Well, after watching this thread for a while, I decided that it was time for me to start the polishing process on my trailer.
I have had a really hard time finding the recommended supplies and ended up with a 5 inch pad fitted to a drill.
For stripping the clearcoat, I tried Citristrip and was not very impressed with its performance. It took a long time to work and then needed a second application to get rid of all traces of the clearcoat. I then used No. 7 rubbing compound on the panel and after a couple of hours ended up with a reasonable looking finish for the first stage. This was followed by an application of Mothers polish (that's all that I had) but it still left some swirl marks and obviously needed more work.
I decided to try the Klean-Strip liquid aircraft remover for getting rid of the clearcoat and set off to AutoZone to pick some up. While I was there I saw that they had a Vector Waxxpro 7" Sander/Polisher for $49.99, so I thought what the heck and bought it - couldn't be any worse than the drill and the 5" pad!
The Klean-Strip gets the clearcoat off so easily - apply to a panel and then scrape off within a few minutes, clean up any remaining spots with another application, wash off with soapy water and you're done!
When the panel had dried off, I fitted the new bonnet to the polisher, applied a small dab of the No.7 Rubbing compound and hit the lower panel. After initially turning black, the shine begins to appear really quickly on the area being worked and leaves no swirl marks - I was impressed! I had the polisher on the slowest speed and was getting great results compared to my previous attempts. It sure gives you a workout though as this is a powerful machine and takes a lot of effort to control it.
The whole lower panel took about 25 minutes to get an impressive looking shine - not a finished, deep shine like you other guys are getting, but enough to get me excited and motivated to carry on. Following pictures show the before and after of the 2 panels done so far. Today, I stripped 3 more panels so that I can have at it in the morning with the polisher!
__________________
'If you always do, what you've always done.'
'You'll always get, what you've always got!'
http://www.dpharris.com
Welcome gvanman looks like you are on your way If you have any Southern Shine the next step will knock your socks off.
I hit a snag today, went back for a second go and could not get the panel to the left of the door to shine. no amount of compounding would work. Dawned on me there is still some clear coat even though I stripped it twice. I Will have to hit it again in the AM with stripper I would be half way there if I didn't have this set back. Have other chores backing up that will have to get done soon.
By the way my back problem is not the "normal" problem. Remembered I took a fall a few days ago and landed square on my butt, hurt like heck and the numbness must have something to do with that. Just a problem climbing up & down the scafold.
gvanman keep us posted and keep up the good work. You must be up to 6-8 or more points already
53 Flying Cloud I used the carnabola wax today and didn't care for it. Took twice as much effort to get it off, reduced the shine more than the Turtle Wax. The TWax did not leave water spots so I think I will stick with it. Don't know the long term difference for lasting shine !!
Just gonna have to get the camara !!!
I keep getting this serious white speckle problem. I am pretty sure from my research that it is pitting in the finish.
I have tried hitting it HARD with G6, F7, C and just cannot get rid of it with any reasonable effort. When completely cycloed you cannot really see it from a few feet away, but up close examination it's there plain as day.
So, If I cannot find an answer to this pretty soon, I will have to put up a fence around the trailer and not let anyone within 5 feet
Here is a close up of the speckles but they didn't really come out. Next is a close up of the rear panel w/o speckles.
gvanman
Welcome to the thread~!
This is the spot to vent your frustrations, compliants, ask for help or, share the "Eurka" of your process that might a difference.
You're looking good~! Was it Safari Tim who said? "Once you start, there's no turning back"~
Garry, I understand what you're saying about the wax..As you know there no absolute correct , it just depends on what works for you..I will agree that it's hard to take off. I found this process works best by hand..(removing the wax). At first I figured why not use the machine but..It just seems so much easier to wipe it by hand..
After working flat out all day yesterdaythis morning is proving to be one of those bummers...Today, I woke to the sound of hard rain drops pounding on the roof.(at 420am..and, it still continues)
Late yesterday afternoon, as I was winding down the day's work. My neighbor in the next campsite came over to talk about the work..Lol, he said that he wanted to come over earlier but, he could see that, I was a man possessed~! Well, maybe this polishing does make you involved but...Possessed?? lmao..What would you say?
I gotta tell you one thing..My arms are beginning to get use to the workout and, the weight of all these tools..lol
Standing on the ground reaching overhead with the Cyclo is beginning to be a breezes..I had the ladder set up but, didn't feel to comfortable with it..(fear of it tipping over against my work!~!)
First report for the morning showed that the newly waxed surface is holding up as well as the other ones.
I've been advised by several fellow-campers that, I'll be nedding a special permit to drive this unit own the hiway...lol
Tim, If I may suggest? Give Ron Black a call..he might have a solution for your problem with the white specks. BTW,your pictures are looking better and better...KEWL~!~
Again, it nice to read each and every progress report..
Keep it up~!~
stay safe..
ciao
These can be founded on this website:
1.industrialtools
Makes for some interesting reading..
Look what it says about, "Jewelers Rouge Bar Compounds"
2.formax
Then go to "White Rouge" J-51..
Might be the ans to your problem "Safari Tim"...
Got about 3 more hours in on the polishing today.
I didn't feel comfortable working on a ladder to do the top of the trailer so I pulled my pickup truck alongside and this worked out to be the perfect height and a whole lot safer than the ladder.
I just had to be careful not to drop any of the Klean-strip on to the truck! Right now I am feeling 'comfortably numb' as Pink Floyd would say! My arms are just about asleep from using the polisher, but it's a satisfying feeling - same kind of relaxed feeling that I used to get after weight lifting.
53flying cloud - the rouge might just put the ultimate shine on the trailer! I have used that and the green chromium oxide for polishing the edge of my woodworking tools to a mirror finish so aluminum should be a piece of cake!
__________________
'If you always do, what you've always done.'
'You'll always get, what you've always got!'
http://www.dpharris.com
Glad to know it might be of some help..
The tip came from the 'Polishing Guru".
Funny thing was..he doesn't put anything on the finish shine..Which is okay, his reasons are valid. For myself, I don't mind the slight differences, if it helps preserve the finish work..
I realize what he mean about products made with petrolum in it.
I just felt 100% pure Carnauba should work..Time will tell and, if I'm wrong..well, I still have my Cyclo...lol
keep up the excellent work..
ciao
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If you have any Southern Shine the next step will knock your socks off.
Cool.. Join the Polish club!
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