White Dum Dum

[kenneth bingener NCRS#38563]

Is White Dum Dum still available? Restoration shop says they can't find a supplier anymore. They want to use it on the doors when reinstalling the latch mechanism. Any help with supplier or "correctness" comments appreciated. Early 58 White exterior. Thanks Ken

[Dick W.]

Re: White Dum Dum

3M offers several varieties of seal sealer, #08505 "Fast N Firm" in cartridges, #08500 All Around Body Sealant in white, and #08656, a brushable seam sealer. I believe that with the heavy bodied sealer coming out of a cartridge it would do the job.

[Geoff C.]

Please no ethnic slurs. This is not the CF *NM*

[Michael F.]

Re: Please no ethnic slurs. This is not the CF

geoffrey, your comment makes no sense

[Gary Wilkerson]

[Dick W.]

Re: White Dum Dum

Probably the 3M #08578 Black Stip Caulk is what you are refering to. Only problem is it comes in about 60 12" strips. Good thing is a box only costs about $12.50 or so

[Ted S.]

Re: White Dum Dum

GM didn't change colors of dum dum based on car color. My understanding is that the latches were in place when the car was painted. They masked the roller mechanisim on the latch and the latch plate on the rear door pillar. The attaching plate piece on the latch is painted (and any associated dum dum that remained after cleanup) and the roller part of the mechanism was unpainted. Hope this helps

[Christopher R.]

Re: White Dum Dum

I don't know that white dum dum was ever made. But the widely used gray dum dum is very light. Maybe you're mistaking the gray for the white.

I thought 3M made the gray stuff. I could swear I've got some out in the garage, but there's 2 feet of snow blocking the entrance. I know they still make the black stuff. I could only find the black stuff on the 3M web site.

The rope caulk sold in Home Depot/Lowes/Tru Value/ACE is very similar, if not the same as dum dum. It's also light gray. Cheap too.

[Dick W.]

Re: White Dum Dum

I know that I have bought the gray also but could not find it on the web site. There is one sheet of gray strips in my box of black. Then again there are several 3M items that I cannot find on their site

[Terry F.]

Re: White Dum Dum

On my 68 in the hinge pillar post region (and a few other places) there is a white calk that reminds me of white latex calk. It is totally different than the gray/black rope calk that is commonly used in several places to seal seams, etc. My assembly manual also shows it and identifies its use. In my opinion, a cheap white paintable calk that comes in a cartridge looks and feels the same as the original stuff. The original stuff that is on my car was painted over with primer and body paint. I have looked at it closely in some places were paint didn't cover it. In those areas it yellowed a bit on the surface but the inside is still bright white. It has also dried out considerably. It really reminds my of white latex calk that came out of a tube. Just my opinion, Terry

[Dick W.]

Re: White Dum Dum

The seam sealer that I mentioned in a previous post is what you are seeing. When we would strip a body and get it ready to paint, we always removed the old seam sealer and resealed. Used my finger to smooth it out. It is somewhat similar to the DAP putty you are talking about.

[Chuck S.]

Re: White Dum Dum

I believe the material used in the pillar post application is closest to the stuff that Dickie mentioned in his first post. It is a paintable, brushable body seam sealer that dries hard. Color is immaterial as that area is pretty much covered by the weatherstrip or painted.

It was used primarily to smooth the edges and fill the gaps of the bird cage laminations at the bottom of the pillar. Homebuilder's exterior acrylic latex caulk may work, but it does not dry hard and will retain flexibility as intended.

I would have a little more confidence that 3M would insure that its product remained compatible with all automotive finishing materials; I would be less certain of the exterior caulk's compatibility, since it was never intended for that purpose...e.g. will urethane products stick to DAP acrylic latex? Dunno...Don't won't to find out 3 months after the paint job. JMHO

[Terry F.]

Re: White Dum Dum

I agree with you. I will look for the stuff Dick mentioned in the earlier post. When I strip my car I would like to replace the stuff that has been on there. They really slapped that stuff on when they applied it. You are right, that is where I see it most, anywhere there is a piece of fiberglass that is riveted to the birdcage and needed to have protection from water getting in. Thanks, Terry

[John H.]

Re: Please no ethnic slurs. This is not the CF

Hello, it's humor - humor IS tolerated on this board

[John H.]

Re: White Dum Dum

The material at issue was vinyl plastisol seam sealer, not dum-dum; 3M makes it in numerous colors and formulations - "body seam sealer".