Your unit is looking very nice as well..To be honest, I can't wait to see a shot of it by a mtn stream...lol
You asked..
Quote:
How many hours are you at now?
To be perfectly honest, I don't know.
Let’s see, I started around the 9th of Sept. I spend, maybe 4 hours, spread over a two day period just getting the feel of it. That would bring us up to the 11th till today, the 18th. I'd say 2 to 4 hours each day. (I do work for a living.)
I'd say no more than 25 hours tops, to arrive at this point of the polish project.
53FlyingCloud-- Looking good as usual. You have a lot done in just 25 hours!
Garry--Lets see some pictures!!
As of tonight I have 11 hours. But I have learned a lot in that time. I found that I was trying too hard. Going over and over with the compounder and F7 to even out the shine.
Well it still was not even and I broke out the cyclo today. Wow cleaned it up real nice. I think things will go so much smoother now.
I also found the the cyclo is one heavy machine! I am more sore after 2 hours of cycloing than I was with any of the compounding.
1. Clean clearcoat with Bix Stripper from Home Depot
2. Compound using 1/2" drill and 3M wool compounding pad
3. Compound with Nuvite F7, move it slowly about 1 inch/second
4. Cyclo with F7 using sweatshirt material method keep moving the pad until all the black stuff is gone.
5. Clean with mineral spirits and clean cloth
6. Cyclo with S and CLEAN spot on the sweatshirt material keep moving the pad until all the black stuff is gone.
7. Cyclo with clean sweatshirt material
8. Have a Pepsi and relax ( I don't drink beer )
Tip:
Have two buckets with lids. Put dirty rags in one bucket with a cap of simple green and half filled with water. Soak overnight
Have a clean bucket with clean water. Take rags from first bucket rinse in second and hang dry.
Start again with a new set of rags so you always have clean rags and soaking rags..
Very Nice~!
That last picture shows up just like a mirror~!!
Hint:
Next International Rally, let's park side by side and "roast" hot dogs between the two trailers using the solar effects from the reflection off the two units...lmao..
One thing to remember..
Before taking a long trip, don't forget to get your "road hazzard ahead" sign to post on the rear of your unit. Sun reflection can be blinding~!~ lol
The photographs of your polished AS are wonderful. Thank you for sharing- but now I have questions.
What is G6? What is F7? What is S? Is a Cyclo a specific polishing tool, or can I use a drill motor and accomplish the same thing? Not only do I need to know what these things are, but I need to know where to get them.
Thank you for your help.
Barbara
Those numbers refer to the different grades of polishing compound. The G6 is more coarse in nature and, perfect for the starting process. If the skin conditions on your A/S warrant that level of cleaning.
The other level decends to a finer level of 'polishing action' as may be required.
For example, after using G6 to get down to "bare, clean surface", you might want to try F7 or C, as they're called.
Basically, the last two are the same with a slight different in that, F7 starts out abit coarse but as you use it, the process will bring it close to the action level as C.
If that makes sense, then you're ready to begin polishing..
For the last step in polishing, to get the perfect polish on your unit, you'd use what's called S.
More details are available at: Perfect Polish
In closing, the major part of your efforts would require a drill of sorts..The 1/2 drill is a better choice for your work as it will stand up to the workload, plus, it matches up with the bit that comes with the polish wool pads, etc.
In any event, the Cyclo polisher is worth it's weight for the results that you'll get in the end which, is mirror finis.
I hope this info is helpful for you and, I'll be happy to respond to any other questions that you may have..If I can't, then..I'm sure someone else on here will..
Good luck
Spent my day on the tractor no time for the fun stuff.
Will be back on the AS tomorrow my son is bringing the Harbor Freight polisher from Memphis tonight so I can start the compounding process in the AM hope he brings the digital camara as well.
Lucked out the $59 polisher was on sale for $29. Must be a heavy duty polisher pulls 11 amps !!
I did put together my scafold today so I did get something useful done
Just remember, it's all in the touch...lol
You will soon be seeing yourself`!
Wished I had the scafold sys. here as, it sure would make it easier to reach those upper panels..All I have is the ladder that folds into 18 positions..lol(better then nothing)
Looking forward to seeing some of your pictures..
ciao
Saturday mornings are the only time I get to work on the west side of the trailer because every evening the 90 degree Sun is beating down on it.
So I will switch sides in the morning for a few hours of compounding....
12.5 hours and counting
Garry, I'm not sure what polisher you got but if its above 800 rpms or so, you need to move a little faster than us drill users so you don't overheat the aluminum.
Good luck and get those pictures coming.
BTW.... are we all cycloing the very top of the trailers all the way with S or are we cheating and only compounding it?
If we all agree and don't tell anyone I think it will be ok
BTW.... are we all cycloing the very top of the trailers all the way with S or are we cheating and only compounding it?
TBPHWY, Unless you're a helicopter pliot, you'd never GET that info out of me..
JFWIW...
12.5 HRS? Man, you really are moving along..GFY.
I feel like I've wasted so much time trying to re-invent the "wheel" here..
Just to share this thought with you..from another thread about
polishing newer units..
I won't mention a name yet.
Quote:
So it's only '82 & newer that don't polish as well...I believe they started using the satin finish because it didn't show production scratches as easily.
From the results I've seen so far with mine, I don't quite believe this statement ~
Now...Just to put aside all pro's & con's bashing..I'll reserve my final comments until, I have the chance to see another A/S (older than '82, that's been polished) side-by-side with my unit.
That said..
I subscribe to the axiom, "Each to his/her own merit"..
Let's just say, "I'd like for us all to be one big happy family of campers"...lol
TBPHWY, Unless you're a helicopter pliot, you'd never GET that info out of me..
JFWIW...
12.5 HRS? Man, you really are moving along..GFY.
OK, 15 hours as of this morning. Compounded the entry door this morning
53- your way to internet savy for me. What do all those abbreviations mean? Even brought my 13 year old in to explain it to me and you stumped him to. ;-)
From the looks of your polishing looks like the newer units come out great!
I'm still awaiting the arrival of my polishing supplies but, I did manage to apply a coat of wax over the finis parts..And worked on a few panels.
I had to clean those,what with the rain we had last night..
Once again, I had someone walking her dog stop and, gave a generous compliment on how nice the A/S looks..
Brought a smile to me heart..
I worked very slow today as, I went to work at 730pm last night..
ciao
2 hrs of actual work, the other time was spend helping a neighbor with his toad hitch..
Quick Links
Thanks`
OK.... Tim's Happy
)
Good Question`
Took the day off
Ouch~!