the painted surface
Protecting and Masking Door Hinges
New hinges should be protected when painting doors to preserve their original finish. A good solution for protecting surfaces from unwanted paint is low tack tape. It can be applied and left on for several days and then removed without leaving behind any sticky residue.
To tape a hinge precisely apply the tape beyond the size of the hinge then with a sharp knife trim away the excess. This will work for masking hinges and other surfaces you need to protect. The advantage is sometimes it is easier to trim the masking tape than it is to apply the tape exactly where you need cover.
