The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Doors Attaching Weatherstripping to the Doors

I’m at the point of reinstalling my weatherstripping on my doors on my AD truck. The previous install, although worked was not the easiest task to do. I had taped the areas that I needed to apply the adhesive on the door, but still managed to get some in places I didn’t want it to go. Additionally applying adhesive to the seal itself approximately 16’ was not something I’m looking forward to repeat. Just keeping the adhesive from contacting the ground or having the seal to stick to itself was trying to say the least.

I wonder if they make a double faced tape that would do the job. It sounds like it would be a wonderful solution. My concern with it would be if it would holdup longterm.

Does anybody have any alternative ideas or a better procedure to apply the weatherstripping using the adheasive?

Phil, when I put my weatherstripping on, i applied the adhesive about a foot or two at a time. Then let it dry the appropriate time and then stuck that section in place. That worked OK, but still kind of a pain. I did it with the doors in place, which made it a little difficult working around the hinges. I did trim the weatherstrip thickness in one spot so it wouldn't stick out when the door closed. Definitely not the most fun process.

I dont use a continuous bead. Using painters tape to hold the rubber down + tight till it dries.

Phil I find the 3M adhesive works as well as any (although Loctite is okay also) and I remove the doors and lay them on the ground out of sunlight. 3M says to apply adhesive to a small section of each piece, let dry until tacky and assemble. When I was younger I was told to get MEK and a stiff brush (like a solder brush), dilute the adhesive with MEK to thick paint consistency, tape the door where you did not want the adhesive and then paint a thin layer of the diluted adhesive on both the door and the adhesive and let it dry completely. Then apply a thin layer of undiluted adhesive to the rubber piece about 12 to 14 inches at a time, let it dry a bit and press together. When you did it that way there was virtually no way to remove the weatherstrip without tearing it to shreds so you wanted to get it right the first time. Today I can't find MEK, however. The last time I did this I used Loctite adhesive because I had been given some by a friend. I just painted on as thin of a layer as I could and worked slowly, let it dry and then painted another layer on the weatherstrip and attached. You do have a moment to reposition if needed but it will just be a moment.

Methyl Ethyl Keytone is available at Ace Hardware for $15/Qt.

https://www.acehardware.com/departm...ners/paint-thinners-and-solvents/1027091

Thanks, however please let me elaborate...It has not been banned in Texas but it is a controlled substance and one of several solvents the general population can't find for sale in retail stores in Dallas any longer...even though it is possible the website of Lowe's, Home Depot, ACE, etc may tell you they have it and even go so far as to tell you which aisle it is on. In some of the distant suburbs it may be different, but in Big D it will not be there. I'm told you can get it from chemical suppliers if you have a permit. There is an MEK substitute sold but I'm told it isn't really effective and the reviews give it about 2.6 stars out of 5...plus you must buy a gallon of it for something like $32.

And there are brush cleaners claiming to contain MEK we can buy here, however they don't say it is 100% and I'm pretty certain it has been diluted by something. Toluene is mentioned in the contents section along with "other aromatic solvents."

I tried to get some MEK to thin some fiberglass resin a few months ago and could not find it anywhere.

Interesting. Georgia has no such controls on MEK that I'm aware of. You can buy it at Farm Supply Hardware, Ace, Grainger, virtually anywhere, it seems. The Ace Hardware here in town will even sell you a 5 gallon bucket of it for $170 but you have to order it online and pick it up the next day.

While googling around, I found it can be delivered to my house from Door Dash.

The Ace website lists MEK as “not available” at any store near me either.

Georgia hasn't reached full blown nanny state yet, I guess.