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Becky B. · 02-09-2009, 06:55 AM

I think you'll get a faster result with a compound polisher (if you've got one) followed by the cyclo. I think you get a bit more bite with the compounder than the cyclo. If you don't have one, Harbor Freight has one for about $40 or less if it's on sale.

53flyingcloud · 02-09-2009, 07:04 AM

What Becky said..

dmcinfo · 02-13-2009, 03:48 PM

Im curious if anyone has tried to using baking powder as a medium to remove a heavy coat of oxidation from an AS. Please go to this link and check out the the inexpensive baking soda blaster. I would appreciate any comments or observation you might have.

E

65gto · 03-16-2009, 04:48 AM

I have just found an experienced 1962 trade winds and the exterior needs some TLC. Will this work on a later model? If so where could I purchase it, and after it's finished what's the next step? Thanks

53flyingcloud · 03-16-2009, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmcinfo

Im curious if anyone has tried to using baking powder as a medium to remove a heavy coat of oxidation from an AS. Please go to this link and check out the the inexpensive baking soda blaster. I would appreciate any comments or observation you might have.

E

While it "might" generate some envious results, I'd try it out first on a scrap piece of A/S belly area skin. Why? because it's the worse possible condition skin you can use and, it's not gonna hurt anything seen at eye level..
My purist reaction is:
This is gonna make a huge mess and, take a enormous amount of time standing there before any decent results shows. I base that on the simple fact that the solid particles of baking soda is ultra fine. Would you even care to guess just how many boxes of B.S. you'd use to do a 17 or 19 ft A/S even? OMG...
Just curious, did you ever attempt it? Any feedbacks?

Good Luck ..

tslanier · 08-15-2009, 06:29 AM

I’m trading my 98 for a 2000 34’ Limited with Sofa SO.
The exterior is in good condition except for the front center cap which has a very small area that is peeling. Is it possible to have just the center cap stripped and clear coated? If not, then I plan to replace the center cap. If the center cap is replaced, what needs to be done to prevent leaking?
Stewart in NC

LI Pets · 08-15-2009, 08:27 AM

I would not think about replaceing it.

strip or sand the section spray clear coat.

I guess 100-200 bucks or less

Just like painting a car

wannaroam · 08-16-2009, 04:09 PM

How much Nuvite is needed generally??

tslanier · 08-16-2009, 05:43 PM

I contacted Steve at P and S and he said he could refinish and clear coat just that section. I plan to take up there.

Bowmans · 08-16-2009, 07:47 PM

I didn't read ALL of the posts here but thought I would add a few tidbits of my own. We purchased our 31' International (wife and I) about 5 months ago and decided to start with the outside restoring her since it was getting into good weather season. My blog is here with some details on the polish if interested:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/blog...7-bowmans.html

We used the drill motor/compound heads (5) and adapter and (although expensive) got a cyclo polisher from PerfectPolish.com. I also got F7, C and S Nuvite polishes to start. What I found was:

1. Everytime I finished with the F7 compounder stage and used C with the cyclo, I was making a step backwards in the polishing process. I stopped using C and made my life easier and the end result was the same. I seems that if you use the F7 and remove all the oxidation and pitting (you can tell when you get the area right after doing it a few times) the S polish only needs one coat. The C seemed to leave bigger swirls once the surface was smooth with F7.

2. The Zip Dee slats cannot be polished. I tried to no avail. I also tried to use Scotchbright on them to at least make them looked like brushed alum. but that didn't seem to make any difference so I washed them and stuck them back on. Same with the arms.

3. Polish-Mode Awning Setting - Before starting the process, I removed the streetside and front and rear awnings (to repair) but REALLY didn't want to remove the massive curbside awning since it was in great shape. Snooping around this site, I found that you can put your awning into "polish mode" by extending the top arms out one notch (like your putting it out but only one notch). Then roll it back up against the camper. It sits about 8 inches higher and allows for easy polishing where the awning used to sit in closed position and you won't get it dirty or torn (see picture below closely)

4. I didn't order enough F7... not even close. I ended up using 3 lbs. of F7 polish, no C and ordered 1 lb. of S but have barely dented it and I am about 75% done.

5. Wished I had known (or listened to people here) about the Removeall 220. I used a name brand from Lowe's. The stuff took everything off fine including the vinyl stripes (I wanted them off to repaint) but it also removes skin easier than clearcoat. VERY painful.

wannaroam · 08-17-2009, 03:41 PM

Bowmans
thanks for the post; and your unit is looking gorgeous. My husband is working on ours, sans Nuvite and making swirl marks all over the place. Your comment on them will help me to know what grades Nuvite to buy.

And if you read this Loudruff ------ he is now, as I type, removing the dreaded silicone from the outside!!

Bowmans · 08-17-2009, 04:31 PM

Wannaroam,
Thanks for the compliment. I am so happy the PO of ours didn't use silcone anywhere. I haven't gotten a chance to try and remove any which, from the sounds of everyone who has, that is a good thing.

mello mike · 08-17-2009, 09:29 PM

I'm planning on polishing my Airstream this fall after things cool down here in Phoenix. I've had four panels recently replaced. I know I need to remove the clearcote from these panels, but will these new panels polish up like the old ones?

rollingbubel · 08-18-2009, 08:45 AM

I have made all the necessary repairs to the shell so this weekend I will start stripping my 76 land yacht. Hopefully I can get her done before winter. I will post some pics on this thread to update my process. I am using the nuvite polish.

wannaroam · 08-21-2009, 03:44 PM

What is the cause of some spots refusing to polish up, they still keep looking foggy?
Other places look really shiny.

CharlieE · 08-22-2009, 05:23 AM

I experienced those foggy patches. Most likely they are clearcoat that the paint remover missed. Try another dose of paint remover on that spot and then polish again. A few posts back you mentioned silicone, it could also be that horrible stuff. The congress should outlaw silicone until it's reformulated so it doesn't stick to aluminum. CharlieE

Bowmans · 08-22-2009, 11:55 AM

Wannaroam,
I found a number of issues that looked like "spots" while polishing.

As CharlieE said, it could be clearcoat. This looks like tape residue and has crisp edges and is usually blochy. Paint remove them agin, and they will polish fine.

Some areas of mine, usually at the border of where the clearcoat was being removed by the sun, had these spots that were barely noticeable and looked like brown leopard spots. These came off but with 3-4 passes of F7 Nuvite after my normal 1-3 coats. These were tough areas to get shiny.

My endcaps, where there are 2 curves coming together, looked foggy no matter how many passes of F7 I did. By foggy, they just looked like before I started polishing and would not become reflective. This seems to be oxidation and more coats of F7 are needed. I did like 10 coats in some areas of my endcaps and still no mirror so I will try next year when I go over it again.

Hope that helps.

tkasten · 09-22-2009, 07:01 PM

I just finished stripping our 65 Safari. I was really happy with the results using Remove-all. Only took 1 gal. so won't need the 2nd one I bought. Took me about 2/3 of a day to strip but the darn silicone was a nightmare.
Spent 2 days getting it off. Compounding starts tomorrow.

Globie64 · 09-28-2009, 01:36 PM

Has anyone ever washed their AS and felt they knew what it felt like to bathe and elephant? I've finally got the interior and the systems working on my Globie, am ready to tackle the exterior. So, my big question is, what do you have to do to maintain the exterior, especially since I live within a mile of the ocean? Is wax enough? Thanks!

Peter

shimps · 11-13-2009, 04:28 PM

Followed the discussion on stripping and it looks like it works fine. Does this leave a nice usable finish or is there polishing and all that follows? I am in a full restoration of a 68 Tradewind...so it's early to be asking, but as I make repairs on the outside, I would like to strip and finish areas...like under the clearance lights and around windows where I need to seal leaks....
Thanks
John in Lowesville