=/ (Trolley strip dramas)

[Chrispy]

So I decided to take side strips off my Berlina, looked easy enough I though.. I was wrong.

So I spent the weekend trying to get these god damn stips off, I got them off but what was left behind was a pain in the ass.

I got the first strip off easily enough with nothing but a bit of dirt left on the paint, great I thought..

Went to the next door and took of the next strip and was left behind with all these glue..



I've tried nearly everything to get this off, Turps, Metho, Autosol, Cut Polish, Heating it up with a hair dryer, Buff wheel (Not a Caramel wheel, I'm trying to find one of those..) and no lucky with it. Anyone know of anything I can use that will be safe to put on the paint and get rid of this damn glue?

The 2 doors on the other side came off pretty easily but this time instead of glue I am left with this blake stuff (I assume it's Sikaflex?). Same thing, I've tried so many things on the damn thing but it won't budge.




I'm going to pop into Supercheap tomorrow and see what they have, can anyone reccommened me something for the glue and the Sikaflex? Also, does anyone know where to get a Caramel wheel in Adelaide?

Cheers.

[Escape-The-Fate]

go to a body repair shop or a detailing place and see if they have 1, because the only thing that gets that shit off is a caramel wheel, lots of beer and plenty of patience..careful not to push and just let the wheel do the work or u will burn the paint.

[Chrispy]

Cheers mate, I'll take a look around tomorrow and see what I can come up with, if not I'll just have to order one off ebay and wait for it to arrive.. =/

And the beers out of the question, another year yet :P

[_R_J_K_]

Have a read of these two threads.

Caramel Wheel
caramel wheel VS acrylic paint

Be very careful with a caramel wheel, as your VR has acrylic paint, and these burn the paint very easily. This is mentioned somewhere in one of the above threads.

[ClairBear]

If I were you I would see if a body shop can offer solutions. I considered taking my side strips off a few years ago then decided against it for the simple reason I didn't want to end up in this situation, with a mess underneath or worse, faded paint.

Good luck and I hope you find a way to remove it. If you do, please let us know for others future reference.

[Chrispy]

So I went into a paint and panel shop today to see if they can help me with anything and a quote for any work they'd need to do.

They said that the only way you're going to get it off is with a Caramel wheel. The quote they gave me for getting it done was $148. **** that, so I just bought a Caramel wheel of eBay and goona see how that go.

They did caution me that I can burn my paint but it's a risk I'm willing to take to get that shit off. I'll just be VERY VERY careful.

[Trayner]

If I were you I would see if a body shop can offer solutions. I considered taking my side strips off a few years ago then decided against it for the simple reason I didn't want to end up in this situation, with a mess underneath or worse, faded paint.

thats what i did , got to where i was about to pull the strip off and went nah too much

but on the flip side i have seen people just go hackers into the sikaflex with sand paper and then just getting a pannel beater painting a strip of paint along where the side strips used to be and blending it in

[illusionalvr]

try nail polish remover. it has alcohol in it. may work. eucalyptus oil?

[Escape-The-Fate]

i tried eucalyptus oil when i had the VT..did sweet F all, $148 is fairly resonable and i'd rather pay that because if they F up they gotta respray i guess..im going the cheats way and getting side strips and mirror tops colour coded on the VZ.

[ClairBear]

I would go the $148 for a professional job rather than risk burning my paint.

[Chrispy]

I would go the $148 for a professional job rather than risk burning my paint.

That $148 doesn't guarantee me that they wouldn't burn the paint. They said if they burnt the paint, and more than possible, that's not their problem but mine.

[ClairBear]

Ahh, well in that case I can see why you are going to attempt it yourself. Good luck and post up pics when you have finished.

[Chrispy]

Got up this morning and gave Repco a ring to see if they had a Caramel wheel.. No luck.. Check the Yellow Pages and called a Paint and Panel supplier to see if they had one, they did. I headed down therw and walked away with a Caramel wheel for $15. (They place was S.A Color Pty. Ltd at Melrose Park, if anyone in Adelaide wants to know where they can pick one up)

Got home and started working away very slowly at the Sikaflex, as I was warned that the Acrylic paint on my car can burn easily. Got the Sikaflex easy (Took me 2-3 hours though) and no burns in the paint! There is some paint chips and scratches but thats from me trying to get the stuff off with a Stanley blade and other shit.. lol =/

The drivers side door with the glue on it was a piece of cake, took me about 5 minutes to get all the glue off, again there is some paint chips but they're because of me being an asshat.

Now, can anyone tell me how I can get the trim from my front and rear bumper off? I was just going to tackle it head on with a Stanley blade but thought I'd ask here what the correct way of doing it is.

Some piccys for you: