This is what makes this channel so good; most such videos stop at the comparison on different surfaces, but Stewart then adds the tip about builder's caulk which for big decorating projects can add up to a significant saving..
I’m glad your experience mirrors my own. I tend to use the yellow ‘low tack’ version for most of my painting. I don’t have the technique of an experienced decorator to manage without masking tape, and of all the ones I’ve tried I’m happy with frog tape. It is expensive for what it is, but I take the view that a few extra quid gets lost in the noise over the course of decorating a whole room.
I will only ever use frog tape (green) now - I always dampen it with a wet cloth prior to starting work. It has never let me down. Thanks for another great video, Stuart!
I've watched a lot of your reviews and they're getting better and better. Intelligent, clear presentation, really first rate video - both wide and close-up - and crisp audio. Frankly, I wasn't expecting much from the masking tape video but this was worthwhile and the results were surprising. I use all these tapes on set builds etc. and the cheap ones are often fine - especially the 2" wide stuff. I had never taken the time to study the difference between the Frog and 3M, so this was an education if working on critical edges. Thanks.
Wow, what a great and informative video. The video quality is stunning, its so hard to get the right angle and focus on surfaces and you've captures that perfectly. I'm just a diy person and have always walked past the frog tape due to the high cost but now will probably give it a go next time I need to paint something. The tip with the decorators caulk is also new to me, really impressive with how much of a difference it makes.
Thanks for your excellent content! I used the blue Frog tape on a project recently, I happened to notice there were instructions in fine text on the inside of the core. They recommended wetting the tape with water to get the best results. I followed this and got clean lines on brickwork, including the mortar. I did take a fair bit of care when applying the tape to get it into the mortar lines and was extremely pleased with the results
The caulking trick will of course depend on the background colour.. a similar trick is to first paint with the background colour along the edge, then the new colour.
I'm a carpenter and, while I don't do much decorating, I use Frogtape on loads of jobs. The cheap tapes rattle around in the van or toolboxes and end up dented, making it harder to peel. The Frogtape box keeps it nice and tidy - and it's recyclable!
Nice vid, thank you! I normally find you need to do 2 coats of paint so you’re unable to peel when wet. Another tip is to paint with base colour first (this will bleed but you won’t see it as it’s the same colour as base). Then do your coats of colour and then remove tape. You get very little bleed and can get away with cheaper tape. Only issue is you can get some chipping as was mentioned in vid as paint is dry and has “bridged” between tape and painted surface
I have always looked at the ridiculous price of frogtape nd just put it down to the packaging but now I know why so thank you for doing that in- depth testing. We stick it at the builders merchants where I work but I am pretty sure we don't sell much of it , people just see a price . I will be using frogtape from now on , plus I get staff discount which is good 😀 Thanks again for all your input 👍👍 Cheers .
I been using scotch blue for years. Where you went wrong with it was that it takes 30 minutes for it to tack fully. Also it regularly goes on sale on Amazon and if you get it at the right price it can be half the price of Frog tape
I use Frog tape, green and yellow, I find it very good. It peels off well after several weeks. I use mainly for new skirting board and architrave it really helps my non-professional decorating skills and as someone else says the extra cost is lost in the noise. Great vid thanks. Mike 👍🏻
I know. There are a lot of people on here crying about spending a few extra pounds on the Frog tape. For goodness sake, if you're that hard up, then don't bother decorating.
Another way one can achieve a nice edge (but requires a steady hand) is to use a small brush that artists use for painting on the rope rigging on old sailing ships, tree branches and any time one needs a long thin line. They are known as Rigger or Liner or Script brushes. Very handy and very much quicker for some jobs than applying tape.
@@stevehansler9014 Good advice, I also wondered if rollering the tape with one of those hard rollers that are for wallpaper seams before applying paint would prevent any bleeding.
I think regardless the frog tape is by far a superior product. I guess it comes down to budget and what you are willing to accept as a finish. A bit like buying expensive tools over a cheaper variant. We would all like a festool plunge saw.. but is it relevant for those of us who use them occasionally? Despite that, people often do buy the most expensive tool to store in their garage.
@@leejames9422 I have no issue paying for quality, the majority of my tools are Festool or DeWalt and I made that investment because I want them to last a long time which in turn equates to value. Frogtape is around £15 a roll where I live, Sellotape brand masking tape is £1, That's not a justifiable premium just for better glue on a disposable product.
Another thumbs-up here for Frog. Another thing, which I haven't seen mentioned here: if you have a part-used roll of cheap masking tape that's been sitting around for a bit, it can get fussy and refuse to come off the roll without tearing at a really annoying shallow angle. Frog tape doesn't seem to have a limit on shelf life.
Interesting stuff, the results are quite obvious! Very nice video once again, Stuart! And thank you for that tip 13:26 , that one really was amazing! Never heard of this before!
Thanks good review and comparison as usual. I've discovered quite by accident that if I wipe the frog tape with damp cloth it works much better. This is on non smooth surface such as skirting to laminate floor. Obviously I was pre starting the chemical process.
I follow Alexandra Gater, and she always advises 1) using frog tape 2) paint on the tape edge the old colour once, so if there is a smidge of bleed it'll bleed, say, white on white, and 3) paint, let dry, second coat, let dry, third coat as needed - the important thing is to pull up the tape (carefully, not a 7-year-old-at-christmas rip) while the final coat is still damp. So, I don't disagree with your findings, but do recommend (certainly for amateurs such as myself) the addition of step 2. Ed: ok, you do basically that with the caulk, but I have an edge between purple paint and green pain in my lounge - and I put the clean edge to Alexandra G's technique
I used the Frogtape for the first time and although I doubted that it really would give a better masked line than the cheaper masking tape, it was far superior. It was almost a eureka moment. Always use it now whenever I need a clean paint line.
This is perfect timing for this video. Im decorating some of the rooms in the house next weekend and have always wondered if the frog tape was just a con. You’ve answered that question. Thank you 👍
Re your comment about always taking masking tape off when the paint is still wet. I have been painting my Georgian ash windows for the last twenty years, lots of masking to do on small pane windows. Not sure why but the last two occasions I have painted on the undercoat and left the masking tape on. Next day top coat goes on and then I remove the tape. It works a treat and produces a very clean edge.This does not work if you use a water based undercoat, good old fashioned oil based one is required.
One thing to try, supposedly the adhesive on all the masking tapes is activated with moisture, so if a damp cloth is used to smooth down the tape when it's applied, you activate the adhesive and may get a cleaner line. Great video.
Hi Stuart . I’ve used frog tape for years and have always been very happy with the results , another fact about it is that you can with care bend it round curves . Which has been handy with some of my art work , but it’s definitely its ability to produce perfect clean lines that is so useful . Kind regards 👍
When I had my Handyman's business my Brother in law wanted the hall of the local Scout hut painting with white emulsion at the top and blue gloss on the bottom up to 4'6". I sent in a quote which included the Frogtape, I too found it produce crisp lines even on painted brickwork, it took me a week to paint that hall but the results from the Frogtape really made for a satisfying job. I do use it still when decorating our bungalow expensive but does the job perfectly.👍👍👍👍
Rough surface to mask on? Use a rubber eraser on the tape edge, rubbing back and forth along the line. It will get the tape in full contact with the rough surface and give much better results, even with frog tape. And like others have said, a light wipe with a damp cloth along the edge will activate the expanding polymer glue and fully seal prior to painting. Get pin sharp lines every time. Frog tape is well worth the money for those precision jobs. ALWAYS keep in box though, or experience regret later.
I used to just buy the cheap stuff but got frustrated with it tearing as you try to pull it off the roll (more often when it’s been sitting around for a while rather than new) but have had no such issues with more expensive versions including 3m. I also use it for things other than providing a sharp edge for painting so finding the right price balance is important to me.
In my opinion Frogtape is far superior and definitely worth the extra cost. I have also found you that if you remove the Frogtape slowly and fold it back on itself as you remove it you get an even crisper finish. The wide orange version is especially good for cutting in walls and ceilings if you are rubbish at cutting in like me 😮
I totally understand that you should remove the tape when the paint is wet but I leave it an hour or so before removing. If the tape is removed straight away, the paint is still in its most liquid form and can still flow. Other tapes might have performed a little better under these conditions. Also, I used Frog tape on top of emulsion applied the day before on plastered wall and the tape pulled the emulsion off. My fault maybe, I should have waited longer.
I used to use frog tape. Found it very good. Not perfect, but very good. However, it's expensive and masking can take a long time. I soon realised it was cheaper, quicker and with a better quality finish to invest in good quality brushes and learn good technique for cutting in.
Frog tapes excellent. Only a highly talented artist could cut in free hand as good as the taped factory finish. I’ve seen “pros” cutting in, atrocious. Taping is a skill itself, if applied correctly it’s superior.
I've mostly uses the old style tape and if you use a small bead of caulk along your tape edge it gives a crisp line, I know some people won't be bothered doing that but maybe it helps
Thank you for this video. Very informative and to actually see it done visually just hits home what you are saying. I agree with the other commenter... The extra wee hint at the end with the caulk is such an awesome bonus.
Stuart, what about when your painting multiple coats and have to wait for each coat to dry before painting the next? Do you have to keep reapplying a fresh line of tape (whatever type) between coats? Excellent tip with the decorators caulk... I'll use the cheap stuff and caulk as my go to option 👍🏼
Haven't read all 200 plus comments but a top tip for masking tape is NOT to store it on its side. The tacky edge will pick up dirt and when you eventually apply the tape some of that dirt will get transferred and it becomes almost impossible to get a clean edge. I can see quite clearly in your video that the cheap stuff has a blackened edge so you will never get a decent seal. Even the polymer sealed tapes will pick up dirt eventually and perform less well.
Always look forward to another ProperDIY episode. I always learn something new, and the channel is perfect for the British DIY'er who wants to do a proper job around the house. BTW: I once worked for a large US paint manufacturer. And professional painters, when they used masking tape, swore by Frog Tape. It's expensive, but it does the job. A £5 roll of tape sounds expensive, but compared to a couple hours of post-painting cleanup and correction - its a bargain. Thanks for a great channel.
Thanks for this. Traditionally, I refuse to use tape and use an artists brush when doing windows. However, as I get older, I am looking at less time consuming methods for my next house project. Loved the caulking trick!!
Really good to see the hype is actually worth it in this case. I use the cheap stuff in carpentry to stick down splinters and to bundle timber. Really nice to see frog tape is worth its cost for painting. Best demo as ever.
Excellent vid pal, always wondered if it was worth it. Now I know. Still won't buy it though as is too expensive. Used the caulk trick for years and will continue to do so.
First we had masking tape but it pulled off paint so they made the low tack blue but then paint turned into water based so they made the green. You don’t have to pull it off when the paint is wet, use a heat gun or hair dryer and it will come off clean and easy. If you have oil base paint use blue.
I take note of your comments about removing the tape whilst the paint is still "wet". However, in situations where there are successive coats (eg a base coat say plus gloss) does this require multiple applications of the tape as well? Thus far painting windows at home, the frog tape has performed well with more than one costbof paint.
I just run over the edge with a stanley knife a very sharp blade. This allows to remove the tape without tearing the paint even after few days. Re-applying the tape after each coat is cumbersome. Probably ok if you are doing only 1 coat (but what is the chance of that happening?). Most modern water based paints require at least 3 or 4 coats (undercoat + top coat), this would require an insane amount of masking tape and time putting it on.
Just the one application of frog tape. When you put further coats of paint the underlying films are softened slightly (otherwise successive coats wouldn't bond fully) and slightly "reactivated". You need a little bit more care maybe in direction of pull when removing the tape, but it will come off beautifully !eaving a razor sharp line. As a professional painter, I used Frog tape for more years and jobs than I care to remember, especially for strongly contrasting colours and timber trim/wall colour borders, and it was unbeatable for totally straight lines. Regarding costs, time IS money, so that's the tradeoff with using Frog. Also, while the caulked edge hack works, it can leave a bit of a ridge which can look a little odd with some paints.
I'm no decorator, but have done a fair amount of painting for work. I've never removed masking tape when the paints wet. Is this just one of things that is lost between pros and amateurs? You're not having to mask again for a second or third coat..?
Hi you’ve clearly demonstrated that the frog tape is the best for straight lines. My question is how do you stop any tape from peeling bits of paint off already painted surfaces when removing the tape?
Excellent. It has demonstrated to me that when clean lines need to be absolutely as sharp as possible, Frog Tape is the way to go. Where sharp lines are not as critical because any bleeds will not be visible except up very close, blue tape will do the job. Definitely avoid the old style masking tape for anything other than taping up boxes.
Great review - will definitely spend the extra for Frog tape I think. Have you come across "masking fluid" also known as "liquid masking tape" ? Seems to be popular in the US but available here as well. It would be interesting to see how this compares to the tape.
In my experience when you slightly wet the edge of the frog tape before painting it increases the results (especially on rougher surfaces) probably because the polymer will already be activated.
Hi Stuart. A great video as always. Q - have you ever covered solar power or made a video on “how to power your garden shed / summer house with solar power”. After watching most / many of your videos I would be most interested if have plans to cover this type of power video in the future. Many thanks. Love your videos. 👍
Last time I bought the blue Scotch brand stuff it was from the fabled middle of Lidl, think it was 4.99 for a pack of 3. Worth keeping an eye out for because it always handy to have around for things other than painting.
To stop paint lifting when dry - I was recommended to use a sharp blade to cut the paint to prevent this happening. Particularly useful for multiple coats - the thought of reapplying tape to a full height glass panelled door 3 or 4 times! The caulking tip was a new one for me - great video.
If you're doing multiple coats, do you just remove the tape before the last coat dries or do you reapply the tape each time? Or do you just stay away from the edge after the first coat?
I have to admit that I thought Frogtape was a marketing gimmick but that's genuinely impressive. I've done a lot of DIY renovation work and had trades comment positively on the quality of the finish but I never knew about the caulk tip! Definetly going to give thast a go in the future cheers!
With regards to removing the tape before the paint dries it is possible to buy tape that can still be removed up to 21 days later though how it compares I don't know
If you do multiple layers do you still take it off when it's wet? Then you'd need to reapply multiple layers of tape? I've always removed it after the last layer.
I recently saw a video short that also advocated using a thin smear of paintable caulk along the edge of masking tape as a way of getting an ultra sharp clean edge. So I tried this a couple of days ago - and it works really well.
Very useful video, especially given the relative costs of the products ...... As they say, "You pays your money and takes your choice." Plus a bonas tip! Great work Stuart!
The caulk trick is cool....but for a bit of extra cost its worth buying the frog tape if it works that well.....nobody wants to have to sit there taping everything up then going back over it with caulk and rubbing it in to save a very small amount of money in the grand scheme of things....most diy projects are costing 100's- 1000's what's an extra £5 to make life easier and give a better result
No doubt modern masking tapes will be better than the old white ones, but I thinks its all about the careful storage of the roll itself too, so that the edges of the tape are in good shape. I might be wrong, but the white roll you had looked as if the edges weren't in great shape, it was curling up as though the roll had been bashed around.
What a wonderful video. But, you don't need to use expensive tape. From other presenters, to prevent bleeding use this method, tape up the area that you don't want painted, now, pre-paint the joint with the same colour as is the base, then paint the final coat. The glass process is only for cutting in around the glass frame. But, I'm old school and manually cut in by hand and don't use tape.
I'm guessing the paint used is a standard water based emulsion, and if so, confirms that the frog tape does work with that. Is it's primarily intended for use that way, or would the same results be achieved using a spirit based or epoxy coating? It would have been good to see the results of removing the tape once the coating had cured over the masking too. Anyhow, as usual, a great and informative video,and definitely no regrets in subscribing 😊👍
Good question, I am not a pro and do not know the ingredients of these tubes, so take some of what I say with a pinch of salt, but in my experience if you get plain decorators caulk no it doesn't. The silicone ones do not take paint well and these do leave a darker shade line. Regarding taking this with a pinch of salt, it could be that they all have silicone in them, I do not know but the dec caulk works fine.
Been using Frog tape all the way on redecorating our house and the only issue I have is my wife wanting to paint before the tape is in place. What you don't mention in the video is the frog tape can be in place for a few days before painting and doesn't damage or leave sticky residue. Also your chalk test showed bleed until you defocused on both non Frog tape... yes it improved it but given the cost of the chalk and the time to apply and smear off... life would be easier with Frog tape.
I use the low tack frog tape. It stops peeling the plaster off round the window and door frames like the cheap stuff was doing. I still use the cheap stuff on skirtings as the finish there doesn't matter as i gloss last. It helps save a bit of money.
Recently decorated the living room / dining room we have wooden floors and I used the hard surface floor film and one roll was enough for all the way round the room perimeter to stop spray off the walls and a couple of decorating cloths which I moved around as I decorated. I put the cheap creamy coloured tape to finish the gap between the floor film and the skirting board. The tape and film were down for about three days I was able to pull the lot up ok. With maybe three places where the tape stuck which came up easily with meths, and green scourer
Heyy! thanks for the video. I think the edges of a roll of tape that you had in the drawer for some time, may be a little damaged and give the result shown on the 3M tape for example. There's a reason why the from tape is in a plastic box...
As a tradesman I always use frog tape however the price is getting ridiculous so I live in hope that a company will develop a tape as good but at a more reasonable price. Definitely going to give the caulk method a go 👍 Excellent as always Stuart 👍👍
What has stopped me buying Frogtape is the comments about it taking paint off when you pull it. Whether that's down to people's general technique when removing it or not I can't say but it has put me off a bit. Best I've used was Avon crepe masking tape in blue. You can get it from Cromwell but delivery can be a bit steep so if you're just a DIYer then it's only really worth buying it in large quantities. The smaller size costs about 80p a roll, from memory, but the delivery is something like £4... I used it mostly for helping to get a straight line when caulking between joins in the shower. I've used Screwfix's no nonsense stuff. Not amazing but pretty good for the price.
Frog tape is worth every penny. One reel will save countless hours of cutting in. And because of the plastic box it lasts for ages. I first bought it years ago because a shop had nothing else left and I've bought it by preference ever since. Another big benefit over the cheap stuff is that if you have to leave it on, it will still easily come off again! The white tape's glue seems to set rock hard.
Hi Stuart. Excellent demonstration. Temu do a green painter's tape same colour as frog tape wonder if you would get the same results around £3.00 for five rolls
Were all of these tests done with water based (emulsion) paint ? I wonder if Frogtape works the same on solvent based paint/varnish. The polymer is likely to react differently to different paint chemistry. I'll do some tests. Nice video BTW.
As a decorator for 44 years I don't use tape for cutting in, only for shielding varnished skirtings from roller spray. All my cutting in is done freehand. So the cheap stuff is more than adequate for my needs. A good experiment though for those that need it.
More realistic would be painting with at least 2 coats of paint. Allowing the first coat to dry (without peeling the tape) then applying the second coat and peeling the tape whilst the paint on the second coat or third coat is still wet. Very rare to do only one coat and then peel or to mask then paint then peel, wait to dry and then apply fresh masking tape all over again. What would the results be then?
My daughter insisted on Frog tape when I was doing her room and I've been a convert ever since. I'll try to remember the caulk tip if I'm out of Frog tape. Is 97.5% OK if I can't quite hit 98%?
Interesting video. I have used Frog tape when painting stripes on emulsioned wall and I have found that in some cases when removing the tape it pulls the emulsion off the wall under the tape back to the plaster. Any suggestions. It also happens with the low tack version.
I usually paint over the edge of the tape with the paint I'm masking and then after a little time the new colour. Obviously this won't work with glass. I've always got away with leaving the paint for sometime hours, or a day or two before taking the masking tape off, I will now make that period shorter.
I have to disagree, if you use good quality standard masking tape it will produce a very sharp edge on smooth surfaces. Motor vehicle refinishers use standard tape all the time. I don’t think you are pressing the edges down well enough.Use a tool if some sort even a finger nail will do it. Cost effective rules in the trade. My view is the expensive tapes are only making it easier, probably the modern way.
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This is what makes this channel so good; most such videos stop at the comparison on different surfaces, but Stewart then adds the tip about builder's caulk which for big decorating projects can add up to a significant saving..
I’m glad your experience mirrors my own. I tend to use the yellow ‘low tack’ version for most of my painting. I don’t have the technique of an experienced decorator to manage without masking tape, and of all the ones I’ve tried I’m happy with frog tape. It is expensive for what it is, but I take the view that a few extra quid gets lost in the noise over the course of decorating a whole room.
I will only ever use frog tape (green) now - I always dampen it with a wet cloth prior to starting work. It has never let me down. Thanks for another great video, Stuart!
Yes agreeed I always use a damp sponge to pre damp the tape which activates the bonding prior to spray painting , am giving pro dec tape a try also
I've watched a lot of your reviews and they're getting better and better. Intelligent, clear presentation, really first rate video - both wide and close-up - and crisp audio.
Frankly, I wasn't expecting much from the masking tape video but this was worthwhile and the results were surprising. I use all these tapes on set builds etc. and the cheap ones are often fine - especially the 2" wide stuff. I had never taken the time to study the difference between the Frog and 3M, so this was an education if working on critical edges.
Thanks.
Wow, what a great and informative video. The video quality is stunning, its so hard to get the right angle and focus on surfaces and you've captures that perfectly. I'm just a diy person and have always walked past the frog tape due to the high cost but now will probably give it a go next time I need to paint something. The tip with the decorators caulk is also new to me, really impressive with how much of a difference it makes.
Thanks for your excellent content!
I used the blue Frog tape on a project recently, I happened to notice there were instructions in fine text on the inside of the core. They recommended wetting the tape with water to get the best results. I followed this and got clean lines on brickwork, including the mortar. I did take a fair bit of care when applying the tape to get it into the mortar lines and was extremely pleased with the results
The caulking trick will of course depend on the background colour.. a similar trick is to first paint with the background colour along the edge, then the new colour.
I'm a carpenter and, while I don't do much decorating, I use Frogtape on loads of jobs. The cheap tapes rattle around in the van or toolboxes and end up dented, making it harder to peel. The Frogtape box keeps it nice and tidy - and it's recyclable!
Nice vid, thank you! I normally find you need to do 2 coats of paint so you’re unable to peel when wet. Another tip is to paint with base colour first (this will bleed but you won’t see it as it’s the same colour as base). Then do your coats of colour and then remove tape. You get very little bleed and can get away with cheaper tape. Only issue is you can get some chipping as was mentioned in vid as paint is dry and has “bridged” between tape and painted surface
I have always looked at the ridiculous price of frogtape nd just put it down to the packaging but now I know why so thank you for doing that in- depth testing.
We stick it at the builders merchants where I work but I am pretty sure we don't sell much of it , people just see a price . I will be using frogtape from now on , plus I get staff discount which is good 😀
Thanks again for all your input 👍👍
Cheers .
I been using scotch blue for years. Where you went wrong with it was that it takes 30 minutes for it to tack fully. Also it regularly goes on sale on Amazon and if you get it at the right price it can be half the price of Frog tape
I use Frog tape, green and yellow, I find it very good. It peels off well after several weeks. I use mainly for new skirting board and architrave it really helps my non-professional decorating skills and as someone else says the extra cost is lost in the noise. Great vid thanks. Mike 👍🏻
I know. There are a lot of people on here crying about spending a few extra pounds on the Frog tape. For goodness sake, if you're that hard up, then don't bother decorating.
Another way one can achieve a nice edge (but requires a steady hand) is to use a small brush that artists use for painting on the rope rigging on old sailing ships, tree branches and any time one needs a long thin line. They are known as Rigger or Liner or Script brushes. Very handy and very much quicker for some jobs than applying tape.
I really wanted the old school masking tape to win. The price of the new generation of tapes is obscene
I think the age of the tape makes a difference I always buy new of the old school tape and never had any issues
@@stevehansler9014 Good advice, I also wondered if rollering the tape with one of those hard rollers that are for wallpaper seams before applying paint would prevent any bleeding.
I think regardless the frog tape is by far a superior product. I guess it comes down to budget and what you are willing to accept as a finish. A bit like buying expensive tools over a cheaper variant. We would all like a festool plunge saw.. but is it relevant for those of us who use them occasionally? Despite that, people often do buy the most expensive tool to store in their garage.
Price of everything crazy
@@leejames9422 I have no issue paying for quality, the majority of my tools are Festool or DeWalt and I made that investment because I want them to last a long time which in turn equates to value. Frogtape is around £15 a roll where I live, Sellotape brand masking tape is £1, That's not a justifiable premium just for better glue on a disposable product.
Another thumbs-up here for Frog. Another thing, which I haven't seen mentioned here: if you have a part-used roll of cheap masking tape that's been sitting around for a bit, it can get fussy and refuse to come off the roll without tearing at a really annoying shallow angle. Frog tape doesn't seem to have a limit on shelf life.
Totally agree. The shelf life of the cheap tape is not very long.
Pop itin the microwave for a few seconds and it'll come off fine
Wow! I’ve always used the cheap ones. I thought the only difference was marketing. What a difference. Great video.
Interesting stuff, the results are quite obvious! Very nice video once again, Stuart! And thank you for that tip 13:26 , that one really was amazing! Never heard of this before!
Thanks good review and comparison as usual.
I've discovered quite by accident that if I wipe the frog tape with damp cloth it works much better. This is on non smooth surface such as skirting to laminate floor.
Obviously I was pre starting the chemical process.
I follow Alexandra Gater, and she always advises
1) using frog tape
2) paint on the tape edge the old colour once, so if there is a smidge of bleed it'll bleed, say, white on white, and
3) paint, let dry, second coat, let dry, third coat as needed - the important thing is to pull up the tape (carefully, not a 7-year-old-at-christmas rip) while the final coat is still damp.
So, I don't disagree with your findings, but do recommend (certainly for amateurs such as myself) the addition of step 2.
Ed: ok, you do basically that with the caulk, but I have an edge between purple paint and green pain in my lounge - and I put the clean edge to Alexandra G's technique
I used the Frogtape for the first time and although I doubted that it really would give a better masked line than the cheaper masking tape, it was far superior. It was almost a eureka moment. Always use it now whenever I need a clean paint line.
This is perfect timing for this video. Im decorating some of the rooms in the house next weekend and have always wondered if the frog tape was just a con. You’ve answered that question. Thank you 👍
Re your comment about always taking masking tape off when the paint is still wet. I have been painting my Georgian ash windows for the last twenty years, lots of masking to do on small pane windows. Not sure why but the last two occasions I have painted on the undercoat and left the masking tape on. Next day top coat goes on and then I remove the tape. It works a treat and produces a very clean edge.This does not work if you use a water based undercoat, good old fashioned oil based one is required.
One thing to try, supposedly the adhesive on all the masking tapes is activated with moisture, so if a damp cloth is used to smooth down the tape when it's applied, you activate the adhesive and may get a cleaner line. Great video.
Not many know about that one, works wonders on a rough surface. Let the water bleed in and follow with paint when dry, gives a much better line.
Great video and demonstration as always! Thank you Stuart 😊
Hi Stuart . I’ve used frog tape for years and have always been very happy with the results , another fact about it is that you can with care bend it round curves . Which has been handy with some of my art work , but it’s definitely its ability to produce perfect clean lines that is so useful . Kind regards 👍
When I had my Handyman's business my Brother in law wanted the hall of the local Scout hut painting with white emulsion at the top and blue gloss on the bottom up to 4'6". I sent in a quote which included the Frogtape, I too found it produce crisp lines even on painted brickwork, it took me a week to paint that hall but the results from the Frogtape really made for a satisfying job. I do use it still when decorating our bungalow expensive but does the job perfectly.👍👍👍👍
Rough surface to mask on?
Use a rubber eraser on the tape edge, rubbing back and forth along the line. It will get the tape in full contact with the rough surface and give much better results, even with frog tape. And like others have said, a light wipe with a damp cloth along the edge will activate the expanding polymer glue and fully seal prior to painting. Get pin sharp lines every time. Frog tape is well worth the money for those precision jobs. ALWAYS keep in box though, or experience regret later.
I used to just buy the cheap stuff but got frustrated with it tearing as you try to pull it off the roll (more often when it’s been sitting around for a while rather than new) but have had no such issues with more expensive versions including 3m. I also use it for things other than providing a sharp edge for painting so finding the right price balance is important to me.
In my opinion Frogtape is far superior and definitely worth the extra cost. I have also found you that if you remove the Frogtape slowly and fold it back on itself as you remove it you get an even crisper finish. The wide orange version is especially good for cutting in walls and ceilings if you are rubbish at cutting in like me 😮
I totally understand that you should remove the tape when the paint is wet but I leave it an hour or so before removing. If the tape is removed straight away, the paint is still in its most liquid form and can still flow. Other tapes might have performed a little better under these conditions.
Also, I used Frog tape on top of emulsion applied the day before on plastered wall and the tape pulled the emulsion off. My fault maybe, I should have waited longer.
I agree with you. I'm sure lots of the bleeding occurs if the tape is removed too quickly.
Don't know which you used but the yellow is low tack for delicate surfaces
I used to use frog tape. Found it very good. Not perfect, but very good. However, it's expensive and masking can take a long time. I soon realised it was cheaper, quicker and with a better quality finish to invest in good quality brushes and learn good technique for cutting in.
Frog tapes excellent. Only a highly talented artist could cut in free hand as good as the taped factory finish. I’ve seen “pros” cutting in, atrocious. Taping is a skill itself, if applied correctly it’s superior.
I've mostly uses the old style tape and if you use a small bead of caulk along your tape edge it gives a crisp line, I know some people won't be bothered doing that but maybe it helps
Thanks Stuart brilliant tip at the end.
Thank you for this video. Very informative and to actually see it done visually just hits home what you are saying.
I agree with the other commenter... The extra wee hint at the end with the caulk is such an awesome bonus.
Stuart, what about when your painting multiple coats and have to wait for each coat to dry before painting the next? Do you have to keep reapplying a fresh line of tape (whatever type) between coats? Excellent tip with the decorators caulk... I'll use the cheap stuff and caulk as my go to option 👍🏼
I leave it down and then you can score it with a Stanley knife or better yet using a hair dryer on it allows it to come off easily
@@ICT-Trader-AdamJ Thanks 👍🏼
@@tm2204 no problem, you do have to be careful as when you use frog tape as it can pull off paint even old paint!
Haven't read all 200 plus comments but a top tip for masking tape is NOT to store it on its side. The tacky edge will pick up dirt and when you eventually apply the tape some of that dirt will get transferred and it becomes almost impossible to get a clean edge. I can see quite clearly in your video that the cheap stuff has a blackened edge so you will never get a decent seal. Even the polymer sealed tapes will pick up dirt eventually and perform less well.
I guess that's why Frog Tape comes in a clean box
Thanks Stuart, that's a great (and very thorough) comparison of the tapes and I love the tip about using the caulk, more great content !
Always look forward to another ProperDIY episode. I always learn something new, and the channel is perfect for the British DIY'er who wants to do a proper job around the house.
BTW: I once worked for a large US paint manufacturer. And professional painters, when they used masking tape, swore by Frog Tape. It's expensive, but it does the job. A £5 roll of tape sounds expensive, but compared to a couple hours of post-painting cleanup and correction - its a bargain.
Thanks for a great channel.
Hi Stuart, Thank's for the tip I have got a few rolls of cheap £1 tapes I will use decorators calk. Good advice, great video take care
Thanks for this. Traditionally, I refuse to use tape and use an artists brush when doing windows. However, as I get older, I am looking at less time consuming methods for my next house project. Loved the caulking trick!!
😃Fantastic tip with the decorators caulk Stuart .. brilliant 🤩 cheers Rob
Really good to see the hype is actually worth it in this case. I use the cheap stuff in carpentry to stick down splinters and to bundle timber. Really nice to see frog tape is worth its cost for painting. Best demo as ever.
Excellent vid pal, always wondered if it was worth it. Now I know. Still won't buy it though as is too expensive. Used the caulk trick for years and will continue to do so.
First we had masking tape but it pulled off paint so they made the low tack blue but then paint turned into water based so they made the green. You don’t have to pull it off when the paint is wet, use a heat gun or hair dryer and it will come off clean and easy. If you have oil base paint use blue.
Cool, it’s always nice to see spend more and you get a better product - been using Frogtape for a while now.
I take note of your comments about removing the tape whilst the paint is still "wet". However, in situations where there are successive coats (eg a base coat say plus gloss) does this require multiple applications of the tape as well? Thus far painting windows at home, the frog tape has performed well with more than one costbof paint.
I just run over the edge with a stanley knife a very sharp blade. This allows to remove the tape without tearing the paint even after few days.
Re-applying the tape after each coat is cumbersome. Probably ok if you are doing only 1 coat (but what is the chance of that happening?).
Most modern water based paints require at least 3 or 4 coats (undercoat + top coat), this would require an insane amount of masking tape and time putting it on.
Just the one application of frog tape. When you put further coats of paint the underlying films are softened slightly (otherwise successive coats wouldn't bond fully) and slightly "reactivated". You need a little bit more care maybe in direction of pull when removing the tape, but it will come off beautifully !eaving a razor sharp line. As a professional painter, I used Frog tape for more years and jobs than I care to remember, especially for strongly contrasting colours and timber trim/wall colour borders, and it was unbeatable for totally straight lines. Regarding costs, time IS money, so that's the tradeoff with using Frog. Also, while the caulked edge hack works, it can leave a bit of a ridge which can look a little odd with some paints.
Excellent video as always. Very informative, keep up the great work.
I'm no decorator, but have done a fair amount of painting for work. I've never removed masking tape when the paints wet. Is this just one of things that is lost between pros and amateurs? You're not having to mask again for a second or third coat..?
This. When you need to do 3 coats, frog tape will rip the paint, while the cheap stuff doesn't.
Hi you’ve clearly demonstrated that the frog tape is the best for straight lines. My question is how do you stop any tape from peeling bits of paint off already painted surfaces when removing the tape?
Excellent. It has demonstrated to me that when clean lines need to be absolutely as sharp as possible, Frog Tape is the way to go. Where sharp lines are not as critical because any bleeds will not be visible except up very close, blue tape will do the job. Definitely avoid the old style masking tape for anything other than taping up boxes.
Great review - will definitely spend the extra for Frog tape I think. Have you come across "masking fluid" also known as "liquid masking tape" ? Seems to be popular in the US but available here as well. It would be interesting to see how this compares to the tape.
In my experience when you slightly wet the edge of the frog tape before painting it increases the results (especially on rougher surfaces) probably because the polymer will already be activated.
Really good test, and very useful👍
In a future if possible similar tests please to compare paint brushes and rollers, budget vs expensive ones.
Hi Stuart. A great video as always. Q - have you ever covered solar power or made a video on “how to power your garden shed / summer house with solar power”. After watching most / many of your videos I would be most interested if have plans to cover this type of power video in the future. Many thanks. Love your videos. 👍
Brilliant video Stuart, thank you. I have a large decorating project in doors this winter and this is going to help no end. Thank you.
Last time I bought the blue Scotch brand stuff it was from the fabled middle of Lidl, think it was 4.99 for a pack of 3. Worth keeping an eye out for because it always handy to have around for things other than painting.
To stop paint lifting when dry - I was recommended to use a sharp blade to cut the paint to prevent this happening. Particularly useful for multiple coats - the thought of reapplying tape to a full height glass panelled door 3 or 4 times! The caulking tip was a new one for me - great video.
Brilliant and very interesting video Stuart, as always...I know this is a random question but what camera do you use for your filming?
If you're doing multiple coats, do you just remove the tape before the last coat dries or do you reapply the tape each time? Or do you just stay away from the edge after the first coat?
I have to admit that I thought Frogtape was a marketing gimmick but that's genuinely impressive. I've done a lot of DIY renovation work and had trades comment positively on the quality of the finish but I never knew about the caulk tip! Definetly going to give thast a go in the future cheers!
With regards to removing the tape before the paint dries it is possible to buy tape that can still be removed up to 21 days later though how it compares I don't know
If you do multiple layers do you still take it off when it's wet? Then you'd need to reapply multiple layers of tape? I've always removed it after the last layer.
That was helpful - super helpful TBH. Thank you.
I recently saw a video short that also advocated using a thin smear of paintable caulk along the edge of masking tape as a way of getting an ultra sharp clean edge. So I tried this a couple of days ago - and it works really well.
Very useful video, especially given the relative costs of the products ...... As they say, "You pays your money and takes your choice." Plus a bonas tip! Great work Stuart!
Frogtape works great if applied to cured (a week) painted wood. Not on painted walls. it pulls the paint clean off .... ive used yellow version.
The caulk trick is cool....but for a bit of extra cost its worth buying the frog tape if it works that well.....nobody wants to have to sit there taping everything up then going back over it with caulk and rubbing it in to save a very small amount of money in the grand scheme of things....most diy projects are costing 100's- 1000's what's an extra £5 to make life easier and give a better result
No doubt modern masking tapes will be better than the old white ones, but I thinks its all about the careful storage of the roll itself too, so that the edges of the tape are in good shape. I might be wrong, but the white roll you had looked as if the edges weren't in great shape, it was curling up as though the roll had been bashed around.
What a wonderful video. But, you don't need to use expensive tape. From other presenters, to prevent bleeding use this method, tape up the area that you don't want painted, now, pre-paint the joint with the same colour as is the base, then paint the final coat. The glass process is only for cutting in around the glass frame.
But, I'm old school and manually cut in by hand and don't use tape.
And you don’t find that the paint lifts on the edges where you’ve let it dry onto the tape?
Also what if you don’t have the same shade of colour available will one similar do
@@tonypotter5589 The surface was has been coated with some paint, even if has been with an undercoat. The important thing is to seal the tape joint.
I'm guessing the paint used is a standard water based emulsion, and if so, confirms that the frog tape does work with that. Is it's primarily intended for use that way, or would the same results be achieved using a spirit based or epoxy coating?
It would have been good to see the results of removing the tape once the coating had cured over the masking too.
Anyhow, as usual, a great and informative video,and definitely no regrets in subscribing 😊👍
That callking tip is a game changer!
Does it show through under the paint?
Good question, I am not a pro and do not know the ingredients of these tubes, so take some of what I say with a pinch of salt, but in my experience if you get plain decorators caulk no it doesn't. The silicone ones do not take paint well and these do leave a darker shade line. Regarding taking this with a pinch of salt, it could be that they all have silicone in them, I do not know but the dec caulk works fine.
Been using Frog tape all the way on redecorating our house and the only issue I have is my wife wanting to paint before the tape is in place.
What you don't mention in the video is the frog tape can be in place for a few days before painting and doesn't damage or leave sticky residue.
Also your chalk test showed bleed until you defocused on both non Frog tape... yes it improved it but given the cost of the chalk and the time to apply and smear off... life would be easier with Frog tape.
I love your videos, Well explained and a great help to the community, thanks
Nice Video Stewart thanks. Thinking youll be making some storage for your clamps in the near future 😉
I use the low tack frog tape. It stops peeling the plaster off round the window and door frames like the cheap stuff was doing. I still use the cheap stuff on skirtings as the finish there doesn't matter as i gloss last. It helps save a bit of money.
That’s very surprising. I wasn’t expecting the standard masking tape to be so bad compared to the others.
Recently decorated the living room / dining room we have wooden floors and I used the hard surface floor film and one roll was enough for all the way round the room perimeter to stop spray off the walls and a couple of decorating cloths which I moved around as I decorated. I put the cheap creamy coloured tape to finish the gap between the floor film and the skirting board. The tape and film were down for about three days I was able to pull the lot up ok. With maybe three places where the tape stuck which came up easily with meths, and green scourer
Glad to hear I wasn't wasting my money!
Hi, i live in the Netherlands, and Amazon sells that tape for 16.62 euro, nearly 3 times the price in the UK
Heyy! thanks for the video. I think the edges of a roll of tape that you had in the drawer for some time, may be a little damaged and give the result shown on the 3M tape for example. There's a reason why the from tape is in a plastic box...
Well done very accurate as ever
Removing tape when the paint is still wet- what would you recommend if doing multiple coats?
As a tradesman I always use frog tape however the price is getting ridiculous so I live in hope that a company will develop a tape as good but at a more reasonable price. Definitely going to give the caulk method a go 👍 Excellent as always Stuart 👍👍
What has stopped me buying Frogtape is the comments about it taking paint off when you pull it. Whether that's down to people's general technique when removing it or not I can't say but it has put me off a bit.
Best I've used was Avon crepe masking tape in blue. You can get it from Cromwell but delivery can be a bit steep so if you're just a DIYer then it's only really worth buying it in large quantities. The smaller size costs about 80p a roll, from memory, but the delivery is something like £4... I used it mostly for helping to get a straight line when caulking between joins in the shower.
I've used Screwfix's no nonsense stuff. Not amazing but pretty good for the price.
Frog tape is worth every penny. One reel will save countless hours of cutting in. And because of the plastic box it lasts for ages. I first bought it years ago because a shop had nothing else left and I've bought it by preference ever since. Another big benefit over the cheap stuff is that if you have to leave it on, it will still easily come off again! The white tape's glue seems to set rock hard.
Hi Stuart. Excellent demonstration. Temu do a green painter's tape same colour as frog tape wonder if you would get the same results around £3.00 for five rolls
Were all of these tests done with water based (emulsion) paint ? I wonder if Frogtape works the same on solvent based paint/varnish. The polymer is likely to react differently to different paint chemistry. I'll do some tests. Nice video BTW.
As a decorator for 44 years I don't use tape for cutting in, only for shielding varnished skirtings from roller spray. All my cutting in is done freehand. So the cheap stuff is more than adequate for my needs. A good experiment though for those that need it.
Yup, it works. Have used it for years when I want the precision.
The Frog Tape actually performed best on the textured surface. Looks like I’ll have shell out for the green tape then. Great video btw 👍
More realistic would be painting with at least 2 coats of paint. Allowing the first coat to dry (without peeling the tape) then applying the second coat and peeling the tape whilst the paint on the second coat or third coat is still wet.
Very rare to do only one coat and then peel or to mask then paint then peel, wait to dry and then apply fresh masking tape all over again.
What would the results be then?
Removing while wet is good advice except what so do when you want two coats of paint? Mask it twice?
You can also use gel medium purchased from an art supplyy store
Great incite and learnt a lot, thankyou..
My daughter insisted on Frog tape when I was doing her room and I've been a convert ever since.
I'll try to remember the caulk tip if I'm out of Frog tape. Is 97.5% OK if I can't quite hit 98%?
Interesting video. I have used Frog tape when painting stripes on emulsioned wall and I have found that in some cases when removing the tape it pulls the emulsion off the wall under the tape back to the plaster. Any suggestions. It also happens with the low tack version.
That was really helpful. I guess I’ll be spending extra on masking tapes now!
I usually paint over the edge of the tape with the paint I'm masking and then after a little time the new colour. Obviously this won't work with glass. I've always got away with leaving the paint for sometime hours, or a day or two before taking the masking tape off, I will now make that period shorter.
Have you tried regular (plastic) tapes, like packing tape?
I have to disagree, if you use good quality standard masking tape it will produce a very sharp edge on smooth surfaces. Motor vehicle refinishers use standard tape all the time. I don’t think you are pressing the edges down well enough.Use a tool if some sort even a finger nail will do it. Cost effective rules in the trade.
My view is the expensive tapes are only making it easier, probably the modern way.
What do you mean "used to use"? Got stacks of cheapo masking tape! Might try the caulk trick on it tho, looks like a good tip!