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08-20-2015, 09:04 PM
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#1
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Remember, Safety Third
1973 27' Overlander
Catfish Corners
, Georgia
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,720
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Airstream Pattern Baldness Mold/Mildew
So the roof of the 'Stream has this black colored mold or mildew on it. Elbow grease gets a lot of it off, but not all. What has anybody used to get rid of this stuff??????
Obviously, the clear-coat is failing as with most of this vintage ('73). The mold seems to sorta take hold in the minor pitted areas. The TT is parked outside year round (our only option). So dirt and other organic matter accumulates on the roof. Perfect breeding ground for mold/mildew.
The clear-coat on the sides of the trailer is still in pretty good shape so I want to try and get this off the roof area without damaging the sides.
There are several products on the market that claim they are safe for "all" metals. But that doesn't account for the clear-coat further down the camper. My fear, of course, is that I'll kill the mold, but the product will run off down the sides and streak the still intact clear-coat. The two that I'm most familiar with are Moldex and Wet-n-Forget. Have used both inside and outside the house (our home, not the camper) with great results.
Thoughts, Suggestions?
Pics to follow in a few, forgot that part.
Jim
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08-20-2015, 09:24 PM
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#2
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Remember, Safety Third
1973 27' Overlander
Catfish Corners
, Georgia
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,720
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This kinda stuff.
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08-21-2015, 10:50 AM
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#3
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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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Try a glue remover, my bet is that it is sticky residue that has grabbed dirt and is holding on for dear life. I used rapid remover on mine, it's a citrus based adhesive remover that I use at work. My roof looks brand new now, spray on wait 30 seconds wipe off...
and it didn't touch my clear coat on my 69
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08-21-2015, 04:30 PM
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#4
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Remember, Safety Third
1973 27' Overlander
Catfish Corners
, Georgia
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,720
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Thanks. Rapid Remover is a brand name?
Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums
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08-21-2015, 04:34 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
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I used liquid car soap and a soft brush recently to my top a scrub down. Need to repaint the roof, need come up with an affordable product to use.
__________________
MICHAEL
Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
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08-21-2015, 07:19 PM
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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 is a brand name :-) generally sold industrially to sign shops. But found online to, you could probably walk into your neighbourhood sign shop with a jar and ask to buy a small amount to try. I used it everywhere. Takes off old vulcem sealant, glue residues, sap, tar, I even de-stickified my AS's vinyl walls with it to :-)
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08-21-2015, 07:54 PM
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#7
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Remember, Safety Third
1973 27' Overlander
Catfish Corners
, Georgia
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,720
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Thanks! I took at a look at it on line tonight after I got home from work. Don't tell anybody, but they also have a product that claims to remove silicone. I'm sure there are a couple folks 'round here that will want to try that! Here's the link:
Wax Grease & Silicone Remover | Rapid Prep | Pre Cleaner | Surface Prep | Rapid Tac Inc.
What I'm looking for is a product that will kill the mold and remove the mold stains. The Wet & Forget product looks like it will fill the bill. Link: Bleach-Free, No Scrub Mold & Mildew, Moss & Algae Cleaner | Wet & Forget
This stuff looks like the perfect product. It can be used on just about any surface. RV's are specifically mentioned on their site. So are cars, painted surfaces and plastics. Perfectly Bio-friendly as well. I'm gonna go get a bottle and try it on a small area of the roof. I'll let y'all know how it comes out.
Jim
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08-22-2015, 12:18 PM
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#8
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4 Rivet Member
1966 24' Tradewind
2005 22' Safari
Bastrop
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 329
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The older trailers were coated with clear lacquer finish from the factory , not clear coat
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08-22-2015, 02:07 PM
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#9
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1 Rivet Member
1969 31' Sovereign
Williston
, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 10
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I just discovered that my 68 Overlander still has most of the "clear" Lacquer on it. Told my nephew I would pay him to polish it after he took off the clear coat. He used some type of paint remover and used up a few hundred dollars polishing. No results and he just gave up. Now I have the trailer in a friends barn and discovered that the nephew never even got the clear coat or lacquer off. Lucky no money spent on labor, just food!
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08-22-2015, 02:53 PM
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#10
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2 Rivet Member
1998 31' Excella 1000
Clear Lake
, Minnesota
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 54
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I will offer my experience after completing a CC removal, buffing and polishing 87 and 97 Excellas with Ready Strip (Minard's 24.95/gal Biodegradable) and Wizard Metal Renew and Power Seal. Any way you look at it this is a labor of love!
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08-23-2015, 07:03 PM
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#11
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2 Rivet Member
1975 27' Overlander
LaVale
, Maryland
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 58
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We just used Dawn in warm water and terry covered window cleaner pole with a squeegee on the other side, did very well for us.
__________________
Britbat & the Shiny Beast
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09-04-2015, 10:18 PM
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#12
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New Member
1976 Argosy 28
Quicksburg
, Virginia
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1
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My Argosy has sat with the black and green growing steadily. When reading questions of cleaning it, I too brought out the dawn.. When it was raining the other day I took advantage of the rain. I took my Dawn/water mix and attacked my trailer. While it did not get it all, there was an obvious line where the Dawn and water stopped. No black or green. In truth I had cleaned the back and a part of the right side. Not perfect, but willing to invest another rain storm and my current plan is to use some McGuires auto wash.
The issue in my mind is that there is probably silicone in the wash.. May not use it as paint will have to be done and silicone and paint-- Not good.
It has been sitting for 3 years after my buying it and it was already there from the previous owner.
Another question if I can? I need a source of the plastic rivets for the interior ceiling.. I have a major dent where the trailer was backed into something and will most likely have to remove the rivets.. Mine is a 72 Argosy 28foot.
antiqbob
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09-04-2015, 10:25 PM
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#13
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Site Team
1963 26' Overlander
Hollis
, New Hampshire
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,647
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I find the Mr Clean magic erasers do wonders on mold and mildew. With any decent car soap...... . Easily found in any grocery store.
__________________
Shelly : TAC NH-6 | AIR 41359
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Parts needed : Braund Antenna front tube fold down model!
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09-05-2015, 02:05 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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Quote:
Originally Posted by antiqbob
Another question if I can? I need a source of the plastic rivets for the interior ceiling.. I have a major dent where the trailer was backed into something and will most likely have to remove the rivets.. Mine is a 72 Argosy 28foot.
antiqbob
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Plastic rivets???? My interior skins are held on with regular aluminum pop rivets. Just be sure to get the ones that are all aluminum (mandrel too).
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09-05-2015, 03:12 PM
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#15
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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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I think antiqbob what you are referring to are the ivory coloured rivets. You get those at inland RV.
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09-05-2015, 07:08 PM
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#16
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Remember, Safety Third
1973 27' Overlander
Catfish Corners
, Georgia
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,720
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I saw on the forums here, once-upon-a-time, a member who bought regular silver rivets and painted them with a little spray paint. IIRC, she poked them into a Styrofoam block, cleaned the heads with a little alcohol (or maybe acetone, very flammable), then sprayed with color matching paint. Me thought that was perrty clever. Gotta be cheaper than buying them already painted.
Jim
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09-05-2015, 07:29 PM
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#17
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Remember, Safety Third
1973 27' Overlander
Catfish Corners
, Georgia
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,720
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So I bought some of the Wet-n-Forget (Exterior version) and decided to give it a go. Remember, the goal is KILL the mold and mildew colonies, as well as eliminate the black and green stains. The product claims to do that. It also is a slow acting product--read, don't expect immediate results. It also is persistent, it hangs around for a while to keep the mold/mildew from coming back. If you have that ugly black streaking on the roof of your house, you can use it there. In theory, it will kill all the bad stuff and keep it away for a year or two before you have to reapply.
Pics to follow.
Jim
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09-05-2015, 07:34 PM
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#18
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Remember, Safety Third
1973 27' Overlander
Catfish Corners
, Georgia
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,720
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Here's what I started with. The area above that old green rag was sprayed on the aluminum roof area and the side of the Air conditioning cover (and yes, I know, the AC cover needs repair--again).
Jim
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09-05-2015, 07:41 PM
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#19
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Remember, Safety Third
1973 27' Overlander
Catfish Corners
, Georgia
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,720
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Here we are at about 10 days after application. It's doing sumpin'.
Jim
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09-05-2015, 07:42 PM
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#20
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Remember, Safety Third
1973 27' Overlander
Catfish Corners
, Georgia
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,720
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Time will tell........I hope.
Jim
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