I once heard that the ability for paint to adhere to a surface is inversely proportional to your desire to have it there. In other words, if you don't want paint somewhere, it will stubbornly refuse to be removed.
Refinishing a vehicle can be similar. Some places you want your coatings to adhere and others you don't. Even using modern materials and spray equipment, airborne materials often end up in unwanted places, making for a difficult if not impossible clean up. Paint on weatherstrips, overspray in openings and tape lines present a less than professional repair. Thorough and effective masking eliminates these problems.
Masking is a critical part of an undetectable refinish. Planning, experience and materials all come into play. It may take some extra time to get it right, but proper masking makes for a clean repair and saves extensive clean-up time. Recovering costs also demands attention. All needed masking time may not be included in pre-stored refinish time. How does your estimating system handle masking? If you are working with an estimate from a different system than your own, how does that system handle masking?
Audatex includes "Protect exterior of vehicle from overspray including the gap between panels (e.g., all acceptable methods of bagging, masking, masking up to 36 inches surrounding the panel, masking of glass within a panel, backtaping and foam tape)." On the Not Included list are "Protect interior surface and jambs" and "Second or third bagging or masking of vehicle."
MOTORS (basis for CCC) says, "Published refinish times include time necessary to mask exterior surface adjacent to the refinish area to a perimeter of 36 inches, or 3 feet. When the process of perimeter masking is substituted for an entire vehicle bagging procedure, then no additional time should be added. If entire vehicle bagging is used along with perimeter masking, then the following formula may be considered:
Apply and remove vehicle cover (bagging) - Add 0.2 each time a cover is applied and removed.
INCLUDED:
- Back tape opening (handle, lock cylinder, mirror)
- Mask adjacent panels (three-foot perimeter)
- Mask/close gap between adjacent panels up to foam tape (overspray)
- Mask glass opening
- Mask/protect grille radiator opening (overspray)
- Remove masking.
NOT INCLUDED:
- Cover/mask engine/compartment to prevent overspray
- Cover/mask for prime and block
- Cover/mask for cut-in
- Cover/mask recessed edges/jambs/weatherstrips
- Cover/mask trunk/compartment to prevent overspray
- Cover/mask entire vehicle exterior to prevent overspray
- Cover/mask vehicle interior to prevent overspray"
Mitchell's procedures to mask a vehicle to prevent overspray damage include:
"Mask adjacent panels up to 36 inches or substitute with cover vehicle (bag) complete. NOTE: The included operation of mask adjacent panels is inclusive of any necessary back tape masking to prevent overspray.
NOT INCLUDED:
- Subsequent vehicle bagging when required: add .2 hour for each application & removal
- Mask interior to prevent overspray damage"
"Mask interior entryways, engine compartment and trunk openings.
Interior masking may be necessary when refinishing exterior surfaces to stop overspray damage that is not prevented by adjacent panel perimeter masking, which includes back taping or application of foam tape. Interior masking may also be used when exterior panels (door, hood, etc.) are removed while applying refinish material. The performance of this operation is not included in the Mitchell refinish labor time."
"The following refinish information is provided should it be necessary to perform these operations as determined by individual job requirements.
NOTE: The times shown in the illustration are for interior masking of that panel and/or opening. Labor time includes all pillars, jambs, weatherstrips, edges, entryways and openings as necessary. Deduct .1 hour overlap for each interior masked adjacent panel and/or opening."
Those are the rules. If your goal is an invisible repair, additional masking may be necessary.
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