Strip 'n Polish Project Thread (lots of great tips and links)

[Becky B.]

It's used for the same purpose...removing clear coat. It doesn't touch the oxidation.


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[DaveS411]

Thanks for your help! I was hoping I'd found an easy way out, but at least I haven't put too much extra work into those bikes.

[thumbelinadj]

Regarding stripping clear coat. How is the world is a 50 year old trailer still going to have clear coat anyway?

[Becky B.]

My trailer ('64 Bambi II) had hardly any clear coat on it. What tiny bits I found, I removed with Aircraft Stripper (they have it at Autozone). The tiny bits were around a few rivets. That's about it!

[airman805]

I have a question for everybody . I have a brushed finished Bambi and I want to wax anybody have suggestions for me ?? Thank you

[Swimhard4]

Do you have any interior photos? I am redoing a 65GT that is a total gut job! Also do you have any ideas on finding replacement parts for an outside battery door? Thanks, yours looks Great!! I hope one day mine will also!!

[Globie64]

Okay, I've bitten the bullet and bought the PPG Peroxide stuff. It came with no instructions of any kind, but I've found a lot online. Reading the Material Safety Data Sheet kind of freaked me out, but we'll see. So, questions: I want to put some on this evening and let it sit overnight, will it damage the aluminum if it's on too long? The instructions on the VTS website say 1-8 hours. What was left after hosing it off? Plastic bits on the ground? I figure I'll put old sheets down, water can go through the sheet but the sheet will catch junk rather than making a mess on the ground. Any other input would be a great help, thanks

[thumbelinadj]

I have all kinds of clear coat on this dang thing. Fifty years old and making my life difficult. I used aircraft stripper. Nice to have help in the shop today!

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[Globie64]

Thumbelinadj, yours looks like mind did after stripping. Where it's exposed to more weather, the direction it faces when parked, there as more corrosion. Below the belt line, there was less and the metal is shiny. On the top, there doesn't seem to be any coating at all.

[jrbug]

Hello everybody, I'm new to the forum so bear with me and I appreciate any help I can get. My wife and I bought a 65 Strwamline last summer and are in the process of fixing her up a bit. Any suggestions on how to get rid of oxidation? Will acid wash at truck wash help?

[Globie64]

jrbug, there is another thread that might help, These Deep scratches

[jrbug]

Originally Posted by Globie64

jrbug, there is another thread that might help, These Deep scratches

Thanks globie64, I'll take a look at that

[Stupidnoob]

Someone chime in here who's done their job.
I'm ready to start polishing, the cutting is done.
I've got f7 c and 7
My plan was to compound c, cyclo c then cyclo s

I hear people complaining and skipping c after f7 going straight to s. Saying the c left too fine scratches??

After all these hours cutting cutting and cutting I don't want to mess this up. What did YOU do and are you happy??


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[Bowmans]

We polished a 1979 31' and I skipped the C. I compounded with F7, the S with cyclo. The C did leave a worse finish than the F7 in my visual. It probably depends on the motion and speeds used as to whether it is the same for everyone. I am starting on a 1950 and still have all 3 levels still moist so will be testing with C and without since this trailer is in much worse shape than our 1979.

You might just try the C in an area and see what you think of the results. Worst case, just F7 once over if you don't like the results. I think I used C on about 4-5 square feet before I noticed the issue. I then used S with cyclo on both areas and had to go over the C area more passes than the F7 areas so just stopped the C step.

Either way, it will look so much better than before you started. Good luck and let us know which route you decided on.

[Stupidnoob]

What Rpms are you compounding the f7 at? I'm thinking 1250?? Maybe im way off?

Got me worried now that I bought 1lb of c. Should have trusted my gut


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[Bowmans]

I was running between 1000 and 1500, touching the center To the right side of the disc to the surface, moving the polisher from right to left. Moving slowly, about a foot every 3-4 seconds. I was doing 2x2-3 foot sections at a time. Depending on the scratches/pitting, some areas needed 2-3 polishing, cleaning sessions. I have most of a pound of C myself still. I think I used 2 and a half pounds (or maybe 3 and a half) total of F7 for the whole 31' including the roof and where you can see on the belly pan. S was much less. Only took one coat of polish with the cyclo and S in most areas, 2 if I screwed up the final pass by something scratching like dust falling into the polish or cloth falling off cyclo. Never really got a good handle on wrapping the cotton on the cyclo. I still have most of a pound of S left so I think I used a little over a pound. Our 1979 wasn't in bad shape and the 1950 is so I believe I am in for a challenge with this one. I look forward to many more compounding sets before I get a decent sheen. I am looking forward to it though, not sure why. I already stripped one of the overhead cabinets and polished it just to get my skills refreshed.

[Gregsch]

Just finished stripping my MH with Eldorado from Vintage Trailer Supply. I could not be happier. The first coat got 98% of the clear coat. Put it on before dark and washed it off with a little 6hp pressure washer at day break. Went back over any areas that i missed or where the stripper was applied too thin and cleaned it up. I used about 2.5 gallons. The Eldorado did not seem to affect the plastic window weeps or the vinyl window gaskets. It did seem to soften the ABS fascia so I stopped there.

[Jenniflow]

Very encouraging, Gregsch!

A couple questions, if you don't mind.
1) isn't there a hazard of leaking at the seams when you use a pressure washer?
2) which is the ABS fascia that you mean?
thanks!

[Gregsch]

If you know you have leaks you will have lots of water when you pressure wash. If you think you have leaks you will know for sure when you pressure wash. just try to avoid prolonged spraying of known problem areas. After the stripping is done you can address the leaks with sealant.
The AbS that you need to protect from stripper is the plastic behind the front and rear bumpers on classic MH.

[Jenniflow]

Thanks Gregsch, good advice. I'm sorry to be dense, but, as I have a classic MH, I'm especially interested. You mean the ABS is visible? I don't have my MH here but I don't remember seeing a different texture or material there. Or do you mean inside the bumper, so you have to seal a gap well?
TX!