Spray painting a bird feeder

[condo owner]

I have a metal chalet-style (looks like a house) bird feeder.

The "roof" of the bird feeder swivels up so i can add birdseed.

The seed falls into the "body" of the bird feeder so the birds can access the seed.

I've already primed the entire bird feeder with grey primer.

Now, I want to spray-paint the "roof" one color and spray-paint the "body" a different color.

How can I mask off the "body" so the "roof" paint doesn't spray onto the body?

How can I mask off the "roof" so the "body" paint doesn't spray onto the roof?

[Anonymous]

Can you take it apart, paint the pieces, and then reassemble ?

[Ed Pawlowski]

Looks easy enough to mask. If you paint the roof first no need to mask the base, let it overspray. Then mask the roof and paint the base.

Take a close look at how it is assembled. Would be even better if the roof comes off with just a couple of screws.

[rbowman]

A roll of ScotchBlue painters tape and a print copy of the New York Times. That's all the latter is good for. You can use regular masking tape but the blue is easier to remove and doesn't leave residue.

btw, why do you think they call it masking tape?

[condo owner]

The roof swings open on rivets, not screws.

[condo owner]

Dean:

Your "drill out the rivets" suggestion worked great. Now that I have the roof separated from the body, I could spray the primer on the places I missed the first time.