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Deluxe21 · 03-23-2004, 08:35 PM

Need a polish in so Florida? I just had mine done by and aircraft specialist and it came out great. I tried to do it myself and could not get the results I was looking for, not to mention all the work it would take. The guy I used has the polishers from airmark and they did a beautiful job. Here are some before and afters.

Deluxe21 · 03-23-2004, 08:38 PM

During polish

Deluxe21 · 03-23-2004, 08:43 PM

After polish

Over59 · 03-23-2004, 09:10 PM

You're going to have to buy those fancy aluminum propane tanks now.

Looks great.

airstreamcaravel · 03-24-2004, 05:41 AM

Gee... Did the guy use SS for those results??

DMC

Silvertwinkie · 03-24-2004, 06:41 AM

I gotta question though...after you get it looking so very nice, how do you protect it so that you won't have to polish it down again. Is there some sort of wax or Walburnize that can keep it looking that way with perhaps a very little maint?

Deluxe21 · 03-24-2004, 10:32 PM

No SS was used. The guy was going to us SS and I wasn't very happy with the end results. I had some Nuvite S left from when I was trying to do it so he tried it and I think he is now converted. He used Green Ox to get off the heavy corrosion first.

Silvertwinkie
"Very little maint" ROTFLMAO. I don't think I'm the right person to ask this question. I've only had it this way for about 24 hrs. We did do one section with an aluminum sealant to see how it holds up but the rest of it with left with only the Nuvite S. The sealant we used left a blue haze and took the shine down a little bit but if it works I could live with it. The Nuvite does have a sealant in it. I will post in a few months what happens to the finish.

Steve

Silvertwinkie · 03-24-2004, 10:42 PM

Great...I'm looking forward to hearing your long term findings.

Thanks!

flyfshr · 03-24-2004, 10:48 PM

Wow! Does that ever look great. So if you converted this guy to the unused Nuvite you had left over, was he planning on using the SS on the whole unit? If he has all the right tools, he must have been polishing something else before your trailer. What did he have the Airmark for and what was he using as a polish? Inquiring minds want to know

FF

airstreamcaravel · 03-25-2004, 12:00 AM

I find it very hard to believe that a "professional" who has aircraft polishing experience, and uses the Airmark tools.... brought SS
to your polishing party.

I hope he was planning on reducing the cost of the job based on his use of an undisputably cheapo (or er) product. (You Decide)

When I polish a trailer ... it will easily cost $100 to $150+ in all four grades of NUVITE.

When people hear of $100+ dollars per foot for polishing ... they seldom factor in that fact that it can cost up to $400+/- in supplies to do it right.

DMC

53flyingcloud · 03-25-2004, 12:30 AM

DMC

Quote:

When people hear of $100+ dollars per foot for polishing ... they seldom factor in that fact that it can cost up to $400+/- in supplies to do it right.

At the very least~ Plus, don't forget the man hours involved~!!
But then, You knew that`

I have to agree, it's a super nice looking job~

My personal take on the upkeep is:
It's gonna be (at the very least) a semi-annual thing. But, it'll be nowhere as much work as the initial stages of polishing.
With the right tools and polishing compound..
I'm gonna guess a weekend?
The reason is...you're beyond the learning curve.

ciao

nds · 03-25-2004, 08:57 AM

Once a trailer is freshly polished, would periodic polishing with a car wax (Turtle Wax for instance) help keep the mirror finish from oxidizing and help prolong that mirrored finish?

jaco · 03-25-2004, 09:18 AM

The job looks great.
Now what does that sign in the rear window say?

What are Airmark tools ?
Would you be willing to give us how he charged you? i.e. by the foot or the hour or just a stated estimate etc.
Did he work solo? and how many actual hours,days etc would you say he put in?

How did you find the guy?
And was he satisfied or did he leave wishing he'd charged more?

Enjoy it.

jaco

airstreamcaravel · 03-25-2004, 09:50 AM

Here

53flyingcloud · 03-25-2004, 09:53 AM

nds

Quote:

Allow me to ask a dumb question

Allow me to reply:
"Not a dumb question at all.."
The answer to that question seems to be quite elusive for most of us.
It's would seem that the proper answer is; "To be on the order of a 'personal choice'.
A majority of those who have polished their A/S seem to agree on this one point.
Once you've polished it, it'll require a semi-annual application of efforts to maintain its luster.
I would suggest to you, that’s where a personal choice factor comes into play.
ciao

startrekker2001 · 03-25-2004, 12:46 PM

I agree, it is a semi-annual (twice a year) polishing with your favorite polish. Auto wax won't keep it from oxydizing especially in the salt-rich Coastal Florida environment. In fact it could be as often and every 3 to 4 months depending on your personal preference.

The follow-on polishings can be accomplished in a few hours (20-30) depending on the size of your trailer. I have found Metal Gloss applications by hand followed by Nuvite 'S' with the cyclo polisher does and excellent job.

Optionally I have heard applying clear coat is one solution.

I have heard pros and cons to clear coating after polishing. The pro is it only has to be done every 5 years. The con is the clear coat won't adhere to the polished aluminum very well. I am not sure what the truth is since I haven't had any experience with clear coat, except for removing it. That was no picnic.

Vic

Deluxe21 · 03-25-2004, 08:24 PM

Jaco

The thing in the back window is a VW solar charger.

There were two people who worked on my Airstream. One was the owner and he did most of the finish work. Pierre the owner put in about six days and the second man about four. They did charge by the foot and were average priced. To find them I called a few places at my local small airport. I think he was happy when he left because he said it was ok to give out his name on this site. It was his first Airstream but after seeing some of the work he did on airplanes and checking out his tools I felt he would do a good job. If you would like to see more about him go to www.airwash.com. I posted about him because the only people I could find were very far away from my location and I though maybe someone else may want to use him.

Steve

zamboni · 03-25-2004, 08:34 PM

By linear foot, do you mean per foot of trailer length or linear foot from tongue around to tongue? I hope linear foot of trailer.

nds · 03-26-2004, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by airstreamcaravel
When I polish a trailer ... it will easily cost $100 to $150+ in all four grades of NUVITE.

When people hear of $100+ dollars per foot for polishing ... they seldom factor in that fact that it can cost up to $400+/- in supplies to do it right.
DMC

So, you're saying to have a trailer polished, it's the cost of the various polishing compounds (around $400.00) and then the additional $100.00 per square foot?

A 23Ft Safari would run about... ?

airstreamcaravel · 03-26-2004, 02:11 PM

I can only speak for my charges ...

$100 per foot ..... I provide all of the supplies.

That includes Aircraft stripper to remove clearcoat,
rags to remove the stripper, wool, terri, and sponge, pads of all sorts to apply and remove the polish, more rags, and a decent wax after its all said and done, not to mention to cost of the usage of the laundry mat (several times during the process) to wash the towels and rags, and I will usually provide Vulkem where needed.

The only variable would be an increase in the per foot fee if the trailer is heavily oxidized due to clear coat failure. Severely oxidized trailers need much more componding. Scratches can affect the price also.

23 foot Safari ... sight unseen .... $2,300. When do you want me to start??

DMC