Need alternative for blue/green painter's tape

[zachf88]

Well, I'm taking the RS4 on a 2700 mile road trip. There is no one who does clear bra in my area. What would you guys recommend for masking the front of the car to protect from bugs and rocks. I really do not want to use bright blue or green painters tape (keep in mind, I have to cross US/Canadian customs)

Any input is greatly appreciated!

[drew]

not much you can do besides clear bra or those hideous leather ones.

i tried the painter's tape before and all it did was fly of the car at freeway speeds.

[Capt. Obvious]

I really like the spray-on clear bra you can buy. The only downside to it is it's only worth using if there isn't going to be a lot of rain because it comes off with water.

And of course, there's always the PINK painters tape.

[mad70sx]

i tried the painter's tape before and all it did was fly of the car at freeway speeds.

Try the 200 mph tape they use in NASCAR.

[charliemike]

Hey, duct tape might match your car ...

j/k :)

I'm doing a 4100 mile road trip this summer. I'm not going to tape it. I'll just zaino the bejeezus out of it and wash it at every stop each night along the way.

Other than that, not much I can do ... I'm not driving around like a nerd for 3 weeks with blue tape on my car :)

I'll just lower my deductible while I'm on the trip ;)

[zachf88]

I thought about "racer's tape" but it's really strong. I'm worried that it will strip off the clear coat and maybe some paint....


Has anyone tried this?
http://www.buyroadwrap.com/

[drew]

I thought about "racer's tape" but it's really strong. I'm worried that it will strip off the clear coat and maybe some paint....


Has anyone tried this?
http://www.buyroadwrap.com/

hmm, the trick to that one will be to apply it correctly but maybe you can live with it looking ghetto if it does the job for the trip

i actually peeled of old professionally done clear bar off one of my cars with no issues to the paint. you just have to go really slow and be careful and then wax the crap out of it.

[bsrpilot44]

I thought about "racer's tape" but it's really strong. I'm worried that it will strip off the clear coat and maybe some paint....


Has anyone tried this?
http://www.buyroadwrap.com/

There was a vette @ ButtonWillow on 4/18 which was using this stuff. Looked like sh!t(read: tons of bubbles/creases...which I'm told are next to IMPOSSIBLE to avoid), but I assume it worked flawlessly.

[sakimano]

just 3M clearbra your car...it's probably a good thing to have permanently.

since there are none in the Fax, just find somewhere en route and get it done there. Only takes a couple of hours doesn't it? I have no idea personally. You're driving from Halifax to Texas to Halifax...has to be somewhere in the first 500 miles or so that can do it up for you.

p.s. isn't there black tape? Hockey tape? I drove from Atlanta to Toronto and my car looks like new. Maybe just fk it and don't worry about it at all.

[slowturbo]

May not be your most ideal situation but if you are staying somewhere where a shop applies clearbra, you could wait it out while it gets done. This way, you only do one leg of your trip without it and have your car's front end protected the rest of the time.

[zachf88]

This will be just temporary, as I am getting a clear bra when I'm down in Texas. I'm on a tight schedule and can not make any long stops or changes to my plans. I'm just looking for the best alternative.

[dirtybrd]

Those window screen masks. Ugly but functional.

[ALWAYS4UDI]

just use the blue painters tape! haha i always loved going to shows and seeing every other car with it. mine's being taped up this weekend for the trip down to SoWo.

[enigma1406]

i tried the painter's tape before and all it did was fly of the car at freeway speeds.

You didn't do it right then! I drove from Houston to Santa Monica and back (1600 miles each way) with some rain and almost all of it lasted both ways with 5 days spent in Cali.

When you do apply it, you have to think about air flow and how it will hit the tape. Basically, have layers so that the air passing over the tape doesn't hit a lip.

These pics were taken in San Antonio after some highway driving.





This is how you should apply it, so the wind doesn't hit the edges of the tape:

[B18b1ex]

You didn't do it right then! I drove from Houston to Santa Monica and back (1600 miles each way) with some rain and almost all of it lasted both ways with 5 days spent in Cali.

When you do apply it, you have to think about air flow and how it will hit the tape. Basically, have layers so that the air passing over the tape doesn't hit a lip.

These pics were taken in San Antonio after some highway driving.





This is how you should apply it, so the wind doesn't hit the edges of the tape:

That's ridiculous, how long did that take to do?

[audis4b6]

You didn't do it right then! I drove from Houston to Santa Monica and back (1600 miles each way) with some rain and almost all of it lasted both ways with 5 days spent in Cali.

When you do apply it, you have to think about air flow and how it will hit the tape. Basically, have layers so that the air passing over the tape doesn't hit a lip.

These pics were taken in San Antonio after some highway driving.





This is how you should apply it, so the wind doesn't hit the edges of the tape:

wow nice job!!!!
how long did it take you to get this done? how many tape rolls did you use?

[nealRlett]

I created a thread on this:
here ya go!
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=253858
and
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=275626

[drew]

um wow...lol

[Bravest NY S4]

That is the most meticulous act of analism I have EVER witnessed...INCREDIBLE!

[zachf88]

Neal - was this the stuff? http://www.filmtools.com/2blacwhitgre.html

[Mr. Corey]

drive your the BMW instead

[Elohite]

[QUOTE=enigma1406;3730413]




Haha nice

[cellg8]

You didn't do it right then! I drove from Houston to Santa Monica and back (1600 miles each way) with some rain and almost all of it lasted both ways with 5 days spent in Cali.

When you do apply it, you have to think about air flow and how it will hit the tape. Basically, have layers so that the air passing over the tape doesn't hit a lip.

These pics were taken in San Antonio after some highway driving.





This is how you should apply it, so the wind doesn't hit the edges of the tape:

Wonder if your car was featured on Carspy.com or something as a 'pre-release' model...

[zachf88]

drive your the BMW instead

Can't! Going to get the DRC replaced.... and who knows what else... hehe

[sakimano]

OMFG...that's the craziest thing I've ever seen!!!!!!!

I love this. This is the hardest I've laughed in like 6 months

It's like Nogaro-light. EPIC

You didn't do it right then! I drove from Houston to Santa Monica and back (1600 miles each way) with some rain and almost all of it lasted both ways with 5 days spent in Cali.

When you do apply it, you have to think about air flow and how it will hit the tape. Basically, have layers so that the air passing over the tape doesn't hit a lip.

These pics were taken in San Antonio after some highway driving.





This is how you should apply it, so the wind doesn't hit the edges of the tape:

[ProfileX]

After all that work I can't believe how close you parked to the line and the SUV. I'm more worried about door dings than rock chips.

[ALWAYS4UDI]

After all that work I can't believe how close you parked to the line and the SUV. I'm more worried about door dings than rock chips.

hahaha same here

[whartung]

thats absurd....

I'm half way through a road trip from nyc to LA right now, and as long as you keep your distance from people, ESPECIALLY 18 wheelers, you dont get rock chips. Just bugs. and i'm getting my car detailed when i get home anyway, so the bugs dont really matter.

PLUS, the only thing that could have done damage wouldn't have been saved with painters tape. I nailed a bird with my upper windshield/roof. it exploded. no damage luckily.

[jstahmann]

thats absurd....

...as long as you keep your distance from people, ESPECIALLY 18 wheelers, you dont get rock chips. Just bugs.

Agreed. It's a car. If you get big rock chips get it resprayed or touched up.

[enigma1406]

Took me about 5 hours but I took some breaks. I was only planning on doing the front but wanted to take it easy the night before (2 days of 12 hours driving alone each way) so I figured why not just do the whole damn thing. Yes it's overkill and a waste of time and utterly pointless...but I'd do it again.

After all that work I can't believe how close you parked to the line and the SUV. I'm more worried about door dings than rock chips.

I got out just to take pictures...had just filled up gas...I'm not a huge fan of McDonalds.

Wonder if your car was featured on Carspy.com or something as a 'pre-release' model...

I got asked that a few times at gas stations. Every single time I stopped people asked me about the car. I even got pulled over once and the cop ran my plate to see if my car was stolen...like covering it in BRIGHT BLUE tape would be the best way to conceal it.

I stayed with a friend in Arizona and when I saw her later in the year she said she thought my car was blue the whole time because she never saw it up close. If anything, doing this has been worth the conversations that have been had as a result. People definitely think I'm crazy when they see the pictures but I don't care...my fiancee gets pretty embarassed though.

[enigma1406]

Neal - was this the stuff? http://www.filmtools.com/2blacwhitgre.html

Was this directed at me? If so, my name's not Neal! But no, I used 3M scotch painter's tape. They have them in 3", 2" & 1" wide and I got a little of each.

[jlc59]

WOW!!!! I thought I was anal about my car..lol

[d.p]

In the end its just a car, personally I wouldn't waste the time putting that much tape on it.

To each their own.

[sakimano]

thats absurd....

I'm half way through a road trip from nyc to LA right now, and as long as you keep your distance from people, ESPECIALLY 18 wheelers, you dont get rock chips. Just bugs. and i'm getting my car detailed when i get home anyway, so the bugs dont really matter.

PLUS, the only thing that could have done damage wouldn't have been saved with painters tape. I nailed a bird with my upper windshield/roof. it exploded. no damage luckily.

bird killer

[zachf88]

Was this directed at me? If so, my name's not Neal! But no, I used 3M scotch painter's tape. They have them in 3", 2" & 1" wide and I got a little of each.

It was directed at NealRlett....

BTW, how did your car come out of jammers? They completely messed up my brother's c55....

[zachf88]

well, if any of you guys know me, i'm really anal about my car's paint. I know where every little rock chip/pivot and clear coat scratch/swirl is on my car..... also, I've put in many hours detailing her.... so a little painters tape would not hurt!

[RAudi Driver]

2,700 x .50 per mile is going to cost you about $1,350. Why don't you just stay home and purchase a set of coilovers instead.

You're gonna die when it fails again and it could even happen on your way home. DRC sucks the big wazoo.

[enigma1406]

It was directed at NealRlett....

BTW, how did your car come out of jammers? They completely messed up my brother's c55....

Ha ok, my bad.

My car looks fine except that there are a few things wrong with it. Jammers will be getting the car back with a list of everything wrong that needs to be fixed. I'm pretty anal about stuff and they know this, so I'm sure they're expecting to do some work. I have just about every little paint imperfection on paper.

What was done to your brother's C55? How did they mess up?

[whartung]

bird killer

you got me

[jstahmann]

2,700 x .50 per mile is going to cost you about $1,350. Why don't you just stay home and purchase a set of coilovers instead.

You're gonna die when it fails again and it could even happen on your way home. DRC sucks the big wazoo.

I love your reasoning!