Silver Caulk for windshield header - an update

[Patrick H.]

Re: Silver Caulk for windshield header - an update

I still think you'll be sorry...

[Greg H.]

Re: Silver Caulk for windshield header - an update

I still think you'll be sorry...

You're probably right Patrick, but I want to replace this material without dis-assembling for now. Besides that, I really want to find a material that most closely resembles what was put on originally. The original was not painted over so I want to avoid doing that. From the look of how mine was applied it looks more like a putty than a caulk so I'll keep looking while I chip away at the old stuff. I decided not to try the sanded caulk but have found an exterior window caulk that is made to match aluminum. The color is even closer to the under-side of the original chip.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Silver Caulk for windshield header - an update

You're probably right Patrick, but I want to replace this material without dis-assembling for now. Besides that, I really want to find a material that most closely resembles what was put on originally. The original was not painted over so I want to avoid doing that. From the look of how mine was applied it looks more like a putty than a caulk so I'll keep looking while I chip away at the old stuff. I decided not to try the sanded caulk but have found an exterior window caulk that is made to match aluminum. The color is even closer to the under-side of the original chip.

Note my previous comment about acids in caulk. Don't say I didn't warn you.

The original stuff is silver colored "dum dum" or Strip-Calk. So, if you want to stay "like original" you can either try and color some "dum dum" to silver, or just color the exterior of it like I did. You can't tell.

I used a dental probe (well, actually an old one from a gross anatomy dissection kit) to push the dum dum into the crevice. Worked well, but got a blister on my thumb.

Patrick

[Bill C.]

Re: Silver Caulk for windshield header - an update

Listen to what Patrick is saying - caulk HAS acid in it (somewhere).

It will cause corrosion ---

I have used the 3M strip dum-dum and it works just right. I think it will give you a better seal when pushed firmly into the crack. I did a tinting somewhat like Patrick did, looks good.

[Edward J.]

Re: Silver Caulk for windshield header - an update

Pat, I was looking at a original 68 conv. last month, was looking at his windsheild piller with the top down, its has like a silcone gasket maker type sealant(It appears to be silver) at the areas where the piller moulding joins the upper windsheild moulding. the other areas I believe that it the 3m caulking,I was a line mechanic back in the 70s for chevrolet, I seem to remember that 3m use to make the caulking in a few shades, I believe that there use to be a light gray color along with the black.
I did many a weatherstrips in my days, GM did not know how to seal a car up from water or air leaks,or oil leaking .

[Greg H.]

Re: Silver Caulk for windshield header - an update

Listen to what Patrick is saying - caulk HAS acid in it (somewhere).

It will cause corrosion ---

I have used the 3M strip dum-dum and it works just right. I think it will give you a better seal when pushed firmly into the crack. I did a tinting somewhat like Patrick did, looks good.

Guys,

I really appreciate the advice and experience here. I will do more research, but I'm still determined to find something that looks as much like what is there. I saw a car at the recent chapter meet which I believe used the method described above but I was not pleased with how it looked. Is it me or do the edges appear a little ragged?

The stuff GM used clearly did not do the job but it looks good

By the way, I have not heard the term dum dum (other than a city in India). Is there another name for it? Plumbers putty?

GM had to have something that flowed easily and was applied like a caulk and worked in by hand. That's what I want to use.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Silver Caulk for windshield header - an update

Guys,

I really appreciate the advice and experience here. I will do more research, but I'm still determined to find something that looks as much like what is there. I saw a car at the recent chapter meet which I believe used the method described above but I was not pleased with how it looked. Is it me or do the edges appear a little ragged?

The stuff GM used clearly did not do the job but it looks good

By the way, I have not heard the term dum dum (other than a city in India). Is there another name for it? Plumbers putty?

GM had to have something that flowed easily and was applied like a caulk and worked in by hand. That's what I want to use.

Greg,

I've got a Bowtie car here, and I've got the 72 I'm working on. Both were/are available for my inspection. In addition, I see your pictures attached of your "original material."

Using the 3M Strip-Calk (i.e. dum dum) plus the fabric paint gave an appearance that is exactly like what the factory did. It could be applied by hand, and if silver Strip-Calk were available I'm 100% sure it could be applied by hand and would be the original type material. I purposely stuffed as much Strip-Calk (20+feet) in the 72 project as I could because I am doing the car for a client and I did not want one (1) drop of water to get through. And, I'm anal so I wanted the appearance to be just right.

In short, current black Strip-Calk + silver fabric paint = "original" material of silver dum-dum (or Strip-Calk or similar). If you find silver dum-dum/Strip-Calk/etc then you've got the original material which was not a caulk and cannot be replicated by caulk.

Patrick

[Greg H.]

Re: Silver Caulk for windshield header - an update

Thanks again Patrick. I'm a little slow but coming around. I'll get some dum dum and try it out. I'm going to have quite a supply of gray shade sealants on the shelf.

[Terry M.]

Re: Silver Caulk for windshield header - an update

Are you saying that 3M no longer makes the gray strip caulk? Oh no ... tell me it ain't so.

[Greg H.]

Re: Silver Caulk for windshield header - an update

Well the Norton Company does:

http://www.nortonautomotive.com/uploadedFiles/SGnortonautomotive/Documents/Catalog330-Adhesives-Sealers.pdf

Part # 82761

The description reads a lot like the 3M description.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Silver Caulk for windshield header - an update

Thanks again Patrick. I'm a little slow but coming around. I'll get some dum dum and try it out. I'm going to have quite a supply of gray shade sealants on the shelf.

Don't be afraid to stop by your local Michaels craft store and use the products I tried early in the thread.

Patrick

[Patrick H.]

Re: Silver Caulk for windshield header - an update

Are you saying that 3M no longer makes the gray strip caulk? Oh no ... tell me it ain't so.

If they ever made it, I've never found it.
All I could find earlier this year - and looking today - is black.

Wish I'd know about that Norton stuff.
Hey Greg.....

Patrick

[Terry M.]

Re: Silver Caulk for windshield header - an update

Oh yes they made/make it in gray. I'll have to go to the garage to get the part number. I last bought some about 3 to 5 years ago.

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/3MAutomotive/Aftermarket/Products/Product-Catalog/?PC_7_RJH9U5230GE3E02LECFTDQCEK3_nid=GSLRY5ZD4SgsXB20NJQ19WglSNZRWQSX0Dbl

Looks like it is only black now.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Silver Caulk for windshield header - an update

Oh yes they made/make it in gray. I'll have to go to the garage to get the part number. I last bought some about 3 to 5 years ago.

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/3MAutomotive/Aftermarket/Products/Product-Catalog/?PC_7_RJH9U5230GE3E02LECFTDQCEK3_nid=GSLRY5ZD4SgsXB20NJQ19WglSNZRWQSX0Dbl

Looks like it is only black now.

Yup.

I'd love for someone (Greg?) to buy some gray Norton stuff and let us know if it's correct.

Patrick

[Pat M.]

Re: Silver Caulk for windshield header - an update

I found and used 3M gray caulking about a year and a half ago. Looks great, sealed well, and judged well. I thought I still had the left over tube, but I can't find it, just in time for it to no longer be available.