Finishing is, arguably, one of the most time and cost-intensive phases of any project.

That’s especially true for any application that calls for masking. Whether masking against powder coating, galvanizing, sand blasting or a wet application like paint or adhesive, creating consistent processes that can be easily duplicated is essential. Otherwise, what you can count on are increased bottlenecks and more waste.

How do you create a masking process that is streamlined and repeatable? It’s as simple as using die-cut masking tape.

When die cut to fit the zone where you need to block a blast of powder, paint or metallic coating, you’ll see a significant time and cost savings compared to other masking solutions. We’ll explain how in the following blog.

Masking tape vs other masking solutions

When it comes to powder coating, plasma spray and wet spraying, masking tape offers an effective but cost-efficient solution when compared to other making methods.

• Liquid masking: Labor-intensive and requires drying time.
• Manual or chemical removal: Elevated risk of damage to the surface or part.
• Reusable masks and stencils: Edge lift is common; high replacement costs due to shrinkage and tearing after repeated use.

Masking tape has none of these downsides, along with a number of additional advantages.

• Cost effective.
• Peels and removes easily.
• Formulated to leave behind no adhesive residue.
• Available in a wide variety of protective carriers and adhesive compositions suited for a number of industrial applications.

See this solution in action by reading our case study: An Easy-Release Masking Tape That Takes the Heat of Plasma Spray

Die-cut masking tape: Is it worth it?

Once you’ve selected the right type of masking tape — one that protects and holds while withstanding industrial conditions like high temperature — consider the benefits of having the tape die cut into the dimensions of the surface you need to protect.

When workers tear off strips of masking tape from a roll — versus using pre-cut pieces — the likelihood of errors goes up. This means greater instances of over- and under-coverage of the protected zone. Even a 5% deviation in spray protection can lead to quality issues down the line.

Using the free-form method may save money upfront. But it sets up the production line for inconsistency, resulting in higher error rates, more rework and more material waste to dispose of. 

But you can prevent these headaches when you introduce pre-cut pieces of masking tape into the process.

Faster process: Die-cut tape eliminates the need to measure lengths of tape on the fly. Simply remove the carrier, apply, and the non-spray zone is protected. (Evans Evco has solutions to simplify this application, such as crack and peel liners.)

Reduce waste: Die-cut pieces eliminate variation and ensure the exact right surface area gets protected down to the millimeter. With this level of precision, you’ll see lower material costs, higher productivity and less rework.

Higher repeatability: Using die-cut tape for masking applications creates a simplified, repeatable process that immediately reduces errors and raises throughput.

Want to estimate the costs of die-cut masking tape? Use our handy MSI calculator.

Masking tape solutions by Evans Evco: A fit for every application

There’s a masking tape for just about any surface protection application. Evans Evco will help you find it, and die cut to fit the area of surface you want to protect.

Our experts have great supplier relationships and can readily identify the most effective industrial masking tape for your project. Then we’ll die cut it in our facilities, package with care and ship to your door.