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04-21-2015, 12:29 PM
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#1
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3 Rivet Member
1977 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
Cape Coral
, Florida
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 152
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Can this be polished?
After almost 9 years of ownership, we finally decided to do something about the exterior paint of our 6 metre Minuet - now 38 years old. Don't know yet just what the finished treatment will be, but decided that stripping the old paint off would be the first step. We decided to start with the area between the rub rail and the belt line, as we were thinking we might polish that area and paint the rest for a two tone effect. The paint is coming off quickly with SmartStrip, and the resulting haze is removed with denatured alcohol. However, we have run into what appears to be a lot of sanding swirls. The non-sanded areas polish up to a nice sheen with Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish - but does nothing to the sanded areas.
Can these swirls be buffed out and polished? Or, are we destined for a full repaint?
Thank you...Geo...
__________________
flcracker
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04-22-2015, 07:16 AM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1972 31' Sovereign
Lexington
, Minnesota
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,982
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If the sanding goes all the way through the outer coating of aluminum, then you're looking at a paint job.
I would try sanding with 400, and then 600 grit sandpaper. Maybe even go up to 800 or 1200 grit. Wet sanding would be ideal I think. If you can get the swirl marks out by sanding with the progressively finer grits, then you might be able to buff it to a polish. Buy good sandpaper made for wet sanding, and a rubber body work sanding block. One that will conform to the curves of the trailer easily.
It'll be a lot of work, but worth it if you really want to polish the lower half.
Good luck!
Chris
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04-22-2015, 07:52 AM
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#3
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Rivet Master
1956 22' Flying Cloud
1953 32' Liner
1955 22' Safari
Valley View
, Texas
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,971
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You will be WAY happier if you go the paint route. WAY HAPPIER.
__________________
"If it can't be reduced, reused, repaired, rebuilt, refurbished, refinished, resold, recycled or composted
then it should be restricted, redesigned or removed from production."
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04-22-2015, 08:12 AM
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#4
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4 Rivet Member
1994 30' Excella
Truckee
, California
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 259
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Have you given any consideration to a vinyl wrap?
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04-22-2015, 09:40 AM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1964 26' Overlander
Richmond
, Virginia
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 790
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There are some amazing options in paint. use 2 tone colors that blend well if you can, lighter up top. Just google argosy paint job or something similar. Love the candy apple red one. And if you get a vintage vehicle to match or coordinate, even better.
Rob.
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04-22-2015, 09:44 AM
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#6
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The Sign Lady
1969 23' Safari
1974 Argosy 22
1964 24' Tradewind
Victoria
, British Columbia
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 677
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yes it can be...just a lot more work than your standard airstream as you have to get past the swirl marks they put in for paint bondage. You will need to paint your end caps though as they are galvanized metal and will rust once exposed.
you would cut thought the first layers of swirls with a polisher like this...
7 in. 10 Amp Variable Speed Polisher
then finish with a beauty like this...
Cyclo Model 5-Pro Polisher
Some one else can chime in with what kind of polishing compounds to use that will cut appropriately.
And Please post pictures of the steps you used if you do go ahead and do it. I have an Argosy that I am thinking of doing the same thing to once my restoration of the '69 Safari is done :-)
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04-22-2015, 09:51 AM
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#7
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The Sign Lady
1969 23' Safari
1974 Argosy 22
1964 24' Tradewind
Victoria
, British Columbia
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 677
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Oh and the Krylon fusion for plastics spray paint can be used for painting the plastic vents, hood scoops and lights etc...they have a great aluminum metallic that is a very close colour match or use you can use an etching primer and use any old aluminum coloured spray paint. While you are doing all this work replace your plumbing stack covers gaskets if needed, as they are supposed to be done every 5 years or so. Andy at Inland RV sells the new gaskets
Inland RV Center Inc.
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04-22-2015, 08:19 PM
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#8
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3 Rivet Member
1977 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
Cape Coral
, Florida
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 152
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Thank you for all the responses...
We've been doing a lot of searching of the forums to find how others might have solved this problem of factory applied sanding swirls on the Argosy. Many ideas, but no clear-cut "this is what worked for me".
The sanding swirls appear to be very fine and difficult to feel with the finger pad, a fingernail would not catch . I'm reluctant to add to the sanding in an attempt to get rid of the sanding, but others have tried it with success. Chris, should only the sanded parts be sanded, or will it need to be done over the entire surface? And how do you know when "the sanding goes through the outer coating of aluminum"?
We never entertained the idea of polishing overall and painting the endcaps to match. In SW Florida, a white or off white top is a distinct advantage, but we did think a little "shine" would look so retro. "Groveland" posted a photo last September of his just finished project with below the beltline polished (except for the door, which was fully polished) and above the beltline being painted white - it looked terrific.
We've also thought of starting the white top at the bottom of the end caps and going all around the coach with that line - interrupted only by the door and side windows. Perhaps move the beltline trim up to that line to further accent it. But, we are having a hard time visualizing that option.
We should finish stripping the bottom tomorrow, weather permitting. We have two grades of Met-all on hand from a prior project, and I think we will try that first before we resort to the sanding.
I will definitely post pictures of progress...thanks again...Geo...
__________________
flcracker
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04-22-2015, 08:26 PM
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#9
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3 Rivet Member
1977 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
Cape Coral
, Florida
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 152
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This is Groveland's "project"...
__________________
flcracker
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05-15-2015, 05:31 PM
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#10
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3 Rivet Member
1977 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
Cape Coral
, Florida
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 152
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Making progress, but not finished...
Lots of wet sanding, starting with 220 grit, 320, 400, 600, 800, 1000 - then compounding with F9. More compounding to be done and then on with the polishing. But first, an intermission - camping to Texas...Geo...
__________________
flcracker
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05-15-2015, 05:47 PM
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#11
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3 Rivet Member
1977 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
Cape Coral
, Florida
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 152
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I hope the photo's post this time...........
__________________
flcracker
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05-15-2015, 07:51 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1982 31' Airstream 310
champaign
, Illinois
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 4,071
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Very nice
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05-15-2015, 08:24 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
1978 29' Ambassador
1974 25' Tradewind
1974 27' Overlander
Indiana
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 677
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Very nice job! I've seen another Argosy that had lower paint and the upper panels were stripped and polished (except for the end caps which were painted). Goes to show what a little elbow grease will do...enjoy your Argosy...
Bob "Roadrunner"
Indiana, PA
TAC PA-5
WBCCI 4871
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06-06-2015, 01:10 PM
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#14
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Rivet Master
1973 Argosy 24
Kitchener
, Ontario
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 945
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One thing Airstream did to allow a lower cost on the Argosy was to use a cheaper grade of aluminum. Hence the need for paint. Scratch damaged panels from regular AS units also found their way into Argosy trailers. Polishing an Argosy will be an endless task as the softer metal will need constant attention.
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07-15-2015, 07:35 AM
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#15
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Sun Rae
1977 Argosy 28
Lewisburg
, Tennessee
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 82
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So far I'm polishing my 1977 28' used new coat chrome paint form advanced auto parts on end caps not finished yet this is one buffing ATTACH]243019[/ATTACH]
Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums
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07-16-2015, 08:50 AM
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#16
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3 Rivet Member
1977 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
Cape Coral
, Florida
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 152
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Looks real good - can't wait to see the finished product! Did you have any of the manufacturer applied sanding to deal with, and if so, how did you deal with it? Did you use a primer on the end caps, or is the chrome coat self priming?
Our project has come to a halt for now, it is just too hot and too humid - lots of rain and the sun is directly overhead providing few opportunities for shade. We'll resume when it starts to cool off and dry up...Geo...
__________________
flcracker
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07-22-2018, 10:37 AM
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#17
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3 Rivet Member
1977 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
Cape Coral
, Florida
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 152
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Three years later...
We continued to finish stripping the Minuet when we could - camping now and then - looking pretty raunchy at times. Very difficult to work on the trailer here in Cape Coral as you can only have it home for two days at most with 72 hours in between. The weather was never cooperative, and we had to work in full sun. Long story short, we finally decided to get serious about painting it.
Three years ago we had a paint quote of 10 grand at a nearby RV shop - with us stripping and sanding. That quote was what prompted us to pursue the polishing route. So we took a new look at local painting options and found Jack's Paint and Collision in Bonita Springs. They had recently acquired a new large state of the art paint booth and were advertising the painting of trailers and boats. So we hauled the Minuet to Jack's one afternoon for a talk and quote. We liked what we heard and saw - and they were excited about doing a vintage Airstream. The price seemed just right, not too high, not too low. We had already finished the stripping and we agreed to sand the aluminum with 180 grit - they were to do the final prep on the two end caps and below the beltline.
On July 10th we took it back to Jack's...this is how it looked...
__________________
flcracker
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07-22-2018, 10:51 AM
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#18
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Take me back to the 70's
1970 21' Globetrotter
1971 29' Ambassador
1977 20' Argosy 20
Boston
, MA
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 141
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I’m confused, you took it Jack’s to get painted and now your thinking of polishing?
__________________
Jami
77 20' Argosy Motorhome-
70 21' Land Yacht GT-renovating
75 20' Argosy Motorhome...ISO. radiator
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07-22-2018, 11:24 AM
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#19
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3 Rivet Member
1977 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
Cape Coral
, Florida
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 152
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End cap prep
First day at Jack's...
Prior to taking it in, we put in a new Fantastic Fan - the old one had developed the standard cracks and was leaking. We followed some tips here on the forums and hopefully it will not leak again. The new one from VTS seemed heavier duty than the old one. It will be painted and the Imron Wimbledon White paint should help to protect the plastic.
We also installed a new ABS cover for the fridge vent which will also be painted...
__________________
flcracker
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07-22-2018, 11:34 AM
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#20
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3 Rivet Member
1977 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
Cape Coral
, Florida
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 152
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"I’m confused, you took it Jack’s to get painted and now your thinking of polishing? "
We're not polishing now - we're painting. The polishing part started three years ago after a 10 grand paint estimate, which we considered excessive. But for the past three years polishing turned out to be impractical for us - therefore a recent revisit of the paint route.
Sorry for the confusion...
__________________
flcracker
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