hello all. i'm going to paint my pantera this upcoming spring. i'm using dcc concept and i want to paint a stripe down the center. i wasn't going to clear after the color but i'm wondering if i need to clear over the stripe because of the tape edge or can i get a decent edge line with only the color?

also, on the same note, what kind of masking tape do you guys prefer for a nice clean sharp edge?

the base color will be white and the stripe will be black.

thanks a bunch, rob.

Yes, stripes are all about the tape. West marine has some green tape that is about $30 per roll, but it works well. When i did my hatch, the first application of color did not end up drying to the exactly color that I was expecting based on the paint code. I ended up scuffing it and going over it a few weeks later with the same product, slightly different color, then topped it with urethane clear. The green tape pulled great after sitting probably a month.

P.S. I'm sure you can get the high-quality green tape for much cheaper elsewhere.

I use 3m fine line tape for stripe prepping

so, if i use good striping tape i don't neccesarily need to clear over the area?

i really like my dcc concept and i'd prefer not to have to clear over the whole deck.

thanks, rob.

3m for the tape.

As for the edge you get the tape has nothing to do with that, it's from the paint film thickness.

Glass Dave uses concept he should be able to say how much of a edge. I have seen where painters would back mask about a 1/4 back on either side of a graphic or stripe then clear.

After buffing the clear the edge is not as bad. Personally on a boat I don't think having a small edge is that big of a deal, not like Harley's where it has to be buried.

i use 3m tape wholesale about 8 bucks a roll leaves a clean edge, can look at the roll and get the numbers off it if you want

After reading other posts, would you not want to use a clear coat for UV protection? Smoothing edges would be secondary but still high on the list. JMO

yep do the stripe with 3M green fine line (green works better on long straight stuff and the blue works better for high contour like flames). You will have a line but its not real bad if you knock it down with 1000 then 2000 and so on. You be surprised how level you can get it with good technique its hardly noticeable.

I know this probably isnt the industry standard but i pull all the tape with it still fresh like within ten minutes or so. Honestly i dont know if it makes any difference but i have done it that way for twenty years lol. I think it comes from my impatience to see what it looks like

using a good single stage like PPG's DCC will have plenty of quality UV inhibitors in it

thanks guys! 3m it is and no clear. that saves me a ton of work and money. i already have the dcc on hand.

now if only the weather was better.