Removing rubber side strips (MK2)

[a57737]

Going to remove the rubber side strips on the spare car.

I've got a toffee wheel as I've seen advised elsewhere, but I've also seen people saying they can leave yellow streaks - white car.

What's the correct technique? Fast drill/slow drill push hard/be gentle?

Cheers

[unknownmale]

I used one of these recently when replacing some land rover lettering.

It didn't leave any marks, but did dull the paint.

I got off everything I could with a blade, then used a medium speed wiping the rubber away fairly often. Once most the residue was gone I added some water while I was doing it to soften the effect on the paint. Finished up with T-cut

I don't think it'll be as obvious on the scirocco though as there is a fairly strong body line separating it from the rest of the body work. Also depends on the paint. I did it on a gloss black modern car, so the lacquer was being dulled. No sure what the effect would be on base coat.

Takes ages, don't be tempted to push too hard or go full speed on the drill as it'll just burn through, at full speed with pressure its way more aggressive than a cutting compound.

[essextom]

I wouldn't use a blade in case you scratch the paint. Pull the strips off by hand, use the toffee wheel at a slow/ medium speed, if it goes too fast it will melt the paint. I also used panel wipe/ acetone to remove some of the residue. If the paint looks slightly different underneath then give it a t-cut it should get the paint matching.

[unknownmale]

Yeah, I used a credit card to remove the strips, but used a blade to get the worst off as it's much quicker.

Made a little video a while back for a friend who wanted to do it - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdb70nmB1uU

[a57737]

Yeah, I used a credit card to remove the strips, but used a blade to get the worst off as it's much quicker.

Made a little video a while back for a friend who wanted to do it - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdb70nmB1uU

Cheers, I was going to use a heat gun, but perhaps a hair dryer is safer on the paint?

Hoping to get this sorted at the weekend :)

[unknownmale]

You could use a heat gun on a low setting moving it around a lot, but yeah best off with a hair dryer I think!

[james butler]

low speed and gently apply pressure and it will rub the sticky stuff off.
have a play with it but remember its using friction to get it off so will get hot very quickly, be carefull not to damage the paint by sitting in one spot too long.
the toffee wheel is a great tool and the tool i would use every time

[a57737]

You could use a heat gun on a low setting moving it around a lot, but yeah best off with a hair dryer I think!

Yeh, the gun I've got is on or off, so I'll do that. Didn't get time today, but going to do my damdest to get it done tomorrow. I'll even post pics if it goes well (possibly if it goes badly as well).

[a57737]

low speed and gently apply pressure and it will rub the sticky stuff off.
have a play with it but remember its using friction to get it off so will get hot very quickly, be carefull not to damage the paint by sitting in one spot too long.
the toffee wheel is a great tool and the tool i would use every time

Thanks, looking at toffee wheel videos, I'm happy that they'll get the sticky off, it's just making sure the rubber doesn't take the paint with it I'm worried about.

I'm also intending on using the rubber on the other car, so keeping that in mind as well.

[james butler]

ah right
again take your time and go slowly.
doing it on a hot day really does help or alternatively pour warm (not boiling) water over it as you pull to soften the glue

[a57737]

ah right
again take your time and go slowly.
doing it on a hot day really does help or alternatively pour warm (not boiling) water over it as you pull to soften the glue

Ah, good plan, that makes sense. Thanks.

[a57737]

Progress report

Before:



Straight after removing the strips:



Mid toffee-wheeling;



After toffee-wheeling (at the point where I'd overheated both drill batteries and neither would charge any more ):



Side note on using it to remove gunge under badges. I had some weird after market non-VW ones on the pillars that had come off, leaving the same rubbery understuff as the side strips. The toffee wheel is designed to remove vinyl and does with ease! Handle with care!



It's ok, I've got some replacement Scala badges to go over the top, but man that thing's effective!

Disclaimer: This post is in no way sponsored or endorsed by toffee wheels or their respective manufacturers.

[unknownmale]

Glad it worked for you! Did you use the regular solid type wheel, or the one by sealey that looks like a cog?

[a57737]

This one (regular solid type):

http://amzn.eu/4m4a2Hv

I saw the cog one, but that looked overkill. Would get the pillar vinyl off no problem though!

[unknownmale]

Yeah, i've not tried the cog one, but it's got good reviews