Painting a checkerboard

Gerald

If I was to do a checker board look. Painted would last longer but take days longer to lay out and paint. Vinyl would be more cost effect time and money. The time you spend on lay out is the time it takes to finish. I have found that vinyl looks good and lasts 8 plus years on my job trailers(outside in WI 24-7) and work trucks. Dont use chrome it fades in two years. One other thing about vinyl is that the guys that do that work have really cool software and can do awsome design and layout work. Next if you want to change the vinyl all it takes is a heat gun and the vinyl is removed.

Chris

I haven't done this....but here's what 3M has to say on the subject using their masking tape:

http://solutions.3m.com/3MContentRetrievalAPI/BlobServlet?locale=en_WW&lmd=1245161846000&assetId=1180614347135&assetType=MMM_Image&blobAttribute=ImageFile 

It's a PDF file.

Simple checkerboard patterns are not difficult to do. For a 2" square red/white checkerboard pattern:

Step 1 - Paint whole panel white....make sure paint is totally cured before proceeding.

Step 2 - Cover completely with strips of 2" masking tape butted against each other....do not overlap.

Step 3 -  Use razor blade to make cuts 2" apart, perpendicular to the strips....avoid cuttiing deeply into white paint.

Step 4 - Remove every other square of masking tape.....use care to avoid pulling up any white paint.

Step 5 - Paint openings with red color....the thicker it's applied, the bigger the ridges will be.

Step 6 - Remove the remaining masking tape squares to reveal completed checkerboard pattern.

Step 7 - Optional: Clear entire panel....sand and reapply clear to make smoother....repeat if desired.

Keep in mind, 3M Blue masking tape is a home interior finishing tape and not designed to be used with 2-part automotive type paint systems, so be careful. (The solvents can sometimes cause the adhesive to seperate from the tape.)

Hope this helps,

Jim

Thanks, this really helps. G

Just make sure you get the tape from a auto paint store