Airstream Chat Room Airstream Links Campground & Product Reviews Airstream Classifieds Airstream Articles Blogs Photo Gallery Forum Listings Portal - Home Page

Go Back   Airstream Forums > Airstream Restoration, Repair & Parts Forums > Exterior Restoration Forum > Cleaning, Stripping & Polishing




Check out our new sister site AirstreamCentral.com. To contribute an article click here.


Quick Links
- Forum Listings
- Register - it's FREE!
- View Member's Map
- Airstream Articles
- "Live" Chat Room
- View Classifieds
- Post a Classified
- Airstream @ eBay
- Upcoming Rallies
   - Add A Rally
- Rally Discussions
- Repair Discussions
- Search Forums
- Member List
- AIR # Directory
- Member Search
- Profile Photos
- Airstream Photo
- Airstream Links
- Fun & Games
- WBCCI Websites
- WBCCI Unit Forums
- Courtesy Parking
- Campgrounds
- Support & FAQs
- Community Policies
- Helpers Needed




Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-20-2003, 10:38 AM   #1
trailertrash
Profile: 
Posts: 112

Southern Shine Metal Polish...

Hi all-
I've been raving about the effectiveness of Southern Shine on all my trailers that I've polished for years- it comes from the Harley Shops, and is the best I've found at polishing an oxidized and dull trailer.
I usually use it first, or after acid washing, and its almost a 1 step system- I usually have to skim it with an abrasive free polish and a foam pad to remove light swirls after the SS.
I polished my 1958 Flying Cloud in less than 12 hours, start to finish, and it was terrible when I started. I had people coming by saying- "wow! what are you using?"
I have to buy some quantity of this product, and want to know if someone out there would like to help me pass it on- I don't look to make any money, and want to see people get a good deal, so you'd have to be willing to offer it for cost plus shipping and a small box for it to go out in. I'd do it, but have to leave for Europe soon- I'm a month late as it is.
I buy it for about $2 a bottle- 8oz- and it took only 1.5 bottles to polish my FC.
I'll send it out n/c to someone, and they can ship it out and pay me later. Any remaining product can be returned, and I'll pay the shipping both ways.
Please remember- I'm looking for someone to help and not profit from it- just as I'm doing.
Thanks and looking forward to others response on this product.
trailertrash is offline  
Old 06-20-2003, 05:32 PM   #2
airstreamcaravel
4 Rivet Member

airstreamcaravel's Avatar
Profile: 
Posts: 413
Images: 17

Another source for SS

http://www.daytonanow.net/sshine/

Looks interesting .... But what exactly is "Billet" aluminum?



DMC
airstreamcaravel is offline  
Old 06-22-2003, 11:34 AM   #3
trailertrash
Profile: 
Posts: 112

....Solid aluminum- usually round stock machined into a part.
In the custom HD business we use it all the time- its the only way to get a strong quality part that isn't molded or extrudable for its manufacture process.
Many cars have billet wheels- all one piece and have a "carved" look.
Its expensive, I doubt you'll see much of it in the trailer world- unless some idiot like me decides I need a special part that I can't find and go to the trouble of creating it from scratch.
The polish works great- and thanks for putting the link- I'm a lot better at shinin' trailers than computin'...
trailertrash is offline  
Old 06-24-2003, 09:28 AM   #4
Chitown AirStreamers
3 Rivet Member
Profile: 
Posts: 150

Is this stuff really that easy to use!?!? What is the process that you used to apply this stuff? & Does it make the AS shine like other polishes fellow AStreamers are using? Thanks!
Chitown AirStreamers is offline  
Old 06-25-2003, 12:41 AM   #5
trailertrash
Profile: 
Posts: 112

I can only speak from my own experience, and I don't claim to know everything- but I do know that I need to polish my stuff, to make it look the way I want, and to get sales when I want to sell it, so its in my best interest to take care of them and keep 'em shiny.
Trailers all vary- I don't care what any of the experts say- i have seen them from all over the USA, and with damage from different conditions, like sun and dirt, different colored dirt, salt water, moss, you name it. Polishing is necessary some times just to restore a shine or to make a shine come back. When I buy a trailer- after I've done my deal, I usually take the seller and show them how nice I'll have it looking after a day or 2 of hard work- most times they can't believe that junky old trailer has the ability to shine again- and I usually do it with SS.
In MOST cases, I've found that it works best, and I use it with different pads- 3M coarse wool on poor skin, 3M yellow pad- which is much less abrasive- to get swirls out after I'm done, foam pads on high shined surfaces that I've gotten to the point where the swirls are almost gone, but very light buffing will brighten it even further.
I have a trailer now that was so badly pitted that I have to use a green 3M scotchbrite pad, and remove the very top layer, like wet sending a cars paint.
And yes I know about the clad story...
Steve Hintgen was sent a bottle yesterday, that will meet him at the Vt rally, and he'll be trying it in front of others.
I won't use other products and stand by my decision to buy enough of this to be a "dealer"- no, just to get the other folks to check it out....
Saves me a lot of time! Talk to Steve or someone else in Vt after the demo...
trailertrash is offline  
Old 06-25-2003, 12:54 AM   #6
Curtis-79MH
2 Rivet Member
Profile: 
Posts: 58

what about the clear coat

I'm interested in the Southern Shine, but would I have to remove the clear coat that is on my MH? I want my MH to shine like some motorhomes that have had their clear coat removed and have been polished so they look darn close to chrome (go get yourself some cheap sunglasses....)
Thanks, Curtis
Curtis-79MH is offline  
Old 06-25-2003, 03:26 PM   #7
Jabba
4 Rivet Member

Jabba's Avatar
Profile: 
Posts: 354
Images: 17

Is it safe?

Next question, will it hurt the aluminum? I've heard of people using Eagle One mag wheel cleaner, but it etches the metal, which is supposedly bad(?)...sounds interesting for sure, I've got 30' to polish.
__________________
Jason & Veronica Jablonski
1955 Commodore Vanderbilt/Liner 30'
2008 Chevy Silverado Ext. Z71 w3.73
Jabba is offline  
Old 06-25-2003, 07:15 PM   #8
Silver Bullet
3 Rivet Member

Silver Bullet's Avatar
Profile: 
Posts: 229

Hmmmm....

Think I'll have to stop at Barnett HD tomorrow and see if they carry this stuff. If they do, I'll definately do a test run.
Oscar
Silver Bullet is offline  
Old 06-25-2003, 10:26 PM   #9
trailertrash
Profile: 
Posts: 112

jabba-

I've heard the theories of using an acid wash, and how it "damages" the aluminum.
I think that some of the "pro's" may have started this as a scare tactic- I've done it and have seen the trailers for years after, and no leaks around the rivets.
I rinse it fast with lots of water, and I'd rather use it and get done than never see my stuff shine, but I don't find it necessary on all my trailers...
trailertrash is offline  
Old 06-25-2003, 10:27 PM   #10
Stefrobrts
Moderator

Stefrobrts's Avatar
Profile:  1968 17' Caravel
Battle Ground , Washington
Posts: 5,972
Images: 39
Blog Entries: 1

Re: Is it safe?

Quote:
Originally posted by Jabba
Next question, will it hurt the aluminum? I've heard of people using Eagle One mag wheel cleaner, but it etches the metal, which is supposedly bad(?)...sounds interesting for sure, I've got 30' to polish.
I used some eagle one to do a test spot by hand. I thought it shined it up nice, but nothing spectacular. It took a LOT of rubbing to clean off the road dirt, I can't imagine it would hurt the aluminum. I'd like to find some of this Southern Polish and try it myself. A friend who's into hot rods also suggested some stuff called Trucker's Secret, he says it'll shine up anything, no problem. I'm hesitant to use just anything on my trailer though.
__________________
Stephanie

Our family photo blog


Stefrobrts is offline  
Old 06-25-2003, 10:44 PM   #11
trailertrash
Profile: 
Posts: 112

If truckers' is white-

Its a product that is very good, and manufactured as White Diamonds- which makes and private labels for a few different companies, most in the truck stops. I tried it and its excellent- I tried to buy quantity from the owner and he gave me a decent price, but it was not low enough for me to change over- retail was $14 and he was giving me a case price of $8 per bottle. Its about equal to SS imo, maybe a little better on some stuff. Try it- and lets see what Steve says about SS after the weekend in Burlington...
trailertrash is offline  
Old 06-26-2003, 12:34 AM   #12
Chitown AirStreamers
3 Rivet Member
Profile: 
Posts: 150

So - I just apply this to a cloth rub it on & then rub off? Am I correct?
Chitown AirStreamers is offline  
Old 06-26-2003, 12:34 AM   #13
trailertrash
Profile: 
Posts: 112

stef...

Acid washing is also best simply to clean and remove oxidation- and I use less of it than others I know, and I get good clean surfaces that are ready to polish by rubbing the acid wash in small quantities, with a white 3M scotchbrite pad. I rinse it quickly to neutralize the acid- which is supposed to be mild...
trailertrash is offline  
Old 06-26-2003, 06:16 AM   #14
trailertrash
Profile: 
Posts: 112

chi-

I use it with a high speed buffer/grinder. The notion that an "easy" solution- to rub on and rub off by hand would scare me- no quality results will come so simply, anything good requires work, and high revs!
trailertrash is offline  
Closed Thread


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Report: Southern Shine worked! rluhr Cleaning, Stripping & Polishing 135 09-07-2004 09:29 AM
Looking for Southern Shine - Metal Polish GT1963 Cleaning, Stripping & Polishing 5 02-22-2004 02:54 PM
Southern Shine - Help camper322 Cleaning, Stripping & Polishing 4 02-04-2004 02:36 PM
Southern Shine - need the directions again... drboyd Cleaning, Stripping & Polishing 4 09-20-2003 02:06 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.0.1

All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:13 AM.

Other Social Knowledge forum communities:
Cooking Forum - Sailing Forum - Early Retirement - Airstream Trailer - Aquarium Forum - Royal Forum - Book Forum - Volkswagen Touareg Forum - Jeep Wrangler Forum - Whitewater Kayaking & Rafting Forum - Fiberglass RV Forum - RV Forum - Truck Conversion - U2 Music Forum
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.2.0

Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



eXTReMe Tracker

Other recommended Airstream sites:
Airstream Forums - Airstream Classifieds - Airstream Articles
Airstream Central - Airstream Photos