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09-02-2012, 06:45 AM
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#1
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3 Rivet Member
2012 25' FB Flying Cloud
Boise
, Idaho
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 206
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How do I remove door handle corrosion?
Can anyone please give me a quick rundown on how to remove this corrosion, kind of step by step. There are so many posts on corrosion it is very confusing.
I called Airstream and was told to start with sand paper, then steel wool and then a polishing compound, but he did not specify what number grit to start with, or what brand polishing compound to use.
Are the handle and the tail light bezels both clearcoated? If so, can they just be polished out and not re-clearcoated?
This is the only area on the trailer right now with corrosion. I have treated it with Boeshield to stop the spread, but would like to get rid of it entirely. Thanks.
Gene
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09-02-2012, 06:51 AM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
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That one looks better than mine that I polished a few month ago. Start with 400 grit emery paper and wet sand till you get all the pits out and then polish to get the finish back. Jewlers rouge and a buffing wheel work well but unless you wax it often it will corrode again soon. Personally, I would clear coat it after some sort of alodine surface conversion. The aluminum-zinc alloys tend to tarnish more than pure aluminum. Painting it silver is another option as least it is one color at that point.
Perry
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09-02-2012, 07:10 AM
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#3
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Rivets?
1992 29' Excella
2010 22' Interstate
Van By The River
, Georgia
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,363
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Wow, that doesn't seem like a problem to me. After all.... it's just camping.
If you find that fine sandpaper, steel wool, buffing, etc. don't clean it up to your satisfaction there's another option that comes to mind. I've had some small items re-plated at local shops. Look for custom motorcycle or truck shops - they often have plating facilities or know somebody that has the right equipment.
Plating a similar small item cost me about $75 - mostly for the set-up charge. If you have more parts to plate the cost per item goes down.
__________________
Lucius and Danielle
1992 29' Excella Classic / 2010 Interstate
2005 Chevrolet Suburban K2500 8.1L
2018 GMC Sierra K1500 SLT, 6.2L, Max Trailering
Got a cooped-up feeling, gotta get out of town, got those Airstream campin' blues...
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09-02-2012, 10:16 AM
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#4
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3 Rivet Member
2012 25' FB Flying Cloud
Boise
, Idaho
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 206
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Quote:
Originally Posted by perryg114
That one looks better than mine that I polished a few month ago. Start with 400 grit emery paper and wet sand till you get all the pits out and then polish to get the finish back. Jewlers rouge and a buffing wheel work well but unless you wax it often it will corrode again soon. Personally, I would clear coat it after some sort of alodine surface conversion. The aluminum-zinc alloys tend to tarnish more than pure aluminum. Painting it silver is another option as least it is one color at that point.
Perry
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Thank Perry,
What is "alodine surface conversion"? And where do I get jewelers rouge? Not crazy about painting, just want to get rid of the corrosion.
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09-02-2012, 10:19 AM
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#5
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3 Rivet Member
2012 25' FB Flying Cloud
Boise
, Idaho
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 206
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nvestysly
Wow, that doesn't seem like a problem to me. After all.... it's just camping.
If you find that fine sandpaper, steel wool, buffing, etc. don't clean it up to your satisfaction there's another option that comes to mind. I've had some small items re-plated at local shops. Look for custom motorcycle or truck shops - they often have plating facilities or know somebody that has the right equipment.
Plating a similar small item cost me about $75 - mostly for the set-up charge. If you have more parts to plate the cost per item goes down.
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That was my first thought, but you can't remove the handle without removing the inside panel to gain access.
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09-02-2012, 12:19 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
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The stuff that folks on here polish their trailers with will work as well but I don't know what they use.
McMaster-Carr
Perry
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09-02-2012, 01:10 PM
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#7
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4 Rivet Member
2013 27' FB Classic
Clermont
, Florida
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 431
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Try Mothers 05101 Mag & Aluminum Polish.
It is amazing. Is does take a bit of elbow grease, but it works well.
YOU CANNOT USE THIS ON THE SKIN, AS IT WILL REMOVE THE CLEAR COAT.
But it works well on the handle, door frame, or any uncoated aluminum finish.
Good Luck
__________________
Tom & Lori
2013 27 FB Classic Limited
2019 Ford F250 King Ranch 6.7L Diesel
WBCCI 03288 TAC PA-17
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09-02-2012, 01:42 PM
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#8
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3 Rivet Member
2012 25' FB Flying Cloud
Boise
, Idaho
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 206
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tkowalyk
Try Mothers 05101 Mag & Aluminum Polish.
It is amazing. Is does take a bit of elbow grease, but it works well.
YOU CANNOT USE THIS ON THE SKIN, AS IT WILL REMOVE THE CLEAR COAT.
But it works well on the handle, door frame, or any uncoated aluminum finish.
Good Luck
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Now that is the info I needed. Just ordered the Mother's on Amazon...nothing but 5 star reviews.
Do you happen to know if the tail light bezels are clear coated? I would hate to screw them up, but they are looking kind of dull. Is the Mother's safe to use?
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09-18-2012, 05:50 PM
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#9
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4 Rivet Member
2013 27' FB Classic
Clermont
, Florida
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 431
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The taillight bezels should be fine. I would put masking tape to keep the polish off of the coated skin.
let me know how it it turns out!
__________________
Tom & Lori
2013 27 FB Classic Limited
2019 Ford F250 King Ranch 6.7L Diesel
WBCCI 03288 TAC PA-17
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02-10-2013, 03:28 PM
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#10
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4 Rivet Member
2013 27' FB Classic
Clermont
, Florida
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 431
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No. 13. How did the mothers work?
__________________
Tom & Lori
2013 27 FB Classic Limited
2019 Ford F250 King Ranch 6.7L Diesel
WBCCI 03288 TAC PA-17
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02-10-2013, 06:15 PM
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#11
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
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600,800,1200,2000 grit wet sandpaper, and a coating of Griot's Paint Sealer one a year.
Bob
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
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02-10-2013, 11:37 PM
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#12
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3 Rivet Member
2012 25' FB Flying Cloud
Boise
, Idaho
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 206
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tkowalyk
No. 13. How did the mothers work?
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Mother's works great...I have used it a few times now..good stuff!
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02-11-2013, 07:25 AM
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#13
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Figment of My Imagination
2012 Interstate Coach
From All Over
, More Than Anywhere Else
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,868
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You can always try Brasso. Despite the name, it also works on aluminum. And it's gentle enough to be used on fine musical instruments, so no worries about harming the finish.
__________________
I thought getting old would take longer!
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02-11-2013, 08:10 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Battle Lake
, Minnesota
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 7,714
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Quote:
Originally Posted by No. 13
Now that is the info I needed. Just ordered the Mother's on Amazon...nothing but 5 star reviews.
Do you happen to know if the tail light bezels are clear coated? I would hate to screw them up, but they are looking kind of dull. Is the Mother's safe to use?
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I read here some time ago a fellow polished his tail light housings on his late model Airstream and found two thin layers, a clear coat and a thin aluminum plating, over pot metal castings.
doug k
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02-11-2013, 08:14 AM
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#15
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Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
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Most handles are pot metal (aluminum-zinc alloy) which is one reason they corrode and are hard to polish and hard to keep polished. I had mine off the trailer and polished it with a buffing wheel and it looked pretty good till about a week later and it had spots on it and corrosion starting.
Perry
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10-29-2015, 09:29 AM
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#16
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Rivet Master
1972 25' Tradewind
1976 31' Excella 500
1974 31' Excella 500
1975 24' Argosy 24
Denver
, Colorado
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,106
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Quote:
Originally Posted by perryg114
Most handles are pot metal (aluminum-zinc alloy) which is one reason they corrode and are hard to polish and hard to keep polished. I had mine off the trailer and polished it with a buffing wheel and it looked pretty good till about a week later and it had spots on it and corrosion starting.
Perry
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Yah. Just took my 1972 door handle off to "spruce it up." One corner was bent (not flush against the airstream) and when I gently tried to bend it back, it snapped right off (cheap pot metal). Someone had also slathered on POR15 (really bad job, drips, etc.), so I'm polishing it down to metal and then painting it.
I'd like to take the outside lever off for painting, but the two tiny pins that hold it to the hinge pin are pretty rusted and I dont want to chance not being able to get it back together, especially since they charge $350 for these things.
__________________
25' 1972 Airstream Trade Wind Land Yacht (heavily customized)
2006 Jeep Liberty CRD (diesel)
BeahmStream.com
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11-03-2015, 10:54 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
2012 30' Flying Cloud
San Antonio
, Texas
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 682
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Tape off skin. 1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper works fine. You want real shinny? Go back over with 2000, or even 3000. Re-clear coat with your choice. I recommend Nyalic. It applies perfectly with a small flat artist brush.
These both done with 1000 paper and Nyalic 3 years ago.
Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums
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11-04-2015, 07:00 AM
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#18
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Rivet Master
2005 30' Classic
Burlington
, Ontario
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,743
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I cheated and used Thomas's Stainless Steel paint on the door handle and hinges on our door handle and hinges that showed quite a bit of corrosion. I did sand off the corrosion first tog get a smooth surface and the end result looked quite good - to me anyway, not to a purist I imagine!
Thomas Liquid Stainless Steel - FAQ
I did this a few years ago and it seems to be holding up.
This paint is marketed many to give older appliances a stainless look, but the specs say it is ok for outdoor use - the kit comes with the stains paint and a clear top coat if I recall.
I also used it on the frames for the battery box doors.
Brian.
__________________
Brian & Connie Mitchell
2005 Classic 30'
Hensley Arrow / Centramatics
2008 GMC Sierra SLT 2500HD,4x4,Crew Cab, Diesel, Leer cap.
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