It's a girl!!!

[InsideOut]

I got close enough to all that several years ago in Perry...got enough on me to last quite awhile!

Besides, those are the big, old, juicy worms!!! You need a can opener for those...

Shari

[bredlo]

I use one of those "pretend welder's masks" as well. Great to have your whole face protected, and not be fogging up goggles, etc.

[OB Bambi]

She sure is pretty.

Well Done!


Randy Bowman

[Sheridan]

Shari,
I like the idea of your “combined polishing method” so much that I bought a Milwaukee 5540 polisher the other day so that I could do the wheel/bar compounding first then the Nuvite/Cyclo finish. I’ve got quite a bit of filiform on the top panels and am anxious to see how the black or brown compounding bars will handle it. 7 or 8 passes with a flat buffer and Nuvite F7 just wasn’t “cutting” it.
I still need to buy supplies for the Milwaukee. Would you change any of your recommendations in post #478? I just need to compound around the areas where I took bits off before I buck rivet them back on and then on to wiring, insulation, interior skins, etc, etc. I would like to save the final polish job for the last thing I do to this trailer as a triumphant conclusion to this fascinating journey.

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by Sheridan

Would you change any of your recommendations in post #478?

The only thing I would say has changed is that it seems he isn't using the white rouge much (there isn't much difference between the finish after "loose/white" isn't much different than "loose/brown").

There are primarily three different series of polishes/pads that he is using based on different conditions:

1) If an area has bad scratches, he uses the sewn/black, followed by sewn/brown, followed by loose/brown, then Cyclo/Nuvite-C and finishing with Cyclo/Nuvite-S.

2) If it is just oxidized w/o too many scratches, he uses sewn/brown, followed by loose/brown, then Cyclo/Nuvite-C and finishing with Cyclo/Nuvite-S.

3) The only area he has used the white is the roof - where nobody sees it - he uses sewn/brown, followed by loose/brown, then loose/white and finishing with Cyclo/Nuvite-S.

In order of coarseness it goes black/sewn > brown/sewn > brown/loose > white/loose > Cyclo/Nuvite-C > Cyclo/Nuvite-S. Depending on the damage of the particular panel, where ever we start in the line-up he's been working it down through all the steps to "S", with the exception of on the roof.

Shari

[Silverfoxrae]

I sure love the results! Looking VERY amazing... not all that glitters is gold... silver is sexier!! :-) Great Job!!

Rae

[Sheridan]

Thanks for the guide Shari, I'll give it a try and if your going to the resto-rally in Albuquerque we could compare results.

[InsideOut]

Sorry Sheridan, the comparison won't happen at the 4CU resto rally....we're not going to make it this year we have a DenCO Unit Rally the same weekend. We are (obviously) going to be at the RMVAC rally so maybe there or International.

Shari

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by bredlo

I use one of those "pretend welder's masks" as well. Great to have your whole face protected, and not be fogging up goggles, etc.

Works great, keeps the junk out of his eyes and face a bit cleaner so he doesn't have to use a brillo pad to get it clean!

Shari

[InsideOut]

Making progress...the entire top is done as is the front end cap. Now starting on the side...

Shari

[CanoeStream]

I count thirteen pieces of the pie in that picture. Confused!

Shari, what are you trying to do to us?

Looks

mah-vel-ous

!

[47WeeWind]

Originally Posted by InsideOut

Making progress...the entire top is done as is the front end cap. Now starting on the side...Shari

Hey Shari:

Looks like you found a Ninja Polisher to do the dirty work. AyyyyYAAAHH!

[bwaysteve]

Originally Posted by Sheridan

Shari,
I like the idea of your “combined polishing method” so much that I bought a Milwaukee 5540 polisher the other day so that I could do the wheel/bar compounding first then the Nuvite/Cyclo finish. I’ve got quite a bit of filiform on the top panels and am anxious to see how the black or brown compounding bars will handle it. 7 or 8 passes with a flat buffer and Nuvite F7 just wasn’t “cutting” it.
I still need to buy supplies for the Milwaukee. Would you change any of your recommendations in post #478? I just need to compound around the areas where I took bits off before I buck rivet them back on and then on to wiring, insulation, interior skins, etc, etc. I would like to save the final polish job for the last thing I do to this trailer as a triumphant conclusion to this fascinating journey.

In my experience with the bar polishing I got my materials here in Dallas.Black,Tripoli Brown,and a lighter grey bar.I am using 4 sisal hard sewn for the first cut grey,4hard sewn cotton with the Trpoli,and 2loose cotton with the lighter grey.Not sure what the last grey bar is but I told the abrasives guy I wanted a mirror finish.Maybe it's white,but looks grey.
What I found is with the sisal wheel and the Black bar I wasn't even touching the filiform after many passes.I saw a video of the Polishing Guru and he was feeding the bar as buffing.I tried this with a little circular motion on the filiform spots and the disappeared in two circular motions.I then put the bar down and moved over the area vertically.It worked well.

[AirstreamGypsy]

Shari,

I have just finished reading your thread, again, for the third time! You are both true masters of the craft. Both Birdy and Maxwell must be so happy to have you as their adoptive parents.

Absolutely Stunning.

You have been so gracious in answering everyone's questions, I'd like to ask one more. The aluminum extrusion that the walls slide into and are riveted to the sides of the Airstream, did you use the original or did you find a source?

And in answer to your response of my previous question concerning the shower pan, 363 yes. It does not leak but cosmetically, only slightly better than your old one.

I am now going to read Maxwell's History again. It is a joy to watch how you have resurrected these two. I hope someday to elevate my poor Baby to something close, but for now, even in disrepair, shower area she provides me with sublime pleasure.

[InsideOut]

Thanks for the kind words Suzanne! I mirror your remarks everytime I look at your Earthship blog...talk about a stunning piece of work!

The aluminum extrusion that the walls slide into and are riveted to the sides of the Airstream, did you use the original or did you find a source?

The answer is "both". Mostly we re-used our original track, however, we also got a piece of track from Aerowood that we used as well. It was from his '71 so the curve & style didn't match exactly, but we ended up using it by cutting it into 12" lengths for support of one of the closet panels that didn't have one to begin with. It's in the closet - so you can't tell it doesn't match - but it adds needed support.

Looks like you're on your way with your shower project...looks nice!

Shari

[76sovereign]

Originally Posted by InsideOut

Making progress...the entire top is done as is the front end cap. Now starting on the side...

Shari

LOOKING FANTASTIC MAN!!!! Great job.... Where do you buy your buffer pads? we can't seem to find the right ones?

[AirstreamGypsy]

Thanks Shari,

Earthship is happy it is spring but a slow go there as well. Seems my lot in life.

I wil re-use my track waviness and all. I was able to get the worst of the waves out with a little light hammering. No one should notice as it is in the shower.

Thanks again.

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by 76sovereign

LOOKING FANTASTIC MAN!!!! Great job.... Where do you buy your buffer pads? we can't seem to find the right ones?

Thanks!

Which Buffer pads? We use several...

Compounder using Nuvite, he uses flat wool pads which can be obtained at VTS
Comounder using bar method he uses cotton wheels - links in post #478
Cyclo Polisher Pads also available at VTS

Shari

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by AirstreamGypsy

I wil re-use my track waviness and all. I was able to get the worst of the waves out with a little light hammering. No one should notice as it is in the shower.

Thanks again.

Hey! Look what I just found...

Bulkhead Wall Moulding! You may not have to use the old one after all ~

I'm sure it comes straight - I'm not sure how to go about bending it - but it's a resource...

Shari

[AirstreamGypsy]

Nice find. Only dimension and difference is the overall width by 3/16 and goes to one side only, which I rather think is a better idea.