Help please! Problem cutting frisk material...

...I mean my truck. I've been working on that flag/eagle mural on my work truck and everything went better than expected EXCEPT that everywhere I trimmed the frisk material with the exacto knife I also made marks in the truck paint. I was very careful to apply just enough pressure - as a matter of fact I had alot of areas I had to recut because I didn't cut through. Nonetheless, I think I scratched every area that I trimmed the masking material. How in the world could anyone trim this stuff, or even worse, the brush on masking material without scratching the basecoat?????? I don't think I'm that clumsy

Sorry you had a problem
Use new blades, change them OFTEN
a box of #11 blades is cheap compared to the cost of repainting something
Let the blade do the work apply little to no pressure.

Depending on how bad it is a high solids clear might hide some of it.

Bibleman take a good look at the areas you scratched...If you went through the clearcoat on the hood you Might have a lifting problem when you clear your artwork..but if you didnt press hard when cutting the mask you should be all right for clearing, may take more than the usual coats to get rid of the cut marks..apply 2 coats let dry, flat sand and recoat.


PS. you did plan to clear the whole hood? right..

Thank you so much for the help guys. In terms of "little to no pressure", I guess I'll have to try the "no pressure" part. I have to admit I was using an old blade with a box of brand new ones sitting right there I should have known better considering I've hung a bazillion rolls of wallpaper and I make a point of using fresh blades constantly.
Fortunately I didn't paint the hood, it's the lower panel of my van door so under normal circumstances you can't see anything. And yes, I do plan on clearcoating it as soon as the Magic Colors clear comes in.

[witchybronco]

might also try reducing your angle to the surface. I found I cut my stencils with my blade like a holding a pencil, but when I cut on a vehicle it is much lower angles. instead of holding the handle in my fingers, I'm holding it more in the palm,
did that make sense?
but don't feel bad, I still scratch the top coat from time to time. so far, on my own cars only .

Good point there on the angle of the blade, I'll be doing some practice on something before trying it again on an important surface.

[88GT]

Im very new to this frisket stuff, and just did a test hood not long ago with no cutting of the base. What I did, and this may not apply because it was flames, was, outline it all in blue vinyl tape 1st, then lay the contact paper over everything, yes contact paper because I didnt know where to get frisket, and just cut lightly on the blue tape. I never cut through, the edges were nice and sharp, and the contact paper didnt lift any paint when I removed it worked like a charm

Great idea! Hadn't thought of that.