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beckybillrae · 02-18-2012, 05:20 PM

Started trying to polish the interior end caps this week. Wow...what a job, is all I can say. It's really pitted with corrosion (strange because it was zolatone coated). All I can think of is that they used a different grade of aluminum b/c it was getting painted. So, I sanded it with 320, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 2000 and then polished with a wheel. Still not so great. I'll never get all the pitting out. If it looks really bad when I'm finished, I think I'll swirl it with brushes or something. Right now, my arms really hurt!

I tried using an random orbit sander, but I think that made things worse rather than better. Pretty tuff with the interior curve:

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So, I've been sanding everything back down by hand

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And it's looking like this--after about 13 hours I might add....

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But it still has pitting like this:

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tinman54 · 02-19-2012, 07:15 AM

The rear endcap in our 54 is like that also, I just polished it the best I could and left it. Some of it will be covered by cabinets on either side of the bed. Besides that it kind of matches me, I'm a little rusty and pitted also and I'm not 57 yrs. old yet:-) The Cruiser is making me feel that old some days though!

beckybillrae · 02-19-2012, 07:12 PM

Thanks for the info, Tinman. I too am a bit rusty & pitted, so if it's not perfect, oh well! I have told myself that I don't have a deadline, so I'll just keep plodding away at it!

beckybillrae · 02-28-2012, 07:36 PM

After a bunch of sanding, and all the grades of Nuvite (tried some wheel action too, but didn't get much cutting from it), and finally cycloing, I'm FINISHED with the front end cap

!!! I've decided to skip the rear, since it has some deep scratches in it, and not a whole lot of it will show anyhow. Now I'll move on to priming & painting.

Here is my end cap....the new bottom was a breeze to polish...top isn't perfect, but the old gal has been down a rough road!!

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reinergirl · 02-28-2012, 08:30 PM

Looks great from here!

Nice Job!

tinman54 · 02-29-2012, 05:02 AM

Looks great Becky!! Quite a change from just a few months ago!

worldinchaos · 02-29-2012, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beckybillrae

After a bunch of sanding, and all the grades of Nuvite (tried some wheel action too, but didn't get much cutting from it), and finally cycloing, I'm FINISHED with the front end cap

!!! I've decided to skip the rear, since it has some deep scratches in it, and not a whole lot of it will show anyhow. Now I'll move on to priming & painting.

Here is my end cap....the new bottom was a breeze to polish...top isn't perfect, but the old gal has been down a rough road!!

That's a wonderful shine! Don't be so critical of your polish job. None of us can see any imperfections so we would be none the wiser... Keep it up!

beckybillrae · 02-29-2012, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinman54

Looks great Becky!! Quite a change from just a few months ago!

Thanks all! It will be a year ago that the Bambi II was rescued from the recycler. Time passes quickly, that's for sure! I told my DH that this would be a 2 year project & he didn't really believe me. I keep telling him that hobbies are NEVER finished! I think when she's all painted inside, I'll breathe a big sigh that she'll be a whole new pallet for me to try to work some magic on!

tinman54 · 02-29-2012, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beckybillrae

Thanks all! It will be a year ago that the Bambi II was rescued from the recycler. Time passes quickly, that's for sure! I told my DH that this would be a 2 year project & he didn't really believe me. I keep telling him that hobbies are NEVER finished! I think when she's all painted inside, I'll breathe a big sigh that she'll be a whole new pallet for me to try to work some magic on!

That was a good milestone last year when the inside was finally painted. We get that question to "when will it be done" I give the same answer as you, our trailers are all a work of art and will probably continue to change for a long time to come, so it will never be done.

**HiHoAgRV** · 02-29-2012, 10:13 PM

Awesum work, keep pushing the rest of us forward with your efforts.

JodyoD · 02-29-2012, 10:17 PM

LOVE it Becky!!! Great work!!!

Chlyman · 03-01-2012, 08:10 AM

Hi Becky, your progress is amazing and inspirational! Did you use two layers of prodex? I had be debating using prodex and fiberglass for the sound insulating, but two layers of prodex would probably do the same thing and be much cleaner! I am sure I will have more questions for you going forward!!!

beckybillrae · 03-01-2012, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chlyman

Hi Becky, your progress is amazing and inspirational! Did you use two layers of prodex? I had be debating using prodex and fiberglass for the sound insulating, but two layers of prodex would probably do the same thing and be much cleaner! I am sure I will have more questions for you going forward!!!

Yes, I used two layers of Prodex. On the endcaps, I followed Hi HoArgosy's lead & put one layer on the interior & the other layer on the shell itself. My endcaps went up without a hitch (except maybe in my back!) It's nice to work with, sheds water, & doesn't harbor mice like fiberglass. I've been in the trailer working when it's in the lower 20's and it's nice & toasty with a little ceramic heater.