How to Maintain Door Skins?

Door skins are a vital part of a vehicle's exterior, so they're often prone to wear and tear. However, a number of preventative steps can help ensure that your shell isn't damaged and will look good for much longer.

Firstly, it's important to choose a quality door skin from a reputable supplier. The best doors are thick, wide, and feature intricate details. They'll also be manufactured to last a long time and resist cracking, swelling, and deterioration from exposure to moisture.

Second, it's important to find a door skin that is well bonded to the interior trim. Sheet metal adhesives, such as Krylon, can be used to firmly crimp the inner lips of a door skin to the interior trim. This helps ensure that the skin doesn't pull away from the frame when it's opened and closed.

It's also essential to get a quality paint finish and a protective top coat, such as polyurethane. These finishes will protect a door skin from rusting, and they'll make the panel easier to clean.

Another thing to look for is a door skin that's pre-finished, so it's ready to install. Typically, pre-finished panels will have a high gloss sheen, which means that they'll stand up better to the elements and won't fade over time.

Finally, it's important to get a skin that fits well. Using a hammer and block to even out any damaged edges will ensure that your new skin fits well, as will making sure the edge of the new skin is folded over tightly.

One way to ensure a good fit is to use a thin piece of wood (or a similar material) to support the outer skin and doorshell. Once you've got the new skin in place, you can use a flat faced hammer to bend the inner lip of the skin against the doorshell. This takes a bit of practice to get right, but it's worth doing to ensure a perfect seal.

Alternatively, it's possible to use a metal block to hold the inner lips of the skin in place and then hammer it down tightly on the doorshell. This is a little trickier than using a wood block, but if you're careful it'll be perfectly fine.

The skins should also be a good thickness, and be of a quality wood such as pine or hardwood. The thinner the skin, the more likely that it will warp and rot over time.

In addition, it's important to check the skin for any dents or damage before you glue it in place. This is especially true if the panel edges are cracked or if the inside trim is damaged and requires a seam weld.

If the skin isn't a good fit, it can be cut off or scrapped. It can also be crimped in place using a thin piece of wood (or preferably a solid rubber block). This works better if the inner lip isn't too damaged, as it may be more difficult to fold the edges over tightly.