Small rattle can project - masking question

[hal1]

I'm spray painting (probably Rustoleum Professional) some car side rook rails. They go slightly in to a groove and have a rubber molding on the underside that fits in the groove and hold everything snug but probably not really water tight.

I'm thinking that I really don't want to get much over-spray on them as that might cause them to deteriorate? Or not really? Also thinking that with overspray on them they may not seat/seal as well - again I'm not really sure that it's water tight to begin with. So I need to mask them off as they are not removable.

Your thought on these 3 ideas as seen in the pics.

1. Mask above the molding on the rail? (they sit deep enough that it would not be seen. - That's actually my preference but I'm concerned that the paint will start to peel up at the mask line? - is that likely, there would be a ridge after all.

2. shove the tape under the lip? But that does allow some paint to get to the underside (interfere with the rail seating on the molding firmly enough) and may catch when peeling it out?

3. Just tape on the side of the molding itself an not worry about the black paint that gets between the molding and the underside of the rail.

I'm probably way over thinking this. Yes, I've primered it

 

[kaymccampbell]

Others will say different, I'm sure. I'd go with #3, if you're doing it in place. If you can pop the trim out of the car, then you don't have to worry about painting the rubber.

 

[hal1]

Others will say different, I'm sure. I'd go with #3, if you're doing it in place. If you can pop the trim out of the car, then you don't have to worry about painting the rubber.

Yes, the rail is off the car, it's just that the rubber is with it and mostly together, though I can get a little space between the two. I'm not worried about the black overspray for appearance, just if it harms the integrity of the rubber

 

[sberry]

It aint going to hurt the rubber. But overspray is one of the most notable paint job flaws. Poor lines, ruff paint, lots of other stuff is rarely seen, hard to see but spray jumps right out.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Can the rubber be removed? In the pics it looks like it's held on mechanically, not with adhesive.

Tommy

 

[Colin Len]

Oops! Mistakenly bumped this, sorry, not even sure how I saw this on my feed since it's 2yrs old.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

What's a "rook" rail?

 

[LXCam]

What's a "rook" rail?

I dun’t no. But what I do know is it’s been two years since the OP posted this and a half year since he was on last. Sooooo I’m thinking he got his answer by now..