Door Skin Experts
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,569
Likes: 126
From: San Diego California
Door Skin Experts
Attempting for the first time at replacing the door skin on this '73 door.
How smooth does the panel have to be? As you can see, the original vinyl has peeled off from the lower forward quarter. Should the existing vinyl be removed first, so as to make a uniform surface for the new skin? If so, how?(Heat gun, etc)
What brand name/type of adhesive is best?
I realize the work/time envolved is more of a pain than paying for a replacement door panel, but want to just DO it and see. Any advice/tips on replacement is appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Steve
How smooth does the panel have to be? As you can see, the original vinyl has peeled off from the lower forward quarter. Should the existing vinyl be removed first, so as to make a uniform surface for the new skin? If so, how?(Heat gun, etc)
What brand name/type of adhesive is best?
I realize the work/time envolved is more of a pain than paying for a replacement door panel, but want to just DO it and see. Any advice/tips on replacement is appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Steve
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Who made your skins? Did they come with installation instructions? If not contact the manufacturer and ask how they should be installed.
Good luck with the installation.
Good luck with the installation.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,569
Likes: 126
From: San Diego California
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,569
Likes: 126
From: San Diego California
Old Skin Removal
Using a heat gun to warm the section to be peeled first, the skin pulls off much easier.
This open section was there at the production plant. The adhesive used was brushed on.
Also, this skin started out as black.
Gettin' there. Slow but sure. I've found that just a film of the foam comes off with the skin if you use heat and go slow.
This open section was there at the production plant. The adhesive used was brushed on.
Also, this skin started out as black.
Gettin' there. Slow but sure. I've found that just a film of the foam comes off with the skin if you use heat and go slow.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
The skins are designed to go over the old vinyl...
You're going to have one heck of a time installing skins now. Is it possible! Anything is possible, but boy oh boy what a job. Any imperfection under the new vinyl will usually shrink and show when you are finished with the installation. We never suggest door panel skins to customers, and in my opinion they should never be sold. Bare door panels and transferring the old trim is always the cheapest way out.
In the old days, when all we could get was a skin we had no choice… and I hated this job.
Before we installed the skins, all the cracks in the old panels had to be repaired. The trick was to cut all the cracks out and then fill the void area with silicone using a very special, important secret ninja tool.... Ice cube's.... (With the ice cube you can spread the silicone smooth).
I too am curious as to how this turns as well.. You may want to return the skins and get the panels… IMHO.
Willcox
You're going to have one heck of a time installing skins now. Is it possible! Anything is possible, but boy oh boy what a job. Any imperfection under the new vinyl will usually shrink and show when you are finished with the installation. We never suggest door panel skins to customers, and in my opinion they should never be sold. Bare door panels and transferring the old trim is always the cheapest way out.
In the old days, when all we could get was a skin we had no choice… and I hated this job.
Before we installed the skins, all the cracks in the old panels had to be repaired. The trick was to cut all the cracks out and then fill the void area with silicone using a very special, important secret ninja tool.... Ice cube's.... (With the ice cube you can spread the silicone smooth).
I too am curious as to how this turns as well.. You may want to return the skins and get the panels… IMHO.
Willcox
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,569
Likes: 126
From: San Diego California
The skins are designed to go over the old vinyl...
You're going to have one heck of a time installing skins now. Is it possible! Anything is possible, but boy oh boy what a job. Any imperfection under the new vinyl will usually shrink and show when you are finished with the installation. We never suggest door panel skins to customers, and in my opinion they should never be sold. Bare door panels and transferring the old trim is always the cheapest way out.
In the old days, when all we could get was a skin we had no choice… and I hated this job.
Before we installed the skins, all the cracks in the old panels had to be repaired. The trick was to cut all the cracks out and then fill the void area with silicone using a very special, important secret ninja tool.... Ice cube's.... (With the ice cube you can spread the silicone smooth).
I too am curious as to how this turns as well.. You may want to return the skins and get the panels… IMHO.
Willcox
You're going to have one heck of a time installing skins now. Is it possible! Anything is possible, but boy oh boy what a job. Any imperfection under the new vinyl will usually shrink and show when you are finished with the installation. We never suggest door panel skins to customers, and in my opinion they should never be sold. Bare door panels and transferring the old trim is always the cheapest way out.
In the old days, when all we could get was a skin we had no choice… and I hated this job.
Before we installed the skins, all the cracks in the old panels had to be repaired. The trick was to cut all the cracks out and then fill the void area with silicone using a very special, important secret ninja tool.... Ice cube's.... (With the ice cube you can spread the silicone smooth).
I too am curious as to how this turns as well.. You may want to return the skins and get the panels… IMHO.
Willcox
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