Glue Removal
Moderators: ClaytonSpeed, balmy
Glue Removal
I have the vinyl roof all torn off.
Just as well really, a dirty great hole in the corner of the roof where it meets the windscreen needs sorting, among other nasties hidden by the vinyl.
I'm so tempted not to put a vinyl roof back on at all precisely for this reason.
Anyway, any tips for removing the glue?
white spirit?
Just as well really, a dirty great hole in the corner of the roof where it meets the windscreen needs sorting, among other nasties hidden by the vinyl.
I'm so tempted not to put a vinyl roof back on at all precisely for this reason.
Anyway, any tips for removing the glue?
white spirit?
Re: Glue Removal
white spirit seems to be doing the job.
there's a thin layer of topcoat on which is coming away too.
there's a thin layer of topcoat on which is coming away too.
Re: Glue Removal
I would stick with to the white spirit as thinners will melt all the paint down to bare metal. 
1974 White 1.3 Super Coupe, lots of Alfas....
- JubileeNut
- FMM Supporter

- Posts: 5231
- Joined: Tue Jun 05, 2007 7:14 pm
- Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK
Re: Glue Removal
I would not worry about the small amount of paint that comes off with white spirit. It won't be a lot.
Use plenty of it and lots of rags otherwise you end up putting the glue back on!
Also if the paint is a bit dull it will not matter as you normally rough up the paint to fit a vinyl roof so the glue keys in well.
I only used thinners when all the glue had gone to remove the white spirit residue and only a very quick clean so it was degreased for painting as the whole shell was being done by Frank.
Paul.
Use plenty of it and lots of rags otherwise you end up putting the glue back on!
Also if the paint is a bit dull it will not matter as you normally rough up the paint to fit a vinyl roof so the glue keys in well.
I only used thinners when all the glue had gone to remove the white spirit residue and only a very quick clean so it was degreased for painting as the whole shell was being done by Frank.
Paul.
" Pru, Its Kicking off "
1973 Morris Marina TC Jubilee
2013 BMW 328i M Sport F31
1973 Morris Marina TC Jubilee
2013 BMW 328i M Sport F31
- The original northen boy
- Posts: 705
- Joined: Sun Dec 09, 2007 7:31 pm
- Location: Steel City
Re: Glue Removal
Ay Up Mick,
If you can get your mitts on it the best stuff by far is Bestine rubber cement thinners,or similar if you are very nimble,fantastically agile,very patient (small areas at a time) and are not to worried about what people can't see,good old fashioned paint brush cleaner will remove adhesive (and sometimes anything in it's way) quickly and you can wash it off,oh and of course petrol/lighter fuel,but please be careful and make sure you put out the Benson before you stat to use a pint of go-go juice or can of Zippo fuel,safety first.
Russ
Beckett Bros "fire i'll teach you to burn" :roll:
If you can get your mitts on it the best stuff by far is Bestine rubber cement thinners,or similar if you are very nimble,fantastically agile,very patient (small areas at a time) and are not to worried about what people can't see,good old fashioned paint brush cleaner will remove adhesive (and sometimes anything in it's way) quickly and you can wash it off,oh and of course petrol/lighter fuel,but please be careful and make sure you put out the Benson before you stat to use a pint of go-go juice or can of Zippo fuel,safety first.
Russ
Beckett Bros "fire i'll teach you to burn" :roll:
*** "MARINA PICK-UP A REAL MAN'S VEHICLE" ***


Re: Glue Removal
Petrol eh?
Like the sound of that!
i got a lot of it off with White Spirit yesterday. A lot od the l;ittle bobbles of glue ended up sticking to the rest of the car as it was sloughed off the roof, so thats something to watch for if anyone here is doing this.
I'll attack the rest today.
I'm strongly considering not putting vinyl back on. i really like the lines of the car unbroken by the vinyl, I'm just mindful of keeping it original at the same time though. The vinly i ordered will be black into the bargain, and if i go with that, I'll have to fit it myself.
Which with my hands, is a recipe for catastrophy.
Opinions lads and lassies?
Like the sound of that!
i got a lot of it off with White Spirit yesterday. A lot od the l;ittle bobbles of glue ended up sticking to the rest of the car as it was sloughed off the roof, so thats something to watch for if anyone here is doing this.
I'll attack the rest today.
I'm strongly considering not putting vinyl back on. i really like the lines of the car unbroken by the vinyl, I'm just mindful of keeping it original at the same time though. The vinly i ordered will be black into the bargain, and if i go with that, I'll have to fit it myself.
Which with my hands, is a recipe for catastrophy.
Opinions lads and lassies?
- stuthegasman
- FMM Supporter

- Posts: 1567
- Joined: Tue Jun 05, 2007 8:01 am
- Location: cumbria
Re: Glue Removal
I've often wondered what you would find under the vinyl whether it was painted or not, now I know. I wonder if some were fitted at the dealers as an option rather than from the factory they will be fully painted underneath ??.
that'll ding dang do for me !!
Re: Glue Removal
I would imagine so.
Unless the car was being ordered in that spec from the factory.
Also unde the vinyl roof are clumps of rust, holes and sharp metal things for cutting your fingers and trapping the material where it fold under itself at the bottom of the A pillar, and where there's no trim to hold it down.

I have broken the plastic chrome-alike trim taking it off. it was just so brittle.
Does anyone know if its available?
Or does anyone please have a nice stainless steel one somwhere?
Unless the car was being ordered in that spec from the factory.
Also unde the vinyl roof are clumps of rust, holes and sharp metal things for cutting your fingers and trapping the material where it fold under itself at the bottom of the A pillar, and where there's no trim to hold it down.
I have broken the plastic chrome-alike trim taking it off. it was just so brittle.
Does anyone know if its available?
Or does anyone please have a nice stainless steel one somwhere?
Re: Glue Removal
I think it looks well without it. The brown roof breaks the lines up too much and spoils the Coupe effect. 
1974 White 1.3 Super Coupe, lots of Alfas....
- The original northen boy
- Posts: 705
- Joined: Sun Dec 09, 2007 7:31 pm
- Location: Steel City
Re: Glue Removal
I'm on the with vinyl roof side of the debate,i do like vinyl roofs on most cars,in fact when will vinyl roofs make a come back on new cars,the black and silver craze can't last forever now can it and how do you do a cut-n-shut without one?
Russ
Beckett Bros "up on the roof" :roll:
Russ
Beckett Bros "up on the roof" :roll:
*** "MARINA PICK-UP A REAL MAN'S VEHICLE" ***


- JubileeNut
- FMM Supporter

- Posts: 5231
- Joined: Tue Jun 05, 2007 7:14 pm
- Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK
Re: Glue Removal
Last time I saw the plastic chrome strips for the gutter was last year at Peterborough BMC day.
I think it may have been on Matt's pitch so maybe worth asking him!
He is Pontskins on here!!
Other wise it will be off the roll from East Kent trim.
I have some of this I don't need if you get stuck!
Just a git to post.
I also will be at the BMC day this year.
Paul
I think it may have been on Matt's pitch so maybe worth asking him!
He is Pontskins on here!!
Other wise it will be off the roll from East Kent trim.
I have some of this I don't need if you get stuck!
Just a git to post.
I also will be at the BMC day this year.
Paul
" Pru, Its Kicking off "
1973 Morris Marina TC Jubilee
2013 BMW 328i M Sport F31
1973 Morris Marina TC Jubilee
2013 BMW 328i M Sport F31
- MarinaCoupe
- Posts: 10261
- Joined: Thu May 31, 2007 5:26 pm
- Location: Bedford
- Contact:
Re: Glue Removal
I'd love to attend something like that, but distance is a problem, obviously. When is it?
I'll bell East kent topmoirrow and see if he's shipped my stuff. If he hasn't, I'll cancel the roof and order some gutter trim
I'll bell East kent topmoirrow and see if he's shipped my stuff. If he hasn't, I'll cancel the roof and order some gutter trim