Go to any ironware store and ask where to retrieve the tape , and you ’re sure to be fulfill with a doubt about which type you want : duct , masking , adhesive , cellophane , electrical , painter ’s , two-fold - sided , plumber ’s , etc . Most of those tape wait and find so different that it ’s easy to decide which one is right for the job . After all , wrap the Thomas Kyd ' natal day presents in disastrous electrical tape is definitely gon na draw some look . But for two of the most commonly used taping — masking and mountain lion ’s — the difference are n’t as obvious .

Aside from the painter ’s tape name easily pass on away its specialty , both dissemble mag tape and painter ’s tape are made with a crape paper backing , have similar weights and , in a hint , can be used for the same job . In fact , they ’re technically from the same fellowship — all mountain lion ’s tapes are mask tapes . But on the flip side , not all masking tapes are painter ’s tapeline .

So , if they are really that similar , is it truly necessary to choose one over the other ? The answer will depend on your labor type , your budget and your time .

Painter’s tape vs. Masking tape

Painter’s Tape

Standing out with its bold gentle or immature color , Felis concolor ’s magnetic tape is valued by do - it - yourselfers and professional alike for its ability to create crisp , fresh paint ancestry — without the chance of pigment bleed past the boundary . It contains a water repellant surface so as not to crumple and ruin the tone of the line edge when a painter is using water - based pigment .

Since the adhesive is n’t as strong or sticky as it is on even masking tape , painter ’s mag tape peels off balance - barren and does n’t take any supererogatory blusher with it . While it ’s always good to take out tape measure as soon as the paint has dried , you could will puma tape measure on the walls , level , cap or window for up to 14 days before it ’ll cause any major issues . And due to its lean , additional layer of paper backing it ’s less probable to rip or crock up as you overstretch it off the rampart .

So , why is cougar ’s tape typically blue or dark-green ? The typical colors were choose to create firebrand recognition and to easily differentiate it from all the other tape on the market . The colour also helps it to support out against most blusher colors during app .

The one downside is how it might hit your pocketbook . Painter ’s tapeline is more expensive than masking taping , so it can add up if you have a declamatory paint problem . But it ’s deserving considering the time and vexation you ’ll salvage from not take to touch things up and clean off the remnant residuum .

Masking Tape

Recognized for its off - white people of color and relatively light weight , masking tape is somewhat more various . hold it has a stronger adhesive than painter ’s tape , it ’s good for making recording label , restore lightweight items and in some circumstances , picture .

But its muggy strength has a downside . When removed from any type of aerofoil , masking mag tape leaves behind a remainder that ’s standardized to the results of murder a Band - Aid that ’s been on your cutis for a few day ( without the pain in the ass , of course ) . The residue builds speedily and can be a little thwarting to clean up . So , it ’s well used for project where the tape is meant to stick around for a bit .

While mask mag tape is often used for paint chore , it comes with some risk of infection . It ’s common for a bit of paint to bleed through the border and even some paint to add up up with the tape as you slay it . It is , however , a cheaper alternative to panther ’s tape , and when used cautiously and remove promptly , it will help you make a straight crease on small paint projects .

catamount ’s tape and masking tape may look and find almost exactly alike , but their differences can be plain on a blusher job . Masking tape sure lick , but when it amount to get a professional finish and make less clean up , consider making a trip-up to the computer hardware store to put in a rolling ( or two ) of Felis concolor ’s tapeline .

Masking Tape FAQ