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10-28-2016, 02:44 PM
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#1
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New Member
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
Nashville
, Tennessee
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 4
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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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10-28-2016, 03:07 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1966 26' Overlander
Woodstock
, Georgia
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 8,525
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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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10-28-2016, 05:38 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
1971 25' Tradewind
1993 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Estancia
, New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,742
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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
__________________
Sail on silver girl. Sail on by. Your time has come to shine.
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10-28-2016, 06:28 PM
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#4
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4 Rivet Member
1973 31' Sovereign
Middletown
, California
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 424
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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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10-29-2016, 06:45 AM
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#5
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New Member
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
Nashville
, Tennessee
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 4
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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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10-29-2016, 08:29 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1971 25' Tradewind
1993 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Estancia
, New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,742
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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.
__________________
Sail on silver girl. Sail on by. Your time has come to shine.
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10-29-2016, 12:12 PM
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#7
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4 Rivet Member
1967 22' Safari
West Fork
, Arkansas
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 394
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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
jim
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10-29-2016, 01:34 PM
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#8
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2 Rivet Member
1976 Argosy 30
Annapolis
, Maryland
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 38
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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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10-29-2016, 01:44 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
1966 26' Overlander
Woodstock
, Georgia
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 8,525
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Watch Levon, he has done many Airstreams
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10-29-2016, 03:52 PM
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#10
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4 Rivet Member
1973 31' Sovereign
Middletown
, California
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 424
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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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10-29-2016, 05:32 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
1977 23' Safari
Niagara on the Lake
, Ontario
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 984
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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 bar
__________________
1977 Safari Land Yacht
2005 Toyota Tundra SR5
2022 Toyota 4Runner SR5
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10-30-2016, 10:09 AM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1966 26' Overlander
Woodstock
, Georgia
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 8,525
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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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