Belt line trim reseal

[05ModPod]

Hi,
Have read tons of threads on sealant and had lots of experience resealing vintage trailers.

I’m about to work on my 05 that has the middle panel trim and the lower rub rail trim.

The old factory stuff is black now and some areas have degraded allowing water to seep behind the trim. I have cleaned it all up ready to apply parbond.

Many say to tape off the top of the trim and just above on the skin. Apply the parbond and smooth with finger. I understand the smoothing part as it is not the easiest to apply and not bobble as you go, with the inconsistent flow from the hand squeeze type tube.

My question is, when you pull the tape do you need to score it slightly to get a clean edge, or does the tape come off clean without pulling at the good part? And when do you remove the tape? Right away, partially dry or fully dry?

PS I have always used WD40 for clean up, it works great on parbond.

Thanks for any tips you may have. I’m a perfectionist so I would really like to do it right.

[GMFL]

You are on the right track. Pull the tape ASAP, before it dries.

[A W Warn]

There is a how to video from out of doors mart.
Look here> http://odmrv.net/AsSpecial.php

I do it like this except I tape first so that there is less waste/cleanup. I caulk a foot or two or three, then smooth with pressure, so that there is no edge on top of the tape. Then peel the tape immediately, the sooner the better. If you wait a minute or two it will string the sealant when pulling the tape off.

[05ModPod]

Ha I knew there was an easier way!

It has been over 12 years since I used parbon extensively. But I knew I never taped it off, or made a mess with my fingers neither did I ever have to run over the bead once laid.

The trick is all in the position of the nose of the tube, and you run back and forth an inch at a time. The self levelling aspect and quick film dry, makes for a perfect job. Not too fast and not too slow and make sure the head is really clean.

Now I have to go back over one section I did first, taped and fingered and they both look like poop... I bet it will take me hours to get this stuff off even though it is minutes to put it on.

Lots more to do - hope I have enough.

[A W Warn]

Originally Posted by 05ModPod

Ha I knew there was an easier way!

It has been over 12 years since I used parbon extensively. But I knew I never taped it off, or made a mess with my fingers neither did I ever have to run over the bead once laid.

The trick is all in the position of the nose of the tube, and you run back and forth an inch at a time. The self levelling aspect and quick film dry, makes for a perfect job. Not too fast and not too slow and make sure the head is really clean.

Now I have to go back over one section I did first, taped and fingered and they both look like poop... I bet it will take me hours to get this stuff off even though it is minutes to put it on.

Lots more to do - hope I have enough.

Go back to the video linked in my prior post.

http://odmrv.net/Parbond/Parbond.php

Near the end is says use a finger with a rag wetted with cleaner. The wetness of the solvent/cleaner is what allow smoothing the surface of the sealer without tacking.

Good luck!

[05ModPod]

Originally Posted by A W Warn

Go back to the video linked in my prior post.

http://odmrv.net/Parbond/Parbond.php

Near the end is says use a finger with a rag wetted with cleaner. The wetness of the solvent/cleaner is what allow smoothing the surface of the sealer without tacking.

Good luck!

I did see that and tried it - but all it did was smear it up the side and on the trim leaving a thin film. Removed that and tried it with tape, but no matter how quick I pulled the tape it would pull and make a mess of it. Maybe it was the rag

It seems to be so much more work too and wasting a lot of the expensive silvery stuff. The free hand way uses only what you need and gives a nice neat finish - I will take some pics to show you a little later.