How do I remove door handle corrosion?

[No. 13]

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

[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

[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.

[No. 13]

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

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.

[No. 13]

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.

That was my first thought, but you can't remove the handle without removing the inside panel to gain access.

[perryg114]

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

[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

[No. 13]

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

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?

[tkowalyk]

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!

[tkowalyk]

No. 13. How did the mothers work?

[ROBERT CROSS]

600,800,1200,2000 grit wet sandpaper, and a coating of Griot's Paint Sealer one a year.


Bob

[No. 13]

Originally Posted by tkowalyk

No. 13. How did the mothers work?

Mother's works great...I have used it a few times now..good stuff!

[Protagonist]

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.

[dkottum]

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?

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

[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

[kidjedi]

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

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.

[Howard L.]

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

[Wingeezer]

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.