Please help- stripped and started polishing- white spots

[Shawnna]

Originally Posted by Lumatic

What year is your Airstream? If the windows are Plexiglass what are you replacing them with? If you are replacing them with plastic, Plexiglass is acrylic but using a polycarbonate like Lexan would be a better choice.

It is a 1967. All windows are glass except for 2 windows. The PO installed plexiglass instead of replacing with the curved glass. I have ordered the correct glass but haven't installed it yet.

[damonbeals]

We did some stripping of our Airstream and 10 minutes isn't enough, I found that 40-45 minutes is what it takes to just wash it off with a hose. I would reapply let it set and see what happens.

Damon
#4827

[Silverwanabe]

I am polishing my '67 again, Nuvite F7 brings out a nice shine on the sides but has some white spots, but the caps and roof have little black spots that look like pits.

In an area on the roof I have tried 3M 800 and 1000 grit wet sandpaper (wet sanding), 3M Super Duty Rubbing Compound, F9 and F7, the panel still had little pits. That is a lot of work. I am afraid to use the sandpaper method, will that burn thru the Alclad? I have Met-All too, mild polish like Nuvite S. I have the Dewalt polisher w/ wool pads and Cyclo all purchased from VTS.

No wonder the Pro's charge $1,000's....

[J. Morgan]

Polishing is hard work, but made easier by a good polisher.

[HiJoeSilver]

You might want to consider going at this from a different angle. You could use a cotton wheel and clay bar polishing compound. I think it goes much faster than face pad polishing. You want about an 8" cotton wheel and keep the polisher around 3000-3500 rpm. You need an arbour adapter for the polisher, bit it's cheap, then use subsequent grades of polishing bars. Bar colors vary by manufacturer. I got my supplies from Caswell Plating. You can watch a good video on the technique here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNZepfqL2ow

Different wheel for each grade polish, just like using other polishes.

[J. Morgan]

Nice video.

I might have to rethink my technique...

[mtnramblers]

We have begun the process of stripping the clear coat from our 1969 Overlander using Aircraft Stripper. It was late afternoon and somewhat sunny, but cool. We left it on about 15 to 20 minutes, which was the amount of time listed in the directions on the can. After spray washing it off there are still some areas and streaks, of what seems to be the dried stripper. Any suggestions of how to get this off? The temps in our area are running in the 70's during the day and 50's at night. Read a post suggesting to leave it on overnight. A little nervous about that. Is there any way that could damage the aluminum shell? Will it eat through? We also have white spots like the previous post.

[J. Morgan]

The only good way I have found to remove dried stripper is to put wet stripper back over it, and it still kind of sucks.

Wet stripper plus some careful scraping or brushing.

[Hoobiedoobie]

I started with a small corner section. I applied the Citrastrip and let it set for almost an hour. I may have put it on to thin, it appeared to have dried. When I removed with water and a scrubby sponge I could see brush marks from the application. Also, there is still a section that is very white. So another coat. Better but still lots of white. I tried a buffing compound on a sponge and it turned very black. So am I not leaving it on long enough? Too thin? Should I cover with plastic. This will take me a life time at this rate!! I don't want a shiny mirror result, more of a mat finish after I wax. Thanks.

[jerry1939]

PROBLEM: Still working on my '93 31' Excella. It had red WB club numbers that have been removed but a shadow still shows. I have used critistrip and paint thinner to get the residue glue off and you cannot feel the numbers but they still show the shadow.
QUESTION: How do I remove the shadow or do I have to wait until I get to the buffing process.???? (and will that work???

Jerry

[Hoobiedoobie]

I'm almost to the numbers. Gonna be a problem here I'm sure. I'm not planning on buffing, I want a satin finish. So after Citrastrip I've been goin over with Bon ami then going to wax....
I may be stuck with shadows.

[Lumatic]

For the ghost numbers try something like Goo Gone first then a Brillo pad then polish.

[Hoobiedoobie]

Carburetor cleaner worked like a charm for the sticky!!