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