Masking small holes before painting

[pendragon1998]

When painting small parts, what do you use to mask small holes such as bolt holes and channels where spindles run through a part? I have used half of a q-tip to stuff down bolt holes, and rolled up bits of paper towels. I know they make special silicone plugs (too pricey for my project, but nice) and some people use silly putty (would that cause paint adherance issues?) What do you guys use?

 

[lutter94]

half a q tip? What sizes we talking about stuff?? Pictures for examples?

 

[Zeke]

Masking tape rolled sticky side out. You can roll it to any size even if you have to roll it around a cardboard tube.

 

[pendragon1998]

half a q tip? What sizes we talking about stuff?? Pictures for examples?

This project is painting a hand drill frame, so pretty small holes. I need to mask the oil holes, spindle holes, side handle screw hole, etc.

 

[lutter94]

Shove a toothpick in there and leave it stick out?

 

[ilovevocs]

I use aluminum foil. That's how I mask key holes on auto door handles. I'll mask engine components with it. Honestly it does things masking paper and tape cannot.

Should work for what your doing. Use a pic to pull it out when your done.


If I wrap something with it I will wrap it a few times and terminate hard edges with tape.

 

[Crusarius]

Vaseline. or other lubricant. Paint won't stick to it. Unfortunately it may sometimes be hard to clean around the area you just lubed for the paint to stick there.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Golf tees or old pencils, or simply shave down a splinter of scrap wood.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

Golf Tees, bamboo skewers, any sort of tapered cheap disposable item like that works.

 

[pendragon1998]

Good ideas, keep 'em coming! You know, I was just now thinking about using a foam ear plug...

 

[toolchaser]

I use silicone rubber plugs. The ones I use are used to fill gaps in Adel clamps when wire bundles don`t fully fill the clamp I.D. but I`m sure there are other sources...

 

[pendragon1998]

I ended up using a combination of foam earplugs for the spindle channels and screw passages and q-tip stems for the oil holes. Happily, a long #10 machine screw fit perfectly into one screw passage and allowed me to easily manipulate the part. I think the paint job went off nicely. Thanks for the suggestions - what I didn't use this time will no doubt be useful next time.

First coat applied

Final paint job curing

 

[sselander]

cork or rubber stoppers also work. Lowes has a good selection of rubber stoppers.
The earplugs from HF work for smaller holes since you can crunch them up.