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InsideOut · 03-13-2007, 08:11 PM

It's 6-1/2 lbs. I can lift it and barely use it, but not for long. But then again, I have medial epicondylitis in both elbows so I can't lift anything right now. I've wanted to chip in on the polishing effort...but I can't. Heck, I can't even lift a gallon of milk!

Shari

pinkflamingoes · 03-13-2007, 11:41 PM

Ouch. My Mom had carpal tunnel and had t have surgery, it really affects your life.

I'm asking because I think I'm finding out that I enjoy tedious repetitive jobs. I can get started on something and do it for hours and I don't seem to get bored. I liked painting my frame, taking off gasket with a Dremel, and polishing little parts; I just daydream. So...waiting in between these big jobs on the AS, I could still get out there and polish. I wonder, is it foolish to polish before it's done being rehabbed? I sure wouldn't paint a house before it's done being remodeled. It's always the last thing.

Any thoughts?

BIGED52 · 03-14-2007, 12:12 AM

Wax On....
Wax Off! on edit...Sorry typing error: It was Pat Morita... Ed

Fyrzowt · 03-14-2007, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALANSD

I found Mothers to be pretty good for smaller areas, but does not cut through the really badly clouded looking spots.
For that I have used the Tool Box polish, and it worked well. but still best for my use was the Purple Polish with the addition of the deoxidizer liquid, for especially bad spots.
It cut right thru and took little effort, done by hand. Understand I am not looking to mirror shine my trailer, but I want a nice relatively shiny clean look.
I got that with no power tools, and then I used Liquid Glass to "seal" the finish.

Due to the high price of Nuvite, I decided to try Mothers for my final polish, after using Nuvite C (medium). I did the whole trailer with Mothers with good result. I never tried the fine grade of Nuvite, and can't compare them. I used less than one container of mothers for my 21' trailer at about $5.
I WAS able to compare the price of Mothers with Nuvite. I would (will) use Mothers again.
Dave

ALANSD · 03-14-2007, 04:09 PM

Has anyone ever used FLITZ? My motorcycling friends swear by it.

Pacerized · 03-22-2007, 08:51 PM

I came to look for this exact subject. Last year I did my airstream with a buffer pad on a variable speed drill, and an orbital buffer. I was able to do one side without swirls, but I had a pad tear on the other side which resulted in swirls on one of the panels that I couldn't get all the way out. I'm happy enough with the shine. The results are far less then the shine I see on some of the online pics, but I wasn't looking for a show shine. I have an 81 which I believe is the year that the finish on the skin changed. It's not as brushed in appearance as the new models I've seen, but I don't think I could ever get the mirror shine of the older models. I'm thinking of buying the cyclo to go over it one more time, and see if I can get the swirls out of the panel. Then I would just go over it again with liquid glass, and finally wax.
If anyone has any experience with the cyclo, do you think it would take out the lite swirls left by the torn buffer pad?
Do you think I would see a noticeable improvement over that of the the buffer I've used?

InsideOut · 03-22-2007, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacerized

If anyone has any experience with the cyclo, do you think it would take out the lite swirls left by the torn buffer pad?

Nope, I don't think so - unless an agressive paste-type compound is used. It doesn't take out scratches as much as get rid of the directional swirls left after compounding to get at the scratches.

Shari

Fyrzowt · 03-22-2007, 10:19 PM

I think you'll need to go over it again with the disc polisher using a new pad to get out the scratches. Then use a cyclo or orbital buffer if you want to refine the finish.
Dave

Pacerized · 03-22-2007, 10:48 PM

I don't think I would call the swirls I have from the torn high speed pad scratches. When the pad tore it sort of wound into a small ball in that area of the pad. The swirls it left couldn't be felt by the hand, or fingernail. The swirls were more of a darken discolored effect on the skin. I went back over them with the high speed, orbital, and then finally with eagle polishing wool. That helped, but they're still noticeable. From this description do you think the cyclo would help?

InsideOut · 03-22-2007, 10:59 PM

If you have access to a cyclo, you could give it a shot. You never know until you try it ~

Shari

Fyrzowt · 03-22-2007, 11:00 PM

I'm not sure.

I polished my '72 without running into any discoloration of metal. (Other than the black from oxidation)
Could it be that the metal got hot? Maybe too much speed on the disc polisher?
I'm guessing here - as I said I haven't experienced this. Maybe someone else will chime in.
Good luck with it,
Dave

rickandsandi · 03-23-2007, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALANSD

Has anyone ever used FLITZ? My motorcycling friends swear by it.

Alan- I use Flitz on my handguns and it is awsome stuff. But I would think that it would be very expensive to do a whole Airstream!

toastie · 03-23-2007, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polishing Guru Inc

Use your buffer with green compound. green works best then go over it with nuvite S and a cyclo. Takes alot of practice and awhole lot of work. Well worth all of it though.

What is the name of the green compound, and can the green compoud be used with the cyclo polisher with wraps......

Pacerized · 03-23-2007, 03:19 PM

Dave:
I would guess that this is the case. I think the pad made a small hard cotton ball where it tore which created a lot of heat as I continued to go over it, and didn't notice the effect under the compound. The swirls were very noticable at first, but did lighten a great deal when I went back over them, so I think there may be some promise of removing them. So far the best think I've found is the Eagle 1 polishing wool at only $3 per can. I hate to spend $275 on the cyclo kit just to find out if it works, but I'm leaning that way.
I guess it's a good tool to have since I plan on owning an airstream for years to come. Did you find the cylco saving any time at all vs an orbital for the final shine?
I'm also very interested in the Mothers polish. Could anyone tell me if this is the Mothers Alunimum mag polish that's sold at Wal-Mart in a 5 oz. jar?
Thanks: Charlie

I polished my '72 without running into any discoloration of metal. (Other than the black from oxidation)
Could it be that the metal got hot? Maybe too much speed on the disc polisher?
I'm guessing here - as I said I haven't experienced this. Maybe someone else will chime in.
Good luck with it,
Dave[/quote]

Fyrzowt · 03-23-2007, 03:46 PM

Charlie,
IMO, use a circular buffer at a low speed of about 400 RPM to keep heat down. Use a medium polish such as Nuvite C. This will give you some metal moving ability without scratching the surface. If this woun't remove the color, try a more course compound. It may be that the discoloration goes too deep to remove. After the buffer, use a random orbital polisher or cyclo for the fine polish.
I did not try the orbital polisher route, I went straight for the cyclo.
I also went from Nuvite C to Mothers Aluminum polish. Yes it's about $5. I figured why not for the price difference, and am happy with the result. Other people have posted that you can't polish a trailer using Mothers polish. Look at my avitar and see what you think.

I found a new cyclo on the site below for $220, along with other supplies.

Good luck,
Dave
Cyclo Orbital Polisher - The Cyclo Dual Head Polisher

pinkflamingoes · 03-23-2007, 04:35 PM

Say I got to the point of polishing my trailer. How much would I have to be concerned about the polishing process removing Vulkem from the seams, if at all?

Fyrzowt · 03-23-2007, 05:03 PM

Polishing one trailer doesn't qualify me to answer that - but I don't see that it would do anything to the sealant.
Dave

Pacerized · 03-25-2007, 01:21 PM

Dave:
When I worked on my airstream last year I used a very cheap compound with the high speed, followed by a cheap polish with the orbital. I tried the mothers today on a panel, and can't believe the results with using just a rag.
Two applications really lightened the swirls, and the reflection in the panel makes the others look bad. I bought a used cyclo from e-bay online today for $137, and I'm buying a pad kit with the holders, cutting pads, and buffing pads. After seeing how the mothers worked with a rag, I can't wait to see what happens with the cyclo. I'm going to take a couple of days off for this in April. Go over the unit with the cutting pads and mothers first, then the buffing pads, liquid glass, and finally wax it. I think I can knock that out in 2 days, and I'm swearing to myself that this is the end. Hand waxing only from that point on.
Thanks: Charlie

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fyrzowt

Charlie,
I did not try the orbital polisher route, I went straight for the cyclo.
I also went from Nuvite C to Mothers Aluminum polish. Yes it's about $5. I figured why not for the price difference, and am happy with the result. Other people have posted that you can't polish a trailer using Mothers polish. Look at my avitar and see what you think.

I found a new cyclo on the site below for $220, along with other supplies.

Good luck,
Dave
Cyclo Orbital Polisher - The Cyclo Dual Head Polisher

Boondocker · 03-25-2007, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacerized

and I'm swearing to myself that this is the end. Hand waxing only from that point on.
Thanks: Charlie

Hey Charlie, sounds like a great plan. You are aware of the famous last words column are you not....

Pacerized · 03-25-2007, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gen Disarray

Hey Charlie, sounds like a great plan. You are aware of the famous last words column are you not....

I know, that's why I thought should put it in writing.
Last year I started saying I just wanted to clean it up. Then when I took off the old stripe I had to have it painted back on. Then the polishing started, and I wasn't looking for perfection. Cleaning it with just rags wasn't good enough, so I went for the combination of a cheap high speed, followed by an orbital buff, and ordered a gallon of liquid gold. Now it's so close, I had to buy the cylo and try to finish what I started this spring. I just want to get it to where I only have to apply a hand wax once, or twice a year. I hope this is enough to draw the line, and call it quits. I work 60+ hours per week, coach, and have 2 young boys (help for the polishing). I can see how this can become addicting.
Charlie