Ford Kuga

 Service Manual

Paint - General Information » Tips and Tricks
Masking the vehicle

Masking and covering work are among the most important preparations required to achieve a high quality paint finish. Paint application onto neighboring components, paint mist and sharp paint transitions are quality faults. For this reason it is extremely important to take special care and to use suitable masking materials.

NOTE: When water based paints are used, all materials must be stable towards water.

Plan the masking work:

• Determine the sequence of masking work.

  Sometimes after masking film has been applied, it is difficult or impossible to reach certain areas.

• Prepare the masking material.
• Start with small difficult areas.

Pay special attention to the areas of profiled seals, edges, openings and paint transitions.

Masking tape

Masking tape is available in various widths for special application areas. In practice however, a wide tape has proved best for almost all areas, also taking into account the time required for masking work.

NOTE: Use of differing masking materials is often much more time-consuming

Advantages

• Good coverage. Narrower tapes must often be applied in several layers
• More resistant to tearing.
• Wide tapes can be applied deep into joints and therefore protect from paint mist and contamination.
• Removal is often easier.

Masking film

Transparent plastic film has become accepted as a practical method to mask large areas of a whole vehicle. It can quickly and easily be applied to the vehicle from the roll.

NOTE: Only mask the vehicle when it is dry.

Moisture under the film can lead to matt paint in the drying process.

Using masking film

• Clean the vehicle before masking it.
• Pull the film over the vehicle. Because of the static charge, the film lies on the vehicle like a second skin.
• Cut out the repair area using the film knife and then mask it.

Other ways of masking a vehicle are:

• Masking using masking paper
• Painting cloth (mostly used during filling work).

Profiled seals

If it is not possible to remove a profiled seal, then it must be masked in such a way that no edges can form due to paint accumulation.

To do this, the seal is lifted slightly and masked.

The following techniques are possible:

Item	Description
1	Masking tape with plastic strips
2	Sealing lip
3	Sandpaper with masking tape

Laying a string or cord under the seal. Suitable for soft and elastic seal lips.

Special masking tape with plastic strips for hard seal lips.

Instead of using plastic strips, fine sandpaper cut into strips can be inserted and secured using normal masking tape.

If the seal can be easily displaced, normal masking tape can also be used.

Edges/openings

Smooth paint transitions can be produced by positioning adhesive tapes.

NOTE: Pull the adhesive tapes away immediately after the paint has been applied and check the paint transitions.

Item	Description
1	Vehicle edge
2	Adhesive surface
3	Masking paper

Possible variations

• At edges apply one strip of masking tape half on the area not to be painted and mask using a second strip.
• On surfaces, two masking strips can be attached, each affixed by half their adhesive surface. The adhesive strip which arises is then applied with one half on the edge of the area to be painted. The other half is aligned and fixed in addition in the curves.
• Affix masking paper on one side over the area to be painted. Double back the masking paper and secure it.
• Affix round profiled foam at the edge of the area to be painted using masking tape.

Foam strips are suitable for affixing to openings such as door gaps.

NOTE: Choose a suitable profile diameter. A profile which is too thick will protrude from the opening, one which is too thin will leave a gap.

Clean the door opening well and affix the matching shape.

Comparing paint structures

Etching substrate

Masking the vehicle

Color shade problems

Temperature reduction spray

Paint plane

Shading

Sanding marks

Improving touch-up work