saw a video once, put a cloth on it and pry it upwards with a can opener,flat style with pointed edge on bottom,be carefull as the stainless will have small pulling dents as you go. goodluck
The #1 reason why you see wanted ads for drip rail moldings is because people used can openers to get the old ones off and now they're junk, so never, ever use a can opener to remove them. They are very thin and dent very easy and a piece of cloth will not protect it. It might keep it from scratching it but if you're going to dent them all up then what's the point in protecting them from scratches? 99% of the time I can get them off without the use of any tools at all but for that 1% of the time you need to slide a thin putty knife underneath the bottom side to get it started, after that you can roll them off with your hands. Start at the rear, roll the bottom out first, then the top and work you way toward the front. It's not as hard as you think. And don't use a rubber mallet to put them back on
Just because you bent your's up with a can opener doesn't mean it won't work for others. Either use a cloth or wrap the thing in tape, and CAREFULLY lift it off the lip. Works great. IMHO. :TU: I've never damaged any using this method.
For the record, I've never bent any of them up because I've never used a can opener to remove them, but I have witnessed what others have done with one and it's not a pretty sight. With that said, how would you feel if you gave an inexperienced poster some advice and they ruined an otherwise perfectly good set of drip rail moldings with a can opener?
I think I'll pass on the can opener. I'm no body guy but I don't like to mix the kitchen with the garage.
The trick with the can opener is to make sure you grind off the edges so they are flat. (When they stamp them out the edges often stick down and will dent the moldings if they are there.) Once cleaned, then wrap the opener with electrical tape to cushion the moldings. Then only pry the molding off a little at a time. .............and now for the most important tip....................do not use a hammer, even a rubber one to install them. I have seen more of them ruined by denting the hell out of them during installation, and it doesn't matter if they are used, repro, or NOS as they all dent the same. Duane PS. I use the bottle opener end, not the pointy end. You are a lot less likely to mess up the paint on the roof with the shorter square end. Trust me.
