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joe
01-06-2015, 08:27 AM
There are masks for Painting, Sandblasting, Routing, Painted Wood, Raw Wood, and a host of others. I'm amused when I see someone recommending a brand name or product without knowing much about the other persons situation.

If only there was a mask that worked for all the applications. Well there isn't and there never will be. Not only that, what works well for a while may not work in the future. You will notice different results under temp changes, surface textures, masking product changes, not to mention a mask will change it's tack if set on the shelf waiting for use.

This is not a shooting match if you do your tests. A few years ago I had just about given up on masking rough cedarand for routing and painting. After a few weeks of scratching my head, thinking the problem through I came up with a most ingenious solution. I called it "Dr. Crumley's Rootin Tootin Snake Oil Mask." As everyone knows rough cedar is quiet textured and no mask would stick under the router. I ran a few tests using globs of rubber cement. That was the secret Snake Oil solution. But how in the devil could you get that goop off in order to finish. I knew computer transfer mask also used rubber cement so I gave it a try. So I globbed on the cement, let it dry for a couple of minutes and applied the transfer tape. Once burnished down with a stiff bristle scrub brush I was ready to go. This was a V-carve trial and it worked fairly well. It was a fun process but needed a few extra refinements. After a little time the process was working well. You see the transfer mask pulled up all the rubber cement. I know, I Know this is one carzy process but sometimes that what it takes.

Once upon a time I've had sandblast mask working like a dream but if left out in the sun for ten minutes it would peal off two layers of wood. Same mask but the sun did it in. At best it would leave all it's adhesive behind. You see there's no easy answer so each person has to experiment. Talk is cheap! Do your own tests.

Joe Crumley

scottp55
01-06-2015, 08:49 AM
Joe, Can "Post Holes" be combined in the order to get a quantity discount?
Price list please:)

joe
01-06-2015, 08:09 PM
Here's a masking solutions for heavily textured wood. The mask is 1/4" PVC. For those of you who don't know "PVC" is extremely blast resistant.

There were two of these sign made from old rough, discarded, wood. Some of it was cedar, pine, and pressure treated. I had decided to screw the pvc directly because the finished letters were cut from DiBond which would cover screw holes. I often use this technique since I like the look of applied, painted, textured lettering. It makes such a clean, readable sign. I amazed this technique is seldom used since it cleans up a rough looking background.

Joe Crumley