Do you guys mask-off your side moldings when you wax the car?

and/or

Do you mask off the quarter panels and doors when you touch up the side molding (e.g. with Back to Black etc) ?

Is regular masking tape bad for the paint ?

Here is a tip.

Get a wax that does not leave a chalky residue.

If you cannot get one that does not leave a chalky residue, then use a Mars Eraser to take off any left over, or peanut butter. But personally I liked to use a little shot of quick detail on a rag back in the old days...

As for applying back to black or something of that nature... No, just don't smear it all over your body panel and you should have no problems.

But if I HAD to use tape to mask it off. I would use the blue roll of masking tape available at Home Depot. It is really thin, easy to apply will stay in place, but is not sticky enough to refuse to let go of the surface it is adhearing too. It is cheep stuff too. I have used it on my paint many times with no problems what so ever.

Yea, that blue tape is what I was thinking of. I'll have to check out this Mars eraser ... never heard of it.

What waxes don't leave a residue? Last one I used was one of Meguiers (forget exactly which one). I was in a hurry and got some on the moldings (especiall the top surfaces) and it left a lot of white stuff behind.

Meguiars hi-tech Yellow 26 won't chalk.. it is fairly inexpensive, commonly available, and a nice wax.

Zaino is the best finish I've used so far, with the deepest, longest lasting shine I've found... and it won't chalk either... You have to order it directly from the Zaino Brothers.

I think there's some other non-chalkers out there, but I haven't used them... (yet). For me, it will take some doing to beat Zaino's performance.

I'm admittedly a Zaniac.

No no, you are InZaino.... Trust me...

;)

Thanks guys ... appreciate.

you can find the eraser in a drafting store...stadtler-mars plastic...nice german eraser :D

Oh ok now I get it. Thanks :)

Originally posted by Hyperion
[color=darkblue]Here is a tip.

Get a wax that does not leave a chalky residue.

If you cannot get one that does not leave a chalky residue, then use a Mars Eraser to take off any left over [color]

Another very useful eraser-like product, but one with many more uses, is a Gonzo Wonder Sponge....no, that's really the name:confused: It's a 2"x3"x4" brick of dense rubber foam and it works like an eraser but doesn't contain the same abrasive grit that many erasers (art type excluded) do so it isn't harmful to your paint. They're available for about $4 at most arts and crafts stores like Michael's and A.C.Moore and I've even seen them in hardware stores like Lowes in the wallpaper dept. When you're not using it on your car it is handy for removing kids handprints from the walls, it will take the soot of of your fireplace bricks and mantle, or any cleaning task where just a little elbow grease and high friction are needed.

However, since I tried S100 (low cost P21S) this past weekend my Gonzo is going to get more rest than it was getting as the S100 leaves absolutely no residue on the mouldings and trim.

One other tip....if you don't want to switch waxes you can ease the workload on trim cleaning by puting on a coat of your favorite vinyl protectant on the trim before you wax. You'll find the wax residue doesn't stick too well to the treated trim.