Wax on Soft top side weatherstrips

[Lorsar]

I undertook replacing soft top this week.   Thanks to all the info in the tech manual and threads, it came out pretty darn good.

Now all i have left is the  side window weatherstripping. I purchased them from the classic center.  There's some type wax coating on them  and  I'm looking for suggestions on getting it off.  I tried rubbing alcohol and hot water with a brush.  So far only got about 40% off.  Being impatient, I dry fitted the passenger side but now it looks like my car has dandruff.

[ChrisInNashville]

Good job!!

[zoegrlh]

The wax coating is so rubber will last longer. I left it on when I did mine some years ago, and it’s still on. To me it makes the seals look so much newer. Not dandruff to me. MB did this wax coating to all its classic rubber, door seals same and most of the rubber hoses too.

[Shvegel]

I just did mine as well.  This appears to be a new product being used as a mold release.  Most likely more friendly to workers or the environment than PVA or any of the other release agents.  I assumed a little Acetone would solvent the wax but that was not the case.  You can scrape it off with your finger nail so I am guessing some sort of Scothbrite pad will be required to remove the wax. 

Release agents are why you should thoroughly clean and weatherstrips that are to be glued with Acetone and a rag changing your rag often.  They are designed to keep the rubber from sticking to the mold but they also do a dandy job of keeping the glue from sticking to the moulding as well.

[Lorsar]

I ended up using a dry stiff bristle brush and got about 90 percent off