What kind of masking tape should I use?!?!?

[KC10Chief]

I'm getting ready to paint my bus this weekend and am going to start masking it as soon as the rain quits (supposedly tomorrow). I was at Home Depot the other day and the guy insisted that I needed the expensive blue stuff and that my Dupont Imron paint or any paint for that matter would soak through regular masking tape. Is this true? I'm thinking that I'll be fine just using regular masking tape. What do you guys think? what did you use? The regular masking tape is 1/3 the price of that blue stuff. Normally, it wouldn't be an issue, but I'm going to need a lot of tape!

[Steve]

You will want the blue stuff if you want a nice line. The blue stuff will also come off better and won't pull off paint.

You are painting a school bus so maybe having a nice clean line isn't so important.

[GoneCamping]

I used the regular stuff...it'll work. However, taking it back off was a problem in some areas. I probably would have been better off using the blue stuff, but to be honest I've seen body shops use regular masking tape for decades.., the blue stuff is relatively new and far as I'm concerned more of a marketing and profit ploy than anything else. Be that as it may, the blue might be helpful but having never used it I'd have a hard time making the determination!!

[boojiewoojie]

The VERY limited experience I've had is this: DON'T put the blue tape on fiberglass that hasn't completely cured- it's leaves a residue forever! I had bought several rolls of blue tape at WallyWorld on clearance $.50 ea. and there was a cleaner line than with regular masking tape. However, the regular masking tape didn't do bad for me- I think it's more a matter of good prep.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by boojiewoojie

I think it's more a matter of good prep.

Clean surface and making sure to rub the tape down will make the most difference.

[Elliot Naess]

My experience with masking tape is that there is a lot of crap out there that is intended
for children's arts and crafts projects and not much good for painting. So my vote would
be to go to a real paint store, preferably an automotive paint store, and buy real
masking tape.
Just my 2 c!

[Excalibrate]

I don't have any experience with the blue stuff but I hear it is worth the money in time saved and good clean lines. I also read a bit on a auto painting forum and they say use the masking up to about 1/2 inch of where you want your line then use the blue overlaping the masking to make your actual line. I have used 3M masking to painting home interiors and had bad bleeding in some cases. Ended up cutting in again by hand. Looked better than what the masking tape left. Here is a link to the forum, great info on painting and equipment selection!
http://www.autobody101.com/forums/index.php