Taping Up

[Waxman]

How many detailers tape off a car like this prior to buffing?

 

[Bubbles Galore]

I guess I will need a little schooling. What is the reasoning behind that?

 

[Waxman]

Simple; the rotary buffer slings product. Taping up is quicker than cleaning cowls, trim and cracks of all excess product. As an added benefit, you don't burn mouldings if they are taped up.

 

[jfmoran]

A couple of my smart detailers tape off like this (with the exception of covering the side windows), my not so smart ones forget or don't cover anything and then have to deal with me, standing over their shoulder saying "clean here and here and here and here and here..." for all the sling and dust that gets left behind. My dad always said "do it right the first time, or don't do it at all."

John

 

[buda]

This type of taping is done as a matter of course in the Japanese detail shops. Not only to protect against sling, but also to prevent burning of any plastic parts on the exterior.

Of course they get about the equivelant of $500 to $600 for a full exterior detail.

 

[TheDoc]

I'm not Asian and I do generally tape off all moldings and trim with the exception of glass. The reason is to mitigate any chance of damage to moldings and too keep excessive amounts of dried product (dust) from entering areas that are a paint to clean, even with a pressure washer.
I don't do it on every vehicle, just full wet sand or compounding jobs.

15 minutes of prep saves and hour plus on the back end!

AND the job looks a ton better!

Steve

 

[Waxman]

Japanese detail shops? Hmmm. Don't know quite to make of that input. It seems as though you are stating in a round-about way that this type of taping is unnecessary/extravagant on a basic, 2-step, machine buff job.

However, the time and materials cost to tape up vs. the time and expense to scrub off sling and remove dust favors taping up/. Plus, even skilled buffer operators can touch a moulding by mistake and burn it. Replacing or repainting mouldings is costly (I have gone that route).

I should also add that some compounds and glazes really stick to porous mouldings and are very difficult to wash off!

 

[MEP001]

It seems as though you are stating in a round-about way that this type of taping is unnecessary/extravagant on a basic, 2-step, machine buff job.

However, the time and materials cost to tape up vs. the time and expense to scrub off sling and remove dust favors taping up/.

That's all that should matter, regardless of what anyone thinks of your procedure.