BAN018 bolt+nut+big washer 1,1mm

When the part is in place before the paint

The ideal says to install hardware after the paintwork is finished, but sometimes that is not possible. The joint holds two parts together and without it the assembly would fall apart, so it is installed beforehand and sprayed over. For this situation the widened disc has an unexpected advantage: it casts a crisp shadow around itself that you can work to.

Masking by the spot technique

Instead of a strip of masking tape, a drop of masking gel applied with a pointed toothpick exactly onto the head is used. Once dry the gel firms up, is sprayed over together with the whole surroundings and is then peeled off in one pull of the tweezers. The remainder around the rim of the disc can be removed with the tip of a stick dipped in clean water, without damaging the new paint beside it.

The second route: scraping

Anyone who does not dare use gel can let the whole joint be sprayed over and then uncover the surface of the head again. A sharp blade led flat takes the paint off the high points, where it is thinnest, and leaves it in the recess. The effect that results, that is a dark recess with glossy high points, matches the way real hardware looks after being tightened with a wrench.

When not to do it

Both methods require the paint to be perfectly cured. On a freshly sprayed surface the tape or the blade will tear off more than was planned.

Also worth a mention is the choice of masking medium according to the type of paint used. A water-thinnable gel gets along with most finishes, but with synthetic enamels it can soften after prolonged contact and leave a flat trace behind when removed. A test on an offcut is therefore called for.