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08-29-2008, 12:09 PM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member
1973 25' Tradewind
New Smyrna Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 51
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Polishing
I have started the polishing chapter of the gray lady. Will update photos during progress. What fun!
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08-29-2008, 12:14 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1968 30' Sovereign
1959 18' "Footer"
1954 22' Flying Cloud
Brussels
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 615
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Strong Arms!
Quote:
Originally Posted by daanderson
What fun!
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Boy you picked a big one to start with! I have a 30 and an 18 that are polished. Fun, no, but it looks really cool when your done! Good luck and let me know if you have any questions, been there.
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08-29-2008, 01:36 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
1999 27' Safari
Kent
, Ohio
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 806
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Wow That really is looking great. What are you useing , for polish and for machine. How many bonnets are you going thru?
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08-29-2008, 03:49 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2016 23' International
Centennial
, Colorado
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,684
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Nice work!!!! Hang in there!!
__________________
Steve "Centennial Man"
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08-29-2008, 06:06 PM
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#5
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Usually Sleepy
1973 27' Overlander
East Haven
, Connecticut
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,155
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mustang
Wow That really is looking great. What are you useing , for polish and for machine. How many bonnets are you going thru?
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I want to know this too.
__________________
Skip
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08-29-2008, 07:53 PM
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#6
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2 Rivet Member
1973 25' Tradewind
New Smyrna Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 51
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Polishing
Thanks Ed. I will probably contact you as i have a few spots that are still dark. If I can't work them out I'll let you know. I'm using the Nuvite polish. grades 7, c and s. I'm using a Cylco for most of the work. I started using a variable speed rotary polisher for the initial cut but found that if I use the clyco at about 1" for 10 seconds with a extra amount of # 7 in goes right to a mirror shine. I'm using more polish but I think it quicker. I'm using the low rpm polisher for the nooks and crannies. I'm at the mercy of the Florida sun and tropical storms in August and September so it's a slow go. As far as the # of bonnets, I'm on about my 8th pair for the cyclo, one bag of 24 cotton rags and one pack of cloth diapers, 2 pairs of shorts and 3 t-shirts. I tried washing the bonnets and for me it wasn't worth it. They came out too stiff and scratched the skin. Wear the same clothes if possible cause then ain't every going to be good enough for church or Wal Mart ever again. My best guess at the rate I'm going is to go through 24 pair of bonnets, 2 packs of diapers and another bag of 24 cotton rags. This estimate may be low. I also think that hour wise it's going to be around 200 for everything. Hope this helps!
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08-29-2008, 08:53 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1999 27' Safari
Kent
, Ohio
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 806
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yup it made me just forget about it I will admire yours and everyone elses. Yours is 25 ft mine 31 so numbers go up for me. You are doing one heck of a nice job. I am anxiouse to see finished product,
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08-29-2008, 09:17 PM
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#8
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Naysayer
1968 24' Tradewind
Russellville
, earth
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,964
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Its worth doing, it really is. I think I may give mine another going over this fall so there will be less to do come spring. Its a bunch of work, but oh man the attention it gets.
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08-29-2008, 10:33 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
1968 30' Sovereign
1959 18' "Footer"
1954 22' Flying Cloud
Brussels
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 615
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Nothing Better than that shine
Quote:
Originally Posted by daanderson
My best guess at the rate I'm going is to go through 24 pair of bonnets, 2 packs of diapers and another bag of 24 cotton rags. This estimate may be low. I also think that hour wise it's going to be around 200 for everything. Hope this helps!
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Yep, lots of cloth and time but it will look sooooooo cool when you are done. I'm fighting with the Mrs, she wants me to strip and polish the 88! Man 3 polishing jobs will just kill me!
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09-01-2008, 02:53 PM
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#10
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2 Rivet Member
1973 25' Tradewind
New Smyrna Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 51
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Polishing
I was able to get in about 8 hours the last 3 days in between the rain and heat. I think I'm within 15-20 hours of finishing the front and end caps. It's starting to look like something.
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09-01-2008, 07:45 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
1968 30' Sovereign
1959 18' "Footer"
1954 22' Flying Cloud
Brussels
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 615
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Very Nice.
Looks like you have his down pat. You want to practice on an 88?
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09-02-2008, 06:04 AM
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#12
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2 Rivet Member
1973 25' Tradewind
New Smyrna Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 51
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Polishing
No Thanks! I think I'm retiring after this one. I restored a 11' 1966 Forrester (Canned Ham) about 3 years ago and I said then I would never do it again. Maybe this time I'll learn. I'm actually having a lot of fun doing it but it's so time consuming. I’m neglecting my other continuous project (boat) and I really need to commit a full weekend to it as it’s stays in the water. I only have 8 weeks until our next camping trip and I’d sure like to be done. Seems like a lot of time but we now have Hanna and two other systems maybe coming our way so time will tell. I’ll at least have the street side and ends done.
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09-08-2008, 06:51 PM
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#13
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2 Rivet Member
1973 25' Tradewind
New Smyrna Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 51
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Polishing Update
In about 54 hours now. Almost done with the street side. Got the front bottom panels done. Estimate 20 hourd to finish top panels. Just ordered 24 more bonnets and another Nuvite 7. 1st. photo is how it started.
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09-28-2008, 06:13 PM
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#14
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2 Rivet Member
1973 25' Tradewind
New Smyrna Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 51
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Polishing Update
Had 3 good days the past 2 weeks. Still have one rear cap panel and the back to go. Hope to be done by the fist camping trip in 4 weeks.
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09-28-2008, 06:22 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
1993 34' Limited
Melbourne Florida
, Springfield Ohio
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 759
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Just looks great and what a lot of work. You must have the dedication and patience of a surgeon.
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09-29-2008, 05:24 PM
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#16
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2 Rivet Member
1973 25' Tradewind
New Smyrna Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 51
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Polishing Update
Thanks but to be honest I have question my sanity several times during the project. I however have turned the corner and can see a faint light at the end of the tunnel. I have become addicted to aluminum. Is there a support group? My wife thinks I need it!
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09-29-2008, 07:14 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
1973 27' Overlander
Loganville
, Georgia
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,741
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I think the job you have done is remarkable. I have a 1973 also and I have oxidation on the top, but the sides still look good. My wife and I really like the orignal petina look. We do not want to polish a mirro finish but I do have some oxidation on the top of the trailer. What can I use just to remove the oxidation put not give it a mirro finish. What compound and what kind of buffing machine.
Lothlorian
Brian
__________________
Brian & Adrienne
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09-29-2008, 09:12 PM
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#18
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2 Rivet Member
1973 25' Tradewind
New Smyrna Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 51
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Polishing Update
Hi Brian,
I may not be the one to ask as I'm new at this but I'll tell you what I did. I started like the many polishing treads stated and put a thin (small amount of Nuvite 7) in a few lines a few inches apart. Using a Mikiata rotary polisher on the lowest speed and no presure, the oxidation started to come off. The bad news is that it took in some cases 10 or more passes to do this. If you use more (a glob) of F-7 you run the risk of cutting in to much into the skin and presto; you start to get the 1st. stages of the mirror shine. I think that if you use a low speed polisher you can keep your petina shine. I think I would really start with Nuvite-C and see what that does first. Be prepared to spend a lot of time. Buy some diapers (WalMart) to rub the worked area down after each pass to elimnate polish build up and it's true what they say about the polisher cord scrathing the lower panels when working up top. The scratches come out but now you are polishing the whole thing. I'm adding a picture to show you how mine looked exactly like yours when I started. I'm in about 90 hours and I'm quessing about 25-30 more to get the bulk done. I'm taking my time and fighting the urge to go faster. A painful process but the 1/2 dozen people or so people who have driven by the house (mostly older) and stopped have kept me going. Most have said it reminds them of when they were younger and parents or grand-parents who owned one. I think we are a lucky few. Hope this helps.
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09-30-2008, 04:31 PM
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#19
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Rivet Master
1968 30' Sovereign
1959 18' "Footer"
1954 22' Flying Cloud
Brussels
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 615
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Support
Quote:
Originally Posted by daanderson
Thanks but to be honest I have question my sanity several times during the project. I however have turned the corner and can see a faint light at the end of the tunnel. I have become addicted to aluminum. Is there a support group? My wife thinks I need it!
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I'm here for you Dude! I have the fever too!
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09-30-2008, 06:11 PM
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#20
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2 Rivet Member
1973 25' Tradewind
New Smyrna Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 51
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Sick!
Hey Ed and All,
Here's a sick thought. Ever think about doing the LP tanks!
I've added a picture of my wife's thought on the subject.
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