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Globie64 · 04-26-2014, 05:00 PM

I've finally decided to strip the plasticoat off of our '64 Globetrotter, but I'm having a hard time finding the PPG Eldorado PR 5044, and I don't really want 5 gallons of it. I wondered if anyone had experience with other products, like EkoStrip from Stewart Systems, or MultiStrip from Home Depot? My plan is to strip it and, figuring it will look better and more even than it does now, leave it like that.

Inland RV Center, In · 04-26-2014, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Globie64

I've finally decided to strip the plasticoat off of our '64 Globetrotter, but I'm having a hard time finding the PPG Eldorado PR 5044, and I don't really want 5 gallons of it. I wondered if anyone had experience with other products, like EkoStrip from Stewart Systems, or MultiStrip from Home Depot? My plan is to strip it and, figuring it will look better and more even than it does now, leave it like that.

Aircraft stripper, is one of the best. You can buy it one gallon at a time.

Andy

Globie64 · 04-27-2014, 10:26 AM

I called around looking for the PPG 5044 and the suppliers I talked to suggested aircraft stripper, but it was super toxic. I'll be stripping this at my home and want to go as non toxic as possible. Andy, do you have a product name to suggest? Thanks

Inland RV Center, In · 04-27-2014, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Globie64

I called around looking for the PPG 5044 and the suppliers I talked to suggested aircraft stripper, but it was super toxic. I'll be stripping this at my home and want to go as non toxic as possible. Andy, do you have a product name to suggest? Thanks

Sometimes, you gotta do what you gotta do.

We always used "Aircraft stripper".

That is the name of it.

The typical problem with the cheaper stuff and the less harmless stuff, is you have to rub and rub and rub, and then some more rubbing.

Then after all that rubbing, look at what you did to the grain of the sheet metal, because it's ruined.

Andy

john green · 04-28-2014, 04:02 PM

A website called "airstream guy"recommended Klean Strip premium stripper in an aerosol can. Does it work lile aircraft stripper?

rothway · 05-28-2014, 05:13 PM

hello,

I am in Omaha, NE and would like to find someone nearby that can help me with my Caravanner 25 foot 1971. Just got it and I would like to strip and polish though I don't have the time.

thanks,

mtnramblers · 07-09-2014, 09:51 PM

I was recently told that the Removall stripper is no longer available in the US. Any suggestions of other strippers that work as well and are easy and safe to use? I have a 1969 Airstream Overlander.

Inland RV Center, In · 07-10-2014, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbmcinvale

I was recently told that the Removall stripper is no longer available in the US. Any suggestions of other strippers that work as well and are easy and safe to use? I have a 1969 Airstream Overlander.

Aircraft stripper works great.

Andy

J. Morgan · 07-10-2014, 01:25 PM

Aircraft stripper is still the real deal, (except for the "low odor" stuff), just keep it off of anything plastic.

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ALANSD · 07-10-2014, 01:42 PM

too bad Removall works great and can be washed away with a hose

tracypowell · 07-10-2014, 01:56 PM

I polish vintage airstreams and air planes for a living and I always use Klean strip in my experience it works great.

Reveted10 · 07-28-2014, 01:13 PM

Hello
Do you know any place for polishing the trailer in Toronto please I will really appreciate your help
Thanks

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ttbikes · 07-29-2014, 08:42 AM

Just finished my first polish so I thought I would pass along some of my experiences. It took me 6/7 cuts to get the trailer to this point. I started out experimenting with Diamond Bright Truck Box Polish, then tried Nuvite 6 and wound up adding Nuvite 9 and Nuvite S to the process. I found that I did not save money, and it cost me time not to use Nuvite 9 on the rough areas from the start. Because it cuts faster, you use less Nuvite 6 and have fewer passes. Nuvite 6 worked well for the intermediate cuts. I think I liked the Diamond Bright better than Nuvite S for the last cuts. It cut a little more, showed less swirls than the S and the finish was just as good. If you really want to get the swirls out, you will need a Cyclo polisher, but do not let that stop you from polishing. I liked using a soft clean tee shirt to wipe down between cuts rather than mineral spirits. It seemed to be less mess and was just as effective. Swirls only show in certain lights and angles. I used an angle polisher for the whole job. I think next year, I will plan on up to 5 cuts in the rough areas and 2 or 3 cuts in other areas. If I do that, I will most likely have the "white spots, the "milky spots, and most of the corroded spots licked. Hopefully, then it will just require yearly maintenance. It is amazing the compliments you get on a polished trailer. My favorite has been "Wow, your trailer looks good. There's an older one in the next loop". The older one turned out to be 30 years newer.

Jenniflow · 07-30-2014, 05:54 AM

Thanks for sharing this, ttbikes, it's really helpful. I haven't gotten around to polishing yet and I have been dreading it. Well, I'm still dreading it, but it's nice to hear about anything that will save some effort.

ttbikes · 07-30-2014, 09:01 AM

Hi jenniflow. Glad to help. Here are a couple of other things you might find helpful. To reach the high places, I used two step ladders with two 2 by 10 planks to form a walk board so that I never had to reach up high. You can use a shorter step ladder to get up to your walk board. You can lower the walk board as you make your way around. I am pretty big, but if you are not, you could get by with one board. This is much easier on the arms, and you can do a wider strip at one time. I sat on a 5 gal. bucket to do the bottom two feet so that I did not have to bend down. I did not worry about the top two feet of the trailer. You will almost never be in a situation where it will be seen and it would take a much more extensive rig to reach it (unless you are tall and strong). You should at least wear a paper mask when using the spur tool to clean your wool pad. I did not find washing the pads to be very helpful. I liked my pad to be a little "greasy" when using Nuvite 9 because that step is always about cutting, but kept the pad pretty clean with the spur tool on the other steps. I used a separate pad for each grade of polish. Heat is not your friend when polishing. If the sun is getting to hot stop and start again in the morning or evening. Vintage Trailer Supply was a good source for polish and pads. Polishing is kinda fun because it is very rewarding to see the shine slowly emerge on the trailer.

Jenniflow · 07-31-2014, 07:23 AM

Hey ttbikes,

More great info, thanks!

You have indicated the stickiest point for me, the top. For the very hot Baja sun, it seems to me that I've got to get that top part polished up, both to reflect the sun, and to make it look good. I agree, it's hard to get excited about doing it, considering how few people will see it, but in practical terms, I suspect that the reflective quality is actually worth something. Maybe I'm wrong.

Probably, one of the engineers here would have some calculations in his/her back pocket on this subject of come up with them easily. And then there are those of us who might not be able to sleep at night, knowing that their roof isn't just as shiny as the rest of it.

I saw a couple of posts here about how to get to the top. My favorites are driving alongside something tall, and pulling another tall rig alongside to make a bridge. We'll see if I ever get anywhere close to doing that.

Keep up the good work, it looks great.

Jenniflow · 07-31-2014, 07:24 AM

Hey ttbikes,

More great info, thanks!

You have indicated the stickiest point for me, the top. For the very hot Baja sun, it seems to me that I've got to get that top part polished up, both to reflect the sun, and to make it look good. I agree, it's hard to get excited about doing it, considering how few people will see it, but in practical terms, I suspect that the reflective quality is actually worth something in protection. Maybe I'm wrong. Probably, one of the engineers here would have some calculations in his/her back pocket on this subject or come up with them easily.

And then there are those of us who might not be able to sleep at night, knowing that their roof isn't just as shiny as the rest of it, whether or not the reflection is good for something else.

I saw a couple of posts here about how to get to the top. My favorites are driving alongside something tall, and pulling another tall rig alongside to make a bridge. We'll see if I ever get anywhere close to doing that.

Keep up the good work, it looks great.

Melody Ranch · 07-31-2014, 07:40 AM

Soak the pads in TSP solution overnight, then wash and dry.

Soyboy · 07-31-2014, 09:15 PM

I smear Tide on my pads and throw them in the washer with my cyclo jersey material and they come out nicely.

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DaveS411 · 10-24-2014, 05:29 AM

I recently bought my first airstream to restore, and I have a question about the stripper. When I've worked on motorcycles with polished aluminium, some clear-coated and some bare. With the coated parts you obviously have to use a stripper to remove the lacquer and expose the aluminium. On bare metal parts I don't typically use any stripper. Is the stripper people use on airstreams for the same purpose, or is it actually used to remove aluminium oxide?

Thanks!