Soda Stains over my entire trailer. HELP!

[leighmic]

Hi all - I'm a new Airstreamer in Australia. I have just purchased a 71 Globetrotter. I made the aweful mistake of leaving a light mist of BI CARB SODA over the entire body overnight. I am left with a mess that seems will not come off! I am very, very concerned. Please help!!!

Here's a list of what I've done:

1. Paid a ton of money for a mint condition / original Globetrotter
2. Stripped the clearcoat using Paint Stripper
3. Hosed down thoroughly
4. Applied a light mist of BI Carb Soda to neutralize the paint stripper
5. Made the mistake of leaving the soda on overnight
6. Cried when it didn't wash off the next day
7. Cried more when everything I've tried failed to remove the stains

The surface 'does' polish up. However, there is a clear residue of where the soda has presumably 'etched' the aluminium underneath the shine.

I am very, very worried that I have ruined the surface forever.

Please tell me that there is 'something I can do'.

Thanks!

[leighmic]

http://www.airforums.com/forums/atta...3&d=1367911832

[leighmic]

Images attached

[overlander63]

You can try some fine (800-1000 grit) sandpaper, and hand sand the entire trailer. Try a small section that people can't easily see first.

[masseyfarm]

Try some OrangeGlo first. Spray on and rub off.
http://orangeglo.com/v/b-about.html
Applications
For use on all hard finished wood surfaces... fine furniture, antiques, railings and banisters, kitchen cabinets, Stainless Steel, etc. Using a soft cloth simply apply Gloden Oil® evenly to a clean dry surface. Wait 10 seconds, then wipe off excess to create a bright clean lustre. For heavy wax buildup allow to stand up to 10 minuites before wiping. Removes soap film from fiberglass showers and tubs. Follow directions on bottle.

If this does not work, try some Canada Dry Club Soda. Same thing spray on and wipe off.
http://www.canadadry.ca/products.html
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Sulfate, Disodium Phosphate
Just a couple things to try that won't make it any worse.

Dave

[idroba]

From what I have understood, that is the same stuff which is in the dry powder fire extinguishers. There was a member on the GMC motorhomes forum who had a fire in his engine compartment and he put it out with one of them. The damage to things metal was almost worse with the powder from the extinguisher than it was from the fire.

I really hope I am wrong on this, but if it appears to have etched the metal, you are going to have to do deep polishing to get it out.

My sympathy and sincere hope that I am wrong.

[adonh]

Are you sure the clear coat was all stripped off and these are just not from the partially stripped clear coat. It might be worth trying some more clear coat and see what happens. Good Luck.

[Melody Ranch]

I have seen very similar runs when I washed my truck beside the Airstream and got the Airstream wet. I put off drying it because I would wash it the next morning. Well, same appearance and the marks would not wash or rub off. Good news for me was I had planned to polish it anyway....and the marks polished right out with the standard techniques.
The next alternative I'd suggest, before sanding, would be to give the entire trailer a good wash with aluminum brightener, which is an acid wash. That will get rid of the streaking and leave you with a brightened shell.
Robin C

[dkrug]

We had very bad luck with acid wash and our aluminum stock trailer. Maybe the stock trailer is a different type of aluminum, but we got some streaks on the side door that won't go away. We had the acid wash done by so-called professionals.
I sure hope you find a solution to your streaking!

[Tdcraw]

I hated what mine looked like after the clear coat was gone (1st pic) but I have slowly started polishing and it is slowly shining up. It is a lot of work but sure pretty where I have done

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by overlander63

You can try some fine (800-1000 grit) sandpaper, and hand sand the entire trailer. Try a small section that people can't easily see first.

^
X2

These were done with wet sandpaper,(600-1500grit), and finished with paint sealer.



Bob

[AIR-Quarius]

One or two summers ago, the AC was not in the position to run- so I hooked up one of those water sprinklers (you kind that goes back and forth and we played in them when we were kids) --well anyway, The water In Altus is the WORST, because overnight it left this 'crude' residue all over it. I had to get several bottles of CLR, and it finally came off with some elbow grease. But thats what yours looks like to me.

[Alumaholic]

Were you successful in dealing with your stains, leighmic?