CycloBuffer questions

[BrandonG]

I bought one of these handy guys at a swap meet on some of your recommendations. There are many attachments and buffers available.

My AS is very oxidized, light pitting.

Can anyone help in the progression of steps to bring the shine back up with the cyclo. Color pads, prep etc. I read about a sweatshirt bonnet. Also, what kind of polishes, cleaners, etc. will not hurt my progression.

thank you.

[aluminitus]

From my experience, a cyclo polisher alone won't do the job. I used a variable speed polisher with the gray and pink jeweler's rouge, then used the cyclo. Even when using Nuvite F7 with the cylo, it hardly has any effect on the oxidation. The two steps with the polisher (first pass to get rid of oxidation, second to reduce swirl marks from first pass) are the prep for using the cyclo, the primary purpose of which is to get rid of swirl marks from the polisher and secondarily to buff the metal.
Good luck with the polishing! You have a long and dirty road ahead!

[snakecharmer]

Hi BrandonG
I agree with aluminitus. I'm in the middle of polishing our 1971 GT, and have found that the methods/tools/supplies recommended by Tom at PerfectPolish.com to be very effective. I don't think there is any way to make the process easy or quick, so hang in there!

Enjoy!

[Bigventure]

You would want to powerwash it first then.
The first step is to strip off the clear coat. The gray roof has none, because it has worn off. The sides still will have clear coar remaining though. You won't be able to polish though it.
The second step would be to burish it with a cutting polish like Nuvite G6. It dosn't take a lot because your mostly using a dry pad. You want it to cut and leave swirl marks. Use a side grinder polisher. You can pick one up cheap at Harbor Freght.
The third step is a Nuvite C used with the Cyclo.
I have a half pound of Nuvite G6 with detailed instructions for sale in the Airforums adds. I also have a 5 gallon pail of RemoveAll striper for sale.
You can PM me if you like.
regards, Dave

[Jim Foster]

You can learn everything you ever want to know about polishing your Airstream here. Materials, products, polishers, technique, the whole "ball of wax" as they say.
If you want a mirror shine, here's the place to get it.

Metal Polishing Equipment : Auto Detailing Supplies : Electric Car Polishers : Airplane Polish : Auto Polisher : Aluminum : Polishers and Buffers : PerfectPolish.com

[mimiandrews]

I polished ours with a Cyclo alone, and am happy with an "original finish" look. The customer support people at Cyclo were very helpful. They advised me to use the yellow wool pads, and they worked well. Mother's Mag and Aluminum polish from the local auto parts store is what I used.

The other polishing systems produce a marvelous finish, and I admire the owners who can do that much work. At my age, that was beyond my ability. Once over the trailer was enough.

The Cyclo did not leave any swirl marks that I had to remove later.

[c_lewis77]

Look here too!
Polishing Advice

[BrandonG]

Thanks guys. I will be hitting this up between my 38 ford project this winter. I work too much when it is pretty to get any playing done.

Your help is greatly appreciated. I was about to sell the girl off. I had 2 people stop by to get it in the course of the last month. I have not gotten anywhere on it in a long time. Never even spent a night in it. It has some leaks and needs to be sealed up, which I hear the body needs to be cleaned up first. So if I am going to go that far, I might as well polish it too.