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zappafan · 05-09-2015, 12:20 PM

I purchased a 1965 Safari. It has been in a barn for 30+years. Everything works, which is a bonus for me! My question is, do I strip and polish, regardless of condition??

Melody Ranch · 05-09-2015, 12:25 PM

No! And, don't polish a "spot" to see the shine. You will discover that the original patina Airstreams are becoming quite desirable. I like them better.

zappafan · 05-09-2015, 12:29 PM

Seriously?!?! There are a few spots that show some heavy oxidation. It's not all over, just one bottom side. Can I try a compound I use in my car to see if it helps?? Oh, and I have NEVER done anything like this before, I am a female and I'm VERY mechanically inclined. I just finished re-glossing the a/c cover and primed and painted it. I've cleaned the cabinets and polyurethaned them. It's a project my daughter and I are tackling together.

zappafan · 05-09-2015, 12:30 PM

That is Re- GLASSING!!!

tom p · 05-09-2015, 01:59 PM

You don't NEED to polish it. It just depends on what look you want and if you are willing to put in the hours to polish it. To polish it you are looking at 100 woman/man hours

minimum from what I have read. I'm hoping mine is going to be less but the only thing I have to go by is what others are telling me. I am doing mine as a business venture so I am polishing it. If it were my one and only family rv I would either not do it at all or use my rv to camp this summer and polish it over the winter. 'Patina' is a big thing these days but in the case of an Airstream I doubt you will lose value by polishing it unless it was a super old, rare model with original finish.

zappafan · 05-09-2015, 09:22 PM

I am up for the challenge. I plan on getting the right tools for the job so it will move efficiently. Thanks for the advice, y'all

batman · 05-09-2015, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zappafan

I purchased a 1965 Safari. It has been in a barn for 30+years. Everything works, which is a bonus for me! My question is, do I strip and polish, regardless of condition??

Congratulations on your barn find!
Sounds like you and your daughter have your hands full. Please take and post photos of your progress. We love photos!
If you are wanting a nice mirror like shine, a 1965 will do that very nicely. As you probably know Airstream used 2024 Alclad until 1968.

Plenty of threads here on the subject of polishing.
However I have found the best series of videos on line is from, Airstream Planet and Matthew Hofmann on YouTube: