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Old 10-28-2016, 02:44 PM   #1
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Rouge Polish, nay or yay?

I recently bought an Airstream and the previous owner said that the rouge polish worked the best for him and to go in that route. I've been working away with the rouge polish and it's getting there, but I recently read someone saying that it's terrible for the Airstream. Does anyone have a definitive answer on this? I keep reading conflicting reports.
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Old 10-28-2016, 03:07 PM   #2
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Which color rouge? These are not bad unless you use one that is too harsh and cuts too deep
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Old 10-28-2016, 05:38 PM   #3
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What is your polishing goal? Do you want a mirror finish? I assume the clear coat on your Airstream has been stripped if you are using rouge? How old is your Airstream? What are you planning on using for a polisher? The 2 methods of polishing Airstreams are 1. Nuvite 2. Tripoli and rouge
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Old 10-28-2016, 06:28 PM   #4
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Red rouge is the final grade for power polishing metal. I've then used semi-chrome to finish off and leave a wax coating on a mirror finish on aluminum motorcycle parts. If you are working on an Airstream that hasn't been fully polished before you will need to start with something more course. If I was to polish my Airstream I'd start with wet sandpaper to get rid of the mill finish marks. But I've never done an Airstream and there are several threads on this site that do it differently than I might.
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Old 10-29-2016, 06:45 AM   #5
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Thanks for all the responses. It seems clear I need to provide more info.

It's a 1976 Sovereign. The clearcoat has been stripped. I'm using the grey rouge on one buffing wheel and when I get it down to a nice shine I'm going to go over it again with the red rouge on another buffing wheel. The goal is a mirror finish. Is Tripoli the same thing as the red rouge bar I have?

This forum has been nothing but helpful (and time consuming) on this adventure and I am so thankful for all your help!
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Old 10-29-2016, 08:29 AM   #6
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The grey bar is probably tripoli. What are you using for a polisher? You need to use a relatively low rpm, but need a polisher which will have enough torque.
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Old 10-29-2016, 12:12 PM   #7
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For polishing our '67 Safari I've followed the advice from Levon Register using Jestco Buffing products (but also use some Nuvite) who taught a segment on this at a Vintage Trailer Academy. View his method at http://www.southernantique.com/polis...tructions.html
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Old 10-29-2016, 01:34 PM   #8
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Wait.....there's a Vintage Trailer Academy? How come I didn't know about that??!!! I need all the "larning I can git!"
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Old 10-29-2016, 01:44 PM   #9
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Watch Levon, he has done many Airstreams
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Old 10-29-2016, 03:52 PM   #10
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I think Brown Tripoli is one grade coarser than Red Rouge. You should probably start with something much coarser than that. It can't hurt to find out what somebody who has done several Airstreams has used and follow what they have done. After doing a few trailers I'd think a person wold figure out what works best. It's a time consuming job and trying different products and procedures takes even longer so I'd try and make use of other peoples experience. A lot of the panels on my trailer have tiny horizontal lines from the surface of the roller that squeezed out the metal as it was made. Even though it's shiny enough to see yourself all those lines would have to be smoothed out to get a mirror finish. It seems to me that it would take a very abrasive compound to get those lines gone; something that cuts like 320 grit wet sanding would be needed. YMMV, but somebody has done this and maybe figured out the tricks to get it done as fast as possible and will share the knowledge. A few hours reading could save a lot of work so I'll look around before I start on my trailer.
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Old 10-29-2016, 05:32 PM   #11
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Rouge Polish, nay or yay?

I've done my '77 with the grey bar from jestco. I bought their kit on e bay. It worked well and much faster than starting with nuvite.
In got a deal in a cyclo so I might switch nuvite for the final pass after the red barClick image for larger version

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Old 10-30-2016, 10:09 AM   #12
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I have used rouge bars from Jestco. They work well but I don't want a mirror finish, its too hard to maintain with a trailer kept outside in the driveway.
I do like a nice shine, so I keep it up with Toolbox Polish and a Cyclo. Takes a lot less time and still looks good. Its the Rob Baker method.
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