Ted:
Well said! Not much new for us life-long devotees but some of the experience has been hard won. I'll have to try the masked section for ease of removal. You are correct in stating the more aggressive nature of today's adhesives.
A tip that I received on the list some time ago was to use one's toes to hold a rim while pulling the top half of the tire over onto the glue bed. What a revelation! Bare or thin stocking clad feet in the workshop can have their place. Would that I'd learned or discovered that trick years ago. My mounting jobs are a lot cleaner as a result.
On a tubular with bare cotton base tape, do you (or other listmembers) coat the entire width of the base tape? I do so in the hope that it might retard base tape separation from the tire casing. At least they get a little less grimy in service with the cement coating.
Thanks for the excellent distillation,
Charlie Young
Honey Brook, PA