Hey all,
Question. I'm resealing some a pair of taillights with plain Silicon around the edges of the lens and the light.

I'd like to be able to put the lights back on the car while it dries, but then don't want it bonding to the paint.

Could I put blue tape around all of the places where I silicone'd, put it on the car, and then take the tape off later?

How long does it take to dry?

I would wait 24 hours before reinstalling the lights. I would not put any tape on the silicone.

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

I know of mechanics using silicone sealant for valve cover gaskets. When they do, they smear a light to moderate coating of oil onto one surface so they aren't glueing the valve covers down. Think about a mold release compound. If you have some silicone grease, like plumber's grease, maybe a moderate swipe of that to prevent it from adhering. Let the silicone skin over and firm up a bit first. Them install the lights.

Now, if you are worried about the silicone oozing out and getting on the paint, yes use the blue tape. When it skins over and firms up, you should be able to peel it up and remove the excess sealant with it. If it cures too long, the silicone may tear and pull up when you peel the tape.

This is just 100% silicon, not RTV or anything of the like.

I'd just like to put the taillights back in the car so that there aren't holes into my trunk... (It quotes 24 hours, by the way).

No.

Edited to clarify: if you put blue tape over the silicone, it won't cure, at least not for several days. There are silicone sealants that supposedly cure underwater -- I've never used one.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/2013 07:50PM by Mike Johnson.

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microchip
This is just 100% silicon, not RTV or anything of the like.

I'd just like to put the taillights back in the car so that there aren't holes into my trunk... (It quotes 24 hours, by the way).

Um, silicone sealant IS RTV. RTV means room temperature vulcanizing.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/2013 07:49PM by Racer X.

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Racer X

Quote
microchip
This is just 100% silicon, not RTV or anything of the like.

I'd just like to put the taillights back in the car so that there aren't holes into my trunk... (It quotes 24 hours, by the way).

Um, silicone sealant IS RTV. RTV means room temperature vulcanizing.

Ok, thanks.

I'll extra tape up the bulb holes and go from there. I generally try to stay as far as possible from RTV and the like, so this is all new to me...

RTV is self-curing and a bit of moisture helps actually. Usually the humidity in the air is all it takes. And oil will cause it to swell some, sealing even better if used as a gasket in a petroleum situation. Except as an automatic transmission gasket. That stuff causes it to swell 100s of percent. Loose bits can drift and plug up a tranny passage.

not sure if the ladies that just got plastic surgery implants [silicones] would appreciate you putting painters tape over them.......

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I reject your reality and substitute my own!

I would put tape over the parts that you don't want the silicon to get on while it dries, not covering the silicon itself. Then after it has cured take off the tape.