I just got off the phone with P & S Travel Trailer Service in Helena, Ohio. They fix a lot of damaged Airstreams and polish them too. They charge about $200. per foot. ($5400.00 for my 27' ) This includes stripping plasticoat, polishing to a mirror finish, re-applying the plasticoat, sanding the tongue and exposed frame portions and repainting, painting the A/C shroud, and all of the Airstream letters. They also sell a do it yourself kit for $650.00. This includes the model 5 cyclopolisher, the bonnets, and all of the polish. He says it is more than enough to do my 27'.He includes instructions and call him anytime you like for guidance. They use a product called blue magic. He says that once you strip the trailer, you apply the blue magic with the cyclo. The more you work it, the more it shines. Kind of a one step process after the stripping. It may be less expensive than nuvite at $48.00lb. Here is the web address: http://www.pandstrailerservice.com/index.htm Has anyone used blue magic?
I have not heard of the blue magic, but my friend is an aircraft technician, and he says they used a one step polish on air buffers to polish replacement panels etc. and the leading edges of the wings.
From the forelisted website describing Blue Magic:
"Its highly effective formula instantly removes oxidation, tarnish and dirt while polishes, leaving a silicone film to protect the finish."
With all the discussion regarding silicone on the aluminum, such as in using silicone for sealing windows improperly as opposed to Parbond and Vulkem, since it's been mentioned that it's tough to get anything to stick once silicone has been there, I guess this might give me some pause in considering a purchase....
On the other hand... these guys have been doing this for many years, so I guess they'd know....?
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Cheers, Dave
"Finish." AIR #4188 1994 34' Limited / 2002 Chevy 3500 CC 4x4 D/A Equal-i-zer Hitch / Jordan Ultima 2020
At my last and final job .. as the Sales Manager for The Brassworks .. we used Blue Magic to touch up the polished brass and German Silver radiators before shipping.
Tip: When polishing ... use a t-shirt type cloth (no nap) to avoid hairline scratches.
I have used a lot of metal polishes over the past 30 years ... Blue Magic always provided the best reults.
Porky, do you think Blue Magic metal polish would give good results on an Airstream? How does it compare to Nuvite or Rolite? Is it really a one step polish? If it is, it could really be a time saver as compared to the others. It is less expensive than Nuvite and Rolite. Rob
I tried this on a small test spot on my 345's alcoa wheels. Seemed to do a nice job. I used it only because I had it in my garage and wanted to what those wheel "might" look like after a polish. Never thought about trying it on the AS itself. Might need to give it a whirl.
Hi Steve, The guys I talked to in Ohio say it is one step. No need for all the abrasives, thus saving time. I think I could do better buying the cyclo and needed pads and bonnets plus the Blue Magic than $650. Just kind of skeptical. A lot of people use the Nuvite and Rolite products with great results. But they also talk about all of the multiple steps of compounding and weeks of polishing to get the results they desire. If you could get the desired results in just one step why doesn't everyone use it? Kind of a "wonder polish". Rob
funny, I ran out of "Mothers mag and aluminum polish" and bought some of that Blue Magic at WalMart last weekend. It did a nice job on my bumpers.I sealed them when through, with Liquid Glass to hold the shine. I did it by hand though, no buffer.
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Rallys twice a year..Lots of fun, food, and aluminum.
Well I'm willing to try it. I have failing clearcoat and have planned to strip and polish the nose within the next few weeks. Not sure if the MH will require wet sanding first to remove the "grain" but suspect it will. It certainly worked well cleaning up the wheel using a 9" Snap-On polisher/buffer. If it works then great, if not then I can drop back to the tried and true.
I would have to say that if P&S uses it - it has to be pretty good - P&S has been polishing a long long time, is highly recommended by the factory and does a really great job.
Hi Steve, The guys I talked to in Ohio say it is one step. No need for all the abrasives, thus saving time. I think I could do better buying the cyclo and needed pads and bonnets plus the Blue Magic than $650. Just kind of skeptical. A lot of people use the Nuvite and Rolite products with great results. But they also talk about all of the multiple steps of compounding and weeks of polishing to get the results they desire. If you could get the desired results in just one step why doesn't everyone use it? Kind of a "wonder polish". Rob
It would seem to me, the difference between "one step polishes" and Nuvite, Rolite, Tripoli/Rouge or other processes which use abrasive compounds or pads vs a "one step polish" is that the "one step polish" will probably remove oxidation and make the surface shinier...no problem. They will not however remove scratches, dings or corrosion, just polish them. Yes, very light scratches may appear to be removed, they probably are with the slight abrasive effect of the cloth applying the polish. But to truly remove deeper surface scratches and acheive a "mirror-like finish" you must smooth the metal with some sort of abrasive...either compound or pad.
If you look very closely at the front of your trailer where the rocks fly up & hit it, you will notice that every little "ding" is actually a crater with a ridge around it...this ridge is what Nuvite, Rolite, Tripoli or abrasive pads remove...a topical solution without any abrasives will not get rid of the surfface imperfections....it will just clean it.
Depending on the beginning condition of your skin and the desired end result..."one step products" may be the way to go. However if you are looking for a true "mirror-finish" that is acheived on many vintage trailers, I'm afraid there aren't many shortcuts...you gotta smooth out that metal somehow.
Just my 2-cents...
I too wonder about the effect of using silicone products on aluminum like coriolis1 mentioned earlier...
Shari
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Vintage Airstream Club - Past President 2007/2008
WBCCI #1824 - DenCO Unit Past President (2005)
AIR #30 - Join Date: 2-25-2002
Shari, You are right when you say there are no short cuts. Which is why I am questioning it. I think I will do the right thing and use the Rolite products: pre-polish, metal polish and the ap-300. for the first go-round. Maybe then I will use Blue Magic to maintain the final finish. Sound good? I don't want to waste my time. I'd rather be successful the first time.Rob
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) This includes stripping plasticoat, polishing to a mirror finish, re-applying the plasticoat, sanding the tongue and exposed frame portions and repainting, painting the A/C shroud, and all of the Airstream letters. They also sell a do it yourself kit for $650.00. This includes the model 5 cyclopolisher, the bonnets, and all of the polish. He says it is more than enough to do my 27'.He includes instructions and call him anytime you like for guidance. They use a product called blue magic. He says that once you strip the trailer, you apply the blue magic with the cyclo. The more you work it, the more it shines. Kind of a one step process after the stripping. It may be less expensive than nuvite at $48.00lb. Here is the web address: 
"leaves a silicone film to protect the finish?"
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