Ford Excursion door cladding won't stick

[ukiltmybrutha]

So I got around to replacing the Excursion door and painting it from my previous thread. It looks great. Only one issue. The bottom door cladding will not adhere to the door. I have never seen anything like this in the past. In the past I didn't know about VHB tape and put any old double stick tape on any cladding on any vehicle without a care and never had issues.

This time I decided to pay attention to detail here. I carefully removed all double stick tape and cleaned all surfaces with Isopropyl alcohol. I then applied the 3m VHB double stick tape and the cladding pops right off. The 24 year old double stick tape that was on there was so tight that I had to use a pry bar repeatedly to get it off off in the first place denting the door below it and yet this VHB everyone swears by won't hold at all.

Do I need to use some adhesion promoter? What's the deal here. I have never come even close to a situation like this.

Thanks.

 

[manwithtools]

Hate to ask, but are you sure it's genuine 3M VHB? There are counterfeits out there.

 

[ukiltmybrutha]

Hate to ask, but are you sure it's genuine 3M VHB? There are counterfeits out there.

Interestingly enough I went back to Amazon to verify as the though had crossed my mind. When I clicked my purchase (I had used this for another unrelated project recently) and it held just fine. It is no longer on Amazon. The thought had crossed my mind that maybe it wasn't genuine.

This was the description:

3M Double Sided Tape 0.5”×18ft VHB 5925 Black Mounting Tape Heavy Duty Waterproof Foam Tape Strong Adhesive for RV LED Strip Light Décor

Sold by: Rvhouse Inc

 

[manwithtools]

Interestingly enough I went back to Amazon to verify as the though had crossed my mind. When I clicked my purchase (I had used this for another unrelated project recently) and it held just fine. It is no longer on Amazon. The thought had crossed my mind that maybe it wasn't genuine.

Yep, I bet it was a rip off site and they are gone now. It happens. I'd get another roll from a known source, Zoro or McMaster-Carr maybe? Good luck and sorry you are fighting this issue.

 

[ukiltmybrutha]

Yep, I bet it was a rip off site and they are gone now. It happens. I'd get another roll from a known source, Zoro or McMaster-Carr maybe? Good luck and sorry you are fighting this issue.

I appreciate the thoughts!

 

[Old tool guy]

Looks like the door panel and the trim piece are not quite the same shape, and the tape is struggling against springback.

 

[ukiltmybrutha]

Looks like the door panel and the trim piece are not quite the same shape, and the tape is struggling against springback.

That would ****. The replacement door is the same as the original though and the cladding is from the old door and never had any issues and is not distorted.

 

[PCustoms]

Agree that was likely counterfeit tape...

Generally:

-get the right thickness tape, some are super thick, others conform to take up a small gap
-use the proper cleaner. Acetone/IPA works OK, but on some plastics the 3m cleaner makes a world of difference
-use the primer/promoter if there is any doubt