IMHO...YES! once is starts leaking you will be sorry because you have to get it all off before any new caulking will stick properly. There may be a difference between the Marine grade sillycone and the stuff you get at the local home center. But in my metal working experience silicone is the worst choice for metal, especially aluminum. Vulkem and Sika is what is used at the factory and I am sure it is for a good reason.
Aaron
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....so many Airstreams....so little time...
WBCCI #2449 AIR #2495
Why are we in this basket...and where are we going
I had read/heard to never use silicone adhesive on the exterior of an airstream trailer. My dealer uses silver (aluminum) parbond for small seals and Vulkem 116 for larger sealing.
Recently I had a segment of my exterior skin replaced over the rear window and they used black silicone under the rubber seal around the window. It this considered an ok place to use silicone sealant on the exterior?
Thanks,
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Neil Ervin, Phoenix, Arizona (Sun City Grand)
I also have heard not to use silicone on the skins. I bought the stuff Airstream uses, Silkaflex all over the exterior and vulkem in the wheel wells.
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Computers manufactured by companies such as IBM, Compaq and millions of others are by far the most popular with about 70 million machines in use worldwide. Macintosh fans note that cockroaches are far more numerous than humans and that numbers alone do not denote a higher life form. -NY Times 1991
I spent several hours today removing all the silicon around one of my vista windows. Seems that over the past 30 years the preveous owners felt that was the stuff to use. I can tell you that it is a real pain to remove. I wouldn't ever use it anywhere on my Airstream.
I resealed my vista window using Vulkem and parbond.
I had read/heard to never use silicone adhesive on the exterior of an airstream trailer....It this considered an ok place to use silicone sealant on the exterior?
That's right...even I (who knows so little) knows that.
plz listen to whoever told you that...bcz it's correct---I'm sur you'll hear from others.
I had read/heard to never use silicone adhesive on the exterior of an airstream trailer...
Way back when, Airstreams were made with pure aluminum alloy skins and were clearcoated after assembly. Nowadays, the skins come from the aluminum company with a clearcoat already applied to, I assume, both sides of each skin.
If my assumption is correct, it would appear that one would want the sealer that works best with dried clearcoat as the clearcoated surface is the one the sealer will be sealing. In this case, silicone adhesive may be a better choice.
Also, I have noticed many silicone-based products being sold list not only compatibility with aluminum but "superior sealing" characteristics.
Also, I have noticed many silicone-based products being sold list not only compatibility with aluminum but "superior sealing" characteristics.
Tom
IMHO advertising! I work in the architectural metals field, NONE of our manufacturers allow silicone for sealants on any of their metals...it doesn't work. Typically the sealants that are approved for use are either Polyurethane (Vulkem, Sikaflex or NP-1) Butyl caulk for in the metal laps, or in some cases a rubber based. NO SILICONE! if they do find it, it will void warranties. Airstream still only uses the polyurethane sealants, it must be for a reason.
Aaron
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....so many Airstreams....so little time...
WBCCI #2449 AIR #2495
Why are we in this basket...and where are we going
I just had to chime in on this one . I love it when I get a call about fixing an exterior leak that was 'repaired' with silicone! As the saying goes:"Ya can pays me now or ya can pays me later" the silicone has to go!! Polyurethanes and butyl rubbers are the ONLY things to use on ANY RV. Sikaflex, Parbond, Dicor, Acryl-R, Vulkem.....great stuff. Let GE stay in the appliance business!! .
Maybe the rubber window glazing requires an RTV sealant, because the urethane sealants don't work well on silicone rubber. Myabe he was following directions by the window glazing manufacturer.
I think there must be a reason, since he uses the 'right stuff' elsewhere.
I know silicone does not do that well sealing aluminum. For example, the Cadillac 4.1, 4.5, and 4.9 engines (aluminum block and heads) were sealed almost exclusively with silicone, iinstead of conventional gaskets. Every one I have seen has been spewing oil from every possible (and some not possible) place they can leak.
While your trailer is not an engine, and (hopefully) you won't be sealing against oil, I don't think silicone is the thing to use.
The previous owner of my 68 Trade Wind must have owned stock in silicone adhesives. It seems to be holding up around the windows, but what an ugly mess. It may be one of my biggest challenges when I begin to restore.
Polyurethanes and butyl rubbers are the ONLY things to use on ANY RV. Sikaflex, Parbond, Dicor, Acryl-R, Vulkem.....great stuff. Let GE stay in the appliance business!! .
Can I get any of the above mentioned anywhere else beside an RV store??
Went to HD last night and came home empty handed...need for my wheel wells .....thanks!
Most Airstream dealers should carry SikaFlex, Acryl-R and ParBond as these are what Airstream uses. The others come from my RV parts distributors. If you can't find what you need, PM me and I can get them for you.
I believe that you can also get some of these directly from the A/S factory at the web site...factory store section.
Quick Links
. I love it when I get a call about fixing an exterior leak that was 'repaired' with silicone! As the saying goes:"Ya can pays me now or ya can pays me later" the silicone has to go!! Polyurethanes and butyl rubbers are the ONLY things to use on ANY RV. Sikaflex, Parbond, Dicor, Acryl-R, Vulkem.....great stuff. Let GE stay in the appliance business!!
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