A '63 for me! (many good ideas for your new to you Trailer)

[uwe]

Originally Posted by klevan

UWE,
Do you intend to post interior photos of the finished product?

Ken

There are quite a few photos earlier in this thread. I can e-mail some to you if you pm your e-mail address.

[uwe]

Oh no, not another post on polishing....
Got some more polishing done in the last few weeks, mostly compounding and fixing problem areas.
My DeWalt electronic polisher works like a dream, but it is still a bear to do. Fortunaely I found some help with it, so it's not quite as much of a pain.
We're using cotton wheels on edge on a Craftsman polisher with brown rouge for some of the hard to get spots, like around the window frames, and for the window frames themselves. It's a handy tool for areas that are hard to get into, like above the door's eyebrow, and around vents etc.
The results are good so far. I am seeing a nice, deep shine with the usual compounding swirls. I cyclo polished a small area for testing purposes to see if the final finish would suffice, and it looks stunning.
And now the obligatory polishing pics:

[Kevbo10]

the polishing is stunning... i have a different question however from looking at your pics. are the running lights back in the sixty's (or way back when?) are the lens covers glass in red and amber or are they plastic?

thanks. kevbo

[uwe]

Originally Posted by Kevbo10

the polishing is stunning... i have a different question however from looking at your pics. are the running lights back in the sixty's (or way back when?) are the lens covers glass in red and amber or are they plastic?

thanks. kevbo

My original ones were plastic with an aluminum base plate, and I replaced them with new assemblies, also plastic.
Every now and then there are real glass ones available on e-bay, with much better mounting bases and bulb holders. The ones I used were cheaply made, unfortunately, but at the time that was all I could find.
I will look into the ones that are being used right now on new Airstream trailers. The look like they're better quality.

[Ken J]

Uwe

Nice job - don't think of it as a pain - think zen........

Isn't that Dewalt nice? I've had mine for 6+ years - used it many times and still going strong. Be careful - it will throw you off the trailer if your not careful - very powerful........I use 100% wool pads on mine

Your trailer really turned out nice....

Ken

[3Ms75Argosy]

Looks great Uwe! Still using Heavy Metal? Are you finishing with Nuvite? By the time you're finished, your arms will look like Popeye's!
Marc

[uwe]

Originally Posted by Ken J

Uwe

Nice job - don't think of it as a pain - think zen........

Wax on--Wax off....

Originally Posted by Ken J

Isn't that Dewalt nice? I've had mine for 6+ years - used it many times and still going strong. Be careful - it will throw you off the trailer if your not careful - very powerful........I use 100% wool pads on mine

Your trailer really turned out nice....

Ken

I love workin with the DeWalt buffer. Having tried the cheapo brands, I don't think they're worth their weight in sand. Especially not for a project of the magnitude of polishing an Airstream trailer. To each their own, though.
I use wool pads as well, but have a few synthetic wool ones as well. You can really tell when the synthetic ones are in use, though. They load up quicker, and then become ineffective.

[uwe]

Originally Posted by 3Ms75Argosy

Looks great Uwe! Still using Heavy Metal? Are you finishing with Nuvite? By the time you're finished, your arms will look like Popeye's!
Marc

Marc,

I started with 100% Nuvite. Then tried heavy metal in 3 grades. Now I am using a combination of Nuvite, Heavy Metal, and brown rouge ( Tripoli)

On normal surfaces, I use Nuvite G6 or F7 for compounding. I use it as directed on the perfectpolish website.
On problem areas, I use Heavy Metal coarse, then followed by Heavy Metal medium. It cuts very fast, about 3-5 times as fast as F7 or G6. It leaves heavy swirls, which area esily removed by using Heavy Metal medium grit. The surface after the medium grit compounding looks like it was done with F7 or G6, only it works much faster.
On " man, how do we get this out" areas, I use the edge buffer with rouge or Heavy Metal. I use the edge buffer also on and around the window frames.
The compounding finishes ever so slighly blotchy, with more or less swirly areas. For smoothing out the finish, I lightly compound with Nuvite C. This last compounding step evens out the shine, and gives a nice depth to the finish.
I will use a cyclo for the final step. I tried going straight to Nuvite S, which has worked well in some areas. But most likely, I will cyclo with C, and then again with S.
After that, we all must freeze time, so that the finish will last for a while...

[Ken J]

Uwe

I think keeping the trailer under cover freezes time to a major degree. I may get in trouble for saying this, but I don't think I would go to the effort of polishing if I could not keep the trailer under cover - really makes a big difference.

Ken

[NorCal Bambi]

I have been dreaming lately of the day when I get to start polishing!
Don

[uwe]

Originally Posted by Ken J

Uwe

I think keeping the trailer under cover freezes time to a major degree. I may get in trouble for saying this, but I don't think I would go to the effort of polishing if I could not keep the trailer under cover - really makes a big difference.

Ken

I will keep it inside as much as possible when it's not being used. However, the polish still fades. My freshly polished tanks got dull in less than a year, even though they were only out 2-3 times since new. I fear that this polish will be a real challenge to keep up.

[uwe]

Originally Posted by NorCal Bambi

I have been dreaming lately of the day when I get to start polishing!
Don

Don,

Really, really, you can start polishing any time you want. I have everyting you need, including a 26ft trailer...

[clancy_boy]

My plan for in the moring on this 3 day weekend is to polish several spots on my Caravel. Just looking at the effort required. Of course that will mean I will have to polish the whole trailer - and quick. Your polishing job looks great - and just the push I need to get going.

[NorCal Bambi]

Originally Posted by uwe

Don,

Really, really, you can start polishing any time you want. I have everyting you need, including a 26ft trailer...

Question, How long do you think the line of trailers waiting to be polished will get?
Don

[pinkflamingoes]

Uwe;

Hi there!

How necessary is the piece of aluminum referenced in your post #80, the sheet of aluminum over the step but under the floor? We can still put it in, we haven't bolted the floor to the frame yet. We're doing the front section tomorrow but not that far back. The step is under another a separate piece of wood from the one we're bolting down tomorrow. Is it a bad thing not to do it?

[uwe]

Originally Posted by NorCal Bambi

Question, How long do you think the line of trailers waiting to be polished will get?
Don

At some point it will probably cause a huge traffic jam on the I-5 N, reaching Sacramento first, then eventually LA.

[uwe]

Originally Posted by pinkflamingoes

Uwe;

Hi there!

How necessary is the piece of aluminum referenced in your post #80, the sheet of aluminum over the step but under the floor? We can still put it in, we haven't bolted the floor to the frame yet. We're doing the front section tomorrow but not that far back. The step is under another a separate piece of wood from the one we're bolting down tomorrow. Is it a bad thing not to do it?

Hello Ingrid,

It is important, as it protects the underside of the plywood from moisture and road spray. Don't leave it out.

[pinkflamingoes]

Thanks. What did you use to attach it? Looks like some kind of glue...

[NorCal Bambi]

Originally Posted by uwe

At some point it will probably cause a huge traffic jam on the I-5 N, reaching Sacramento first, then eventually LA.

Uwe, I'll keep you posted so you can be first in line!
Can you give me information in a PM on who and how you were able to get the full sample kit from Zolatone. I would like to ad a similar group to my library.
Thanks Don

[uwe]

Originally Posted by pinkflamingoes

Thanks. What did you use to attach it? Looks like some kind of glue...

Good old Vulkem and Rivets. A few on each side is good enough. This is not a strctural part, just sort of a moisture shield for the floor.