what do you use to get rid of the windshield rubber mess

[oldcarnut]

I've used wire wheels and electric scrapers but it mostly melts and spreads it thin.  Any good tricks for cleaning it out?  It looks like the back window must have been sealed and glued in 3 times on top of each other

[hemi-hampton]

I hate when that happens

[oldcarnut]

I reckon I'll call the paint shop or glass pro and see what they use.  Maybe there a chemical that will make cleanup better.

[b5blue]

Used a razor knife (like for drywall) to kinda shave most off. Cleaned the goo off the blade with Lacquer thinner and changed blades a lot. Get most off and attack the rest with lots of rags wet with the thinner. I've no clue how you'd save the paint?   

[oldcarnut]

Thanks for the advice .   I'm working on it at the moment.  I found out that the scotch brite type pads using the die grinder motor got most of it with out wanting to smear it all over then the rest cleans off real easy with some wd40 on a rag.

[b5blue]

There ya go! 

[Brock Lee]

If the paint is not an issue, try a heat gun. It turns butyl into a gooey mess, but you can pull off the larger areas, then wipe up the residue with a rag. Have lots of rags handy too, you will need them.

[john108]

That black stuff is really sticking tight.  What about removing the best that you could. 
I think that the replacement sealer material will fill and stick to anything that is left and the windshield wouldn't know the difference???

[ODZKing]

If it is a chunk of stuff that is one thing.  But if it is just a smear on the window or trim, GooGone works very well.

[tan top]

to remove the Butyl ,  scrape as much as you can off , with a plastic bondo spreader in a sawing motion , ( use a metal scraper if your repainting the car  )  heating it up a little with a hair dryer / hot air gun helps , ( don't go mad not too hot ) ,   then spray the remainder with WD40 , & rub vigorously with , stockinette / mutton cloth / muslin . concentrate on a little bit at a time , wear gloves ( big mess ) once all removed  ,  use panel wipe /paint shop degreaser , to finish clean up as normal

[Hard Charger]

I think the key here is to use a power tool that does not generate heat that would cause the crud to stretch.

having just gone thru this I was searching for some sort of paddle attachment for my drill or dremel tool.

I did have a rubber finger wheel for my die grinder but since the car was in paint I did not take the chance.

I ended up taking the time scrapping it off by hand in the end.