What is a good tape to use to tape off a circle I am painting on a ceiling

 

Also if anyone has any tips on painting circles please share.

 

Tape is going to be hard to make look right.

How big of a circle? I suggest something thin as a template. You can use double-sided tape to hold in place. Or, if its feasable, use a string, pencil, and brad (nail) to draw the circle. Use a VERY light stroke. Then carefully hand paint on the outline. The tiny hole from the nail can be easily patched.

 

The circle is 4 feet, I was planning on sketching it out with the pencil and string method and then taping it off

 

doing it with a pencil and string is one way.Keep the pencil perpendicular to the ceiling. After you do it go around the line with the corner of a small spackle knife to create an unnoticible groove. When you paint go up to it and let the paint flow into it.

 

I had a similar idea...I was going to go over the lines with a razor blade but I didn't want to cut into the paint I think I'll use your method

Thanks

 

another way would be to make the circle with the string and then cover the line with blue tape or safe release tape leaving plenty of room on each side . then make the line again and cut off the line with a razor or a . sort of burnish the edges to keep the paint from getting under it. Make sure you don't have any creases in the tape and use a sharp blade. Remove the tape immediately after painting.
You could also use a piece of 1 by 2 about 5 feet long and drill a hole about 3 inches from 1 end and insert a drywall screw as the pivot point. Then drill a small hole for, like a finish nail or a pencil, exactly 48 inches away and make your circle. patch the small hole the drywall screw made. This may produce the roundest circle

Just a thought about using the spackle knife edge to make the groove If you choose that method. Try a butter knife first to see if it works. Might be easier and less chance of chipping I would think,and it might make more of a groove than a cut,because it's rounded.

 

won't it be hard to tape with the blue tape because it's round lines?

 

I think what joneq means is make the first circle so you know where to put the tape. Now trace the the circle on top of the tape and cut away the tape inside the circle. The tape is now your template.

 

That was a good idea. I like the style with taping over the line, retracing it, and cutting the excess out. That would work pretty good.

 

well here goes nothing I'll try and get some pics up on the web when I'm done

 

I would tape the circle after using the screw, string, and pencil drawing. If you use a narrow tape it will easily bend to a circle. 1" tape wont cut as small a circle as 3/4", so I would try to find some 1/2" and try it. Cutting with a razor will be time consuming and if the pencil line is accurate it will be hard to notice minor irregularities. Very narrow tapes ( 1/8" fineline ) can be had at autobody supply places but if you are going over texture or rough surface getting it to stick will be a problem. After taping you can paint clear faux finish over the tape edge to seal it from bleeding under, then razor cut the tape edge to pull off the tape. I would just brush (cut in) the flaws out as this would be quicker.

 

Job done! Thanks for all the tips, in the end I used the nail and string method and then taped it off with easy mask strechy tape or something like that.

Check it out
Click here

Any feedback is welcome
Sorry no fancy website but I wanted to share

 

Thanks for sharing the end product with us.

 

Very nice. I'm a Cub's fan from way back.