overspay on weatherstripping

[berge]

how do you take off paint overspray from soft rubber weatherstripping such as on doors etc.? It was done by accident and, obviously, it looks like crap. A clear flexible primer(plastic/bumper primer) is the first coat and there is regular automotive enamel for second coat.
I'd really rather not have to buy new weatherstipping as it is in excellent condition(other than my dumb mistake) and I fell off of my chair when the dealership told me how much new weatherstipping is.

thanks.

 

[bretfraz]

Have you tried anything yet? Paint thinner, mineral spirits, naptha. Simple Green, WD40, Goo Gone.....

Try a few products on a small spot and see how they work. It might take an aggressive chemical to do the job but try not to go too hog wild.

When you get the paint off, treat the weatherstripping with Armor All or a similar product for some added protection.

 

[Curious Kid]

They say not to get brake fluid on a car's finish, but I also think it won't do any harm to the rubber weather stripping either.

There's also acetone (formally used for finger nail polish removal) and laqure thinner, but these might be too aggressive.

 

[doitmyself]

Laquer thinner will probably do the trick. Keep it off your good paint.

Follow with a good rubber treatment, as stated above.

I like 303 protectant.

 

[Not the Autorx Frank]

be careful but try some MEK

 

[XS650]

If it's modern automotive paint products, they're most likely more impervious to chemicals than your weatherstip is

One option would be to paint it a flat black flexible paint of the same type you used. You also might be able to get it to come off by squeezing the weatherstip and distorting it enough that the weatherstip/paint bond fails.

Be careful of the chemical approach. Some nasty chemicals will have a long term effect on the weatherstrip and cause it to get brittle and crack later.

If you can get the paint to crack and start coming off a bit, some relatively benign chemical like Goo-Gone will help speed the process.

Beware of agressive solvents like acetone and MEK if you want your weatherstip to last for many more years. They may do damage you won't notice for some time.

 

[berge]

well, some judicious 'flexing' of the rubber got most of the paint off and good old paint thinner did the rest.

Alot easier than I feared.

thanks for the help everyone.