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09-08-2017, 06:43 PM
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#1
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3 Rivet Member
1969 27' Overlander
Boise
, Idaho
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 150
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Cleaning Up Propane Tanks
My '69 came with two excellent, but ugly, aluminum propane tanks. I did some really minor poilishing on one just to see if it would polish, and it does. So I got them tested, fitted with new valves and tubes and certified.
Now I need to decide on a sanding/polishing plan. They have overall oxidation and some significant scratches. Here are pics, first one shows their overall condition, second one is a spot I polished a little bit, which shows the scratches better:
It's an old trailer so it'll never be perfect, but I plan to go for what I'll call a medium shiny finish. I figure I want to hit it first with a random orbit sander, but how coarse do you think I can safely go? And how fine would you go before switching to polishing compounds and a wheel?
Opinions appreciated.
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09-08-2017, 07:05 PM
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#2
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Half a Rivet Short
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15,746
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Hi
I would not go real crazy with anything industrial. Knock off the bulk of the oxide and re-coat them. For added fun, re-test them after you are done.
Bob
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09-08-2017, 07:14 PM
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#3
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NO HUMBLE OPINION
1968 20' Globetrotter
ANN ARBOR
, THE GREAT LAKES
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 670
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Easy way
I spun mine on a pottery wheel. Whet sanded to 220 grit, Could have gone finer grit for more shine, but stopped there as it matched the patina of the 1968GT, and has a nice "spun" finish..
Took about five minutes.
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09-08-2017, 08:07 PM
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#4
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3 Rivet Member
1969 27' Overlander
Boise
, Idaho
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 150
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Wow, that' spretty slick. If only I had a pottery wheel. How fast did you spin that?
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09-08-2017, 09:11 PM
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#5
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NO HUMBLE OPINION
1968 20' Globetrotter
ANN ARBOR
, THE GREAT LAKES
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 670
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No tachometer on the pottery wheel. Its max speed is 250rpm. I'd guess the sweet-spot, where the oxidation washed away cleanly with very little hand pressure, was about 90rpm.
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09-08-2017, 10:23 PM
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#6
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2 Rivet Member
Sacramento
, Arizona
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 28
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When I polish aluminum 90 percent of all the jobs I do I use 320 to start if there is alot of pitting I go down to 180 any courser than that it becomes a project to get all the sanding marks out.
I should also add I usually rotary sand to get the worst pitting and scratches out and I sand up to 800 finishing with the da sander.
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09-09-2017, 09:48 AM
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#7
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4 Rivet Member
2007 25' Safari FB SE
North/East
, New Jersey
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 367
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Jamespio..... There have been a lot of changes to the legal requirements for propane tanks since 1969. You may want to check if the tanks you have meet the current requirements and you will be able to get them filled before you spend a lot of time working on them.
__________________
2007 Safari 25' FBSE LS
2006 GMC Sierra 2500HD Crew Cab 4WD Duramax
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09-09-2017, 10:21 AM
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#8
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3 Rivet Member
1990 34' Limited
2013 27' FB International
Conroe
, Texas
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 208
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You should be able to polish them out similar to the trailer. Follow all the steps required as you would the Airstream
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09-09-2017, 02:46 PM
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#9
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1987 Avion 34W owner
Vintage Kin Owner
Good Ol'
, USA
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,090
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Lowes has a truck box polish that works really well on our aluminum tanks.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Better-Built-Polish/3035639
I used it on the cylinders on our Avion and really like it! Whether by hand or with an orbital polisher, it works really well!
__________________
I this great country!!!!
1987 Avion 34W
1995 Ford F250 7.3L PowerStroke
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09-09-2017, 02:50 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1983 34' Excella
1967 24' Tradewind
Little Rock
, Arkansas
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,825
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2dabeach
Jamespio..... There have been a lot of changes to the legal requirements for propane tanks since 1969. You may want to check if the tanks you have meet the current requirements and you will be able to get them filled before you spend a lot of time working on them.
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The original post says that he had them recertified and new valves installed.
__________________
Vaughan
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09-09-2017, 10:42 PM
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#11
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4 Rivet Member
2007 25' Safari FB SE
North/East
, New Jersey
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 367
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vswingfield
The original post says that he had them recertified and new valves installed.
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vswingfield.... Thanks, I didn't catch that when I read his post.
__________________
2007 Safari 25' FBSE LS
2006 GMC Sierra 2500HD Crew Cab 4WD Duramax
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09-28-2017, 10:46 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1992 29' Excella
Virginia Beach
, Virginia
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 747
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jeg5263
When I polish aluminum 90 percent of all the jobs I do I use 320 to start if there is alot of pitting I go down to 180 any courser than that it becomes a project to get all the sanding marks out.
I should also add I usually rotary sand to get the worst pitting and scratches out and I sand up to 800 finishing with the da sander.
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Not wishing to hijack this thread, but I'm polishing also and jeg5263, you've raised a question for me.
Does that include AS panels? Just curious. I'm just finishing up polishing my 92 29' Excella for the first time. It's coming out pretty good, but I'm thinking next summer I may want to sand and re-polish my front caps. Is sanding a good idea or no?
Here's the link to my most recent update pics on my polishing thread:
http://www.airforums.com/forums/show....php?p=2014936
__________________
Pete
Virginia Beach, VA
1992 29' Excella Classic
TV 2006 Dodge Ram 2500
Mega Cab Diesel 4x4
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09-29-2017, 01:30 AM
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#13
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2 Rivet Member
Sacramento
, Arizona
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 28
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Re-Pete
Not wishing to hijack this thread, but I'm polishing also and jeg5263, you've raised a question for me.
Does that include AS panels? Just curious. I'm just finishing up polishing my 92 29' Excella for the first time. It's coming out pretty good, but I'm thinking next summer I may want to sand and re-polish my front caps. Is sanding a good idea or no?
Here's the link to my most recent update pics on my polishing thread:
http://www.airforums.com/forums/show....php?p=2014936
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Panels can most definitely sanded and polished. Sanding is the secret to getting super clarity in your work. Even stuff that isn't bad I'll still sand. On stuff that is good typically I'll start at a higher grit maybe 600 or so and go up to 1000 or 1500. Aluminum is porous so it gets layers of micro oxidation over time. By sanding your removing these micro layers and removing imperfections as well. The big thing with airstream panels is heat. Too much and you can make burn marks with a sander if not careful.
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10-01-2017, 06:50 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
1992 29' Excella
Virginia Beach
, Virginia
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 747
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jeg5263
The big thing with airstream panels is heat. Too much and you can make burn marks with a sander if not careful.
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Yeah, that would be my luck. I'll probably leave well enough alone. [emoji1]
__________________
Pete
Virginia Beach, VA
1992 29' Excella Classic
TV 2006 Dodge Ram 2500
Mega Cab Diesel 4x4
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08-25-2018, 05:59 PM
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#15
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Still Dreaming
1971 29' Ambassador
Sulphur Springs
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 125
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ALUMINUMINUM
I spun mine on a pottery wheel. Whet sanded to 220 grit, Could have gone finer grit for more shine, but stopped there as it matched the patina of the 1968GT, and has a nice "spun" finish..
Took about five minutes.
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Damn, that's beautiful!
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