[MARTINSR]

A while ago I learned such a neat trick, I just had to pass it on. Most of us have removed some sort of "adhesive" moulding or rubber weatherstrip. We will pull it off, scrape or cut off remainder of the adhesive tape and then use an "eraser wheel" or something to remove what is left. We do new Toyota Camrys for Toyota Motor comany on a regular basis that are damaged in shipment. The front bumpers are commonly replaced or repainted. They have this very rubber seal across the top to seal the hood that you see in the photos. We would pull them off tearing the darn thing all up leaving adhesive tape and torn up rubber on the bumper to remove with the eraser wheel. Then one day, one of the guys removed the bumper and it was in paint looking like it had never even had the darn rubber on it. I asked him how he did it, and a new way to remove items like this was introduced to me.

What you do is stretch it instead of pealing it off. The first photo shows how you would peel it, the second photo shows it being stretched. We now pull them off and if we had to they could be reused! The one in these photos was in perfect condtion and could have been reused (we never do, Toyota wants new ones) if we wanted. The harder you stretch, the better it works. Even hard plastic mouldings it works like magic. It isn't going to get every one of them off as clean as this, but it will work a lot better than peeling it that is for sure.

Brian

[speedydude]

I don't know Brian, I'll try it very soon as w/s all around is imminent, but I have the feeling the last bozo to adhere the w/s on my truck used something really scary. I had to redo a bit around the driver door recently and it wasn't fun.

I'll give it a try, hope it is as you say. Thx 4 the tip,

[302 Z28]

The body side moldings on the new Vette's are removed with monofiliment.

Vince

[baddbob]

302 is right on, I second the fishing line trick, I've used it for years for mouldings and emblems and it won't damage the paint. Piano wire also works well if you're carefull. Some of the metal backed mouldings can't be distorted/stretched or bend while removed so the piano wire or monofiliment works especially well in this situation. A spool of 20-50lb fishing line is cheap and lasts for years.

[MARTINSR]

I'm with you and the fishing line, my tip isn't for every moulding. But on the flexable ones, give it a try. Something like this rubber seal, it is so soft and flexable I don't think the piano wire would even work. With the stretching trick it comes off without a spec of the tape or rubber staying behind.

It will however of course not work at all on things like the Vette where the moulding is hard plastic.

Brian