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How to remove old weather stripping

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NutmegCT

NutmegCT

Great Pumpkin
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The rubber seal that surrounds the car door. After you're dug out most of the old cracked stuff, how the heck do you get rid of the bits of rubber and old adhesive that are left?

There's got to be a method that beats spending hours with a screwdriver scraping and chipping away. Maybe there's something which "dissolves" the old stuff?

View attachment 37739

Thanks.
Tom
 
solvent maybe? Mr Clean scrub pad? heat gun? (don't use a dish scub pad it will scratch the paint - don't ask me how I know) what car is that Tom?
 
There are a number of adhesive solvents out there. Also, WD40 works pretty well. Get a plastic putty knife and have at it.
 
Thanks gents. It's my neighbor's 1958 Rambler American; we're cleaning it up so he can sell it. Very cool Eisenhower era basic family car, with the Borg-Warner "Flash-o-matic" transmission. Today we'll attack the remaining rubber crud with the recommended artillery. I also want to fix up the seats; 50+ year old foam rubber has turned into orange dust and "crispy critters".
 
3M makes a decal and adhesive remover that once soaked really comes clean without any paint issues.
 
Thanks Larry. The WD40 and steel wool worked fine on the aluminum channel, but I didn't dare use that technique on the painted surface.

I'll get some 3M adhesive remover today.

Tom
 
Update - three stores didn't have 3M adhesive remover, so I got a can of "Goof Off Pro". (actually would be a good nickname for me ...)

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Worked like a charm. Pour onto a clean cloth, slowly massage into the remaining rubber on the painted surface. The old adhesive radually came completely off after about 30 seconds of slow rubbing. No damage to paint.

Now - new weatherseals installed!

View attachment 37773
 
3M products are usually sold thru paint distributors or auto parts stores that cater to auto body work. 3M supplies have to be ordered by the pallet. I am lucky to have an old time family owned parts store in town.
 
Goof Off, Home Depot, Lowes and some other building supplies sells it. Good stuff! PJ
 
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