/font]

[font=Century Gothic]“And pray tell her from me, that she cannot expect to excel, if she does not practise a great deal.'' [/font]
[font=Century Gothic]The Rt. Hon. Lady Catherine de Bourgh, (Pride & Prejudice; 1813; Jane Austen)[/font]

[Funer_Frost]

I have some W & N masking fluid yeah, but are there any brands that will wash out instead of leaving my brush all rubberized? Ive used really cheap childrens brushes so it’s not too bad.

[Funer_Frost]

dont worry I missed reading all the posts

[eagleorr]

The painters tape is working well for me.
I haven’t used very much masking fluid, but so far I haven’t had any problems. I water it down as much as two:one (2 water, 1 mf) Comes off easily with my finger or the handy dandy masking fluid pick up.
dru

Dru
www.druduffeyart1.webs.com/

[juneto]

One thing , Remember, always carefully Masking Tape around your Bottle edges After using so it is Sealed,….. Always !Or you will not have it for next time . If it smells Bad don’t use it . Something important has dried out so it will be less effective .
Buy a White Plastic pick – up , made for the Purpose of Removing mask , It is Much more efficient than anything else a nd will not put dirt back into the paper surface , always a danger . They cost so Little for the convenience and safety you get with it .
Never use Any Brush with it, that isn’t Soaped into the metal and above .
June

Follow your Bliss and the Universe will open doors for you , where there were only walls. Joseph Campbell

http://blogmomcom.blogspot.com/

[Laudesan ( JJ ) Queensland Australia]

Make sure any of the tape you use is acid free. If you don’t and the gum left behind when you lift the tape, (Yes it does stay behind and you can’t get it off) turns yellow over time or brown. That is why on some older painting you will see brown spots or yellow or what ever. Mostly cause by tape gum ..

Try using press and seal freezer wrap..:)

Contact is not acid free as far as I know..

I use dish wash liquid to soap my brush before dipping it into the masque fluid and i love Pebeo too.!!

JJ
Let go of past mistakes and hurts. Forgive and empower yourself. Live the life you were meant to live. And, be at peace with yourself.
MY BLOG
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[Dale Ziegler]

For liquid friskit I like Pebeo Drawing Gum best. It flows on much easier and is also easy to remove. Can be thinned with water. The plastic lid has a recessed Top where you can pour out as much as you need — then reclose the bottle so the stuff inside does not thicken. Not easy to find but cheap joe carries it.
As for tape, try blue painter’s tape if you cand stand the color.
Or Scotch Drafting Tape, I think it’s no. 230.
Both work well and remove easily and do not damage the paper.

Test different papers. You’ll find that some are easier to remove the friskit.
Be sure the paper is completely dry before you remove the tape or the paper may tear.
I find that Bockingford tears very easily when trying to remove tape.

[Art Leat]

Re: Masking tape damage to watercolour papers

I read somehere that, if your tape is holding too aggressively, sticking it to your trouser leg/skirt before applying it to the paper helps to reduce the adhesive properties. I’ve tried this a couple of times and it’s worked for me.

Is tape damage is more likely when cheap papers are used?

Art Leat

A candle looses nothing by lighting another candle

- Oneliners and Proverbs.com

[painterbear Moderator Oakwood, Ohio]

I use regular masking tape to hold my paper to my board and have only had trouble once with it not coming off easily. You can always run your hair dryer over the tape as you remove it. The heat seems to loosen the glue a bit.

Also, don’t pull straight up as you remove the tape, pull it off to the side instead.

I store my masking fluid (my favorite is Incredible White Mask) upside down on its top. This was a helpful hint I saw somewhere about house paints and it seems to work. I don’t know why, but I haven’t had any problem with my masking fluid getting gummy.

Is tape damage is more likely when cheap papers are used?

I think the odds are pretty good that it would be.
Sylvia

[koo]

[FONT=Arial]How can I apply frisket in thin lines? I want to paint a window with white ornamental bars, with the bars being [/FONT]less than a 1/4 mm. apart. First attempt with fine brush didn’t work to well.:(

[LyndaN]

Gordon MacKenzie demos how to cover larger areas with tape in this clip of one of his videos: http:
//artistsnetwork.tv/p-124-improve-your-water-painting-techniques-in-watercolor-with-gordon-mackenzie.aspx

I haven’t tried this yet myself but plan to when I have a larger area to cover but you would have to be careful using that sharp knife to trim it.

Also, I often use either a crochet needle or a color shaper (like a brush handle with a rubber tip instead of bristles) to apply masking in smaller areas.

I have learned the hard way to pour a small amount of masking into the lid of a pill bottle, rather than keeping the masking bottle open while applying the masking. This way only the poured amount is exposed to the air for long and I just throw the masking in the lid away rather than put it back in the bottle and contaminate it when I am done.

[FONT="Book Antiqua"]LyndaN

[dpcoffin]

[FONT=Arial]How can I apply frisket in thin lines? I want to paint a window with white ornamental bars, with the bars being [/FONT]less than a 1/4 mm. apart. First attempt with fine brush didn’t work to well.:(

Ruling pens. You’ll find lots of references to them here on WC (here’s Yorky showing how on YouTube); they’re the ideal devices for laying down precision lines with masking fluids. And they work great with rulers and plastic curves.

dpc

(a lapsed w/c purist)
Eyes & Skies; My Daily Painting blog: http://eyesandskies.blogspot.com/
http://dpc-watermedia.blogspot.com/

[koo]

Thank you for the info.:wave:

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