I use blue or green painters tape. I don't ever have any problems with it.

 

i have the same problem that you have dan when i hit the tape with my pad it seems to start to tear the pad upbut them again i always have a hard time keeping pads from not falling apart

 

Hm, I'll have to see what I can find for different painters tape. The tape I have will dust and eventually do a number on the edge of my pads.

It's especially bad when the area I taped off is higher than the paint surface, like the moulding around the windshield & rear window on Mustangs.