| Prevent most minor dings, paint-chips and body | | | | car while pulling tape off the roll to the other end, |
| blemishes that can happen when someone parks | | | | eyeball your line, then stick it down lightly. Step back |
| next to you, opens their door and whacks your | | | | and look to see the lines are right, change if |
| vehicle. Many vehicles had factory-installed decorative | | | | necessary. It is easy to change the tape at this point. |
| protective side moldings strategically placed at | | | | Once the body molding is installed and the glue sets |
| "door-ding height" to help prevent this problem. But in | | | | for a few days, it does not come off!Once the |
| the last few years, these moldings have been left | | | | straight line of masking tape is in place to provide a |
| off to save a few dollars in this very competitive | | | | guide, use pieces of masking tape to temporarily |
| market.If your vehicle lacks protective molding, you | | | | "dry-fit" the entire length of body molding in place on |
| should consider installing it yourself. Installing auto | | | | the vehicle.Determine where you'll need to cut the |
| body molding is a fairly simple undertaking for DIY, | | | | body molding for the doors and seams for a precise |
| provided that you take the time to apply it carefully | | | | and accurate installation. Use pieces of tape or a |
| and give it your full attention.Materials: Body Side | | | | grease pencil to mark the exact locations on the |
| Molding kit, Sharp Cutting tool, Rubbing alcohol, Clean | | | | molding where you'll make the cuts. At the door |
| white rag, Masking tape, Grease pencil (marks will | | | | openings, and where the molding ends at the edge |
| easily rub off). A warm garage or a sunny day | | | | of wheel-wells, you may need to cut angles to match |
| makes the whole job a lot easier.Quality moldings | | | | the vehicle lines. Allow 1/8" minimum gap for door |
| with 3M peel-and-stick tape are best installed at | | | | clearance. At the hinge side of the door you may |
| temperatures warmer than 65 degrees. Plastic | | | | need to bevel the end of the molding so there is |
| moldings are more flexible, easier to manipulate and | | | | enough clearance when the door is opened.Once |
| cut when warmer than 70 degrees. Smaller moldings | | | | you've marked all the locations, carefully cut the |
| can be easily cut with heavy sharp kitchen shears or | | | | molding. The molding is made from a relatively soft |
| tin snips. For larger moldings, more than 1 inch wide or | | | | plastic. Cutting isn't difficult, but it is easier when the |
| 3/16 thick, a clean straight cut is somewhat more | | | | molding is warmer than when it is colder.Work with |
| difficult. A clean sharp anvil pruner will make it easier | | | | one section at a time, peel about a foot of the |
| to get a straight cut on all sizes. A carpenter's utility | | | | backing from the adhesive strips and press the |
| knife with razor blade inserts also works well, but not | | | | molding into place. Then pull on the loose end of the |
| one with the break-off blades.The professional tool | | | | backing and move along the molding, pressing it into |
| used by automotive installers to cut molding looks | | | | place. After it is applied to the vehicle surface, rub |
| very similar to a set of anvil pruners, except the | | | | the section of molding firmly with a soft clean cloth |
| blade is 3.5 inch long replaceable razor blade. A | | | | to help ensure that it is seated securely. You may |
| thirteen dollar anvil pruner from your local garden or | | | | want to come back a few hours later, or the next |
| hardware store will do nearly the same job if it is | | | | day, to give it another pressure rub to ensure the |
| sharp and clean.Prepare the vehicle bonding surface | | | | best adhesion.Open and close the doors slowly, |
| by cleaning it thoroughly with alcohol and a clean | | | | watching to ensure that the side molding is not |
| white cotton rag. This removes wax residues so the | | | | touched or rubbed as the door moves. Allow the |
| peel-and-stick adhesive can bond to it securely. Avoid | | | | molding adhesive to set up for at least 24 hours |
| using colored cloth for this purpose, as the dyes in | | | | before washing your vehicle. Maximum adhesion is |
| the fabric may leave colored residue behind.If you do | | | | reached after 3-5 days in temperatures above 70 |
| not have a ridge or body line to follow on the car, | | | | degrees, longer if it is cooler.That's it, Now you're |
| apply a strip of masking tape to be a guide to help | | | | protected.Phil Sollecito is the webmaster for |
| position the auto moulding to be perfectly straight. | | | | AutoAmenity, Seattle retailer of chrome automotive |
| You may want to measure up from the ground at | | | | trim products including hubcaps, wheelskins, grill |
| each end to get a parallel line. Stick the masking tape | | | | inserts, auto moldings, door handles, and mirror |
| at one end, and hold it a few inches away from the | | | | covers. |