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