Thank you Santa!

[azflycaster]

Well, I just arrived home and guess who must have stopped by? My neighbor said he tossed the red outfit and sled and now drives and dresses "Brown". See if you can find what Santa brought in the picture.
Hint = I got 2...

[overlander63]

Aww, gee, he left you a couple of frog ornaments to decorate your pool. How nice!!!
But why do you have your new Worthington LP tanks at the pool?

[azflycaster]

Gracie thought they were her scuba tanks! Now that I have the new tanks, how about suggestions on how to shine them up? They have a few rough spots towards the bottom. Would you start with a wet sand job to smooth them out and then start the polish routine?

[azflycaster]

built a stand today out of some scrap wood in the shop. Then spent 20 minutes with wet and dry (wet) 220 grit sandpaper. I just did the bottom of one tank to knok off the splatter from the welding. It is starting to look good.

[azflycaster]

Getting the tanks done a little at a time. I do have some great excuses why it's not done yet. Here is where I am at now

[overlander63]

The polish job looks great. Now, if I only had time to polish mine that well.

[bredlo]

Originally Posted by azflycaster

built a stand today out of some scrap wood in the shop. Then spent 20 minutes with wet and dry (wet) 220 grit sandpaper. I just did the bottom of one tank to knok off the splatter from the welding. It is starting to look good.

I realize this is 2 years later, but in case others find this post while searching for advice on polishing Worthingtons - thanks for a great idea here, Richard.

You inspired me to build my own cradle out of 2x4 scraps in my garage as well. Here are the results - minus the beach towels I used as pads on each end. I built it from about 6 feet of 2x4's, 16 drywall screws and a miter saw to get good angle cuts for the top pieces. Took all of 15 minutes from beginning to end.

I found hand sanding to be a major pain, and after many hours got only mediocre results at best. That was 220, then 300, 400 and 600, and finally Nevr-Dull wadding polish.

Next I fired up the Cyclo and dabbed a few fingerprints of F7 Nuvite on the tank. I ended up with the results below in about an hour. I can't be sure the sandpaper didn't help prep the surface, but I'll figure that out tomorrow when I try to do the other tank using only the Cyclo/Nuvite.

[reggiemon]

Interesting, Brad. What was the outcome on the 2nd tank?
Tanks.:>)

[utee94]

Originally Posted by overlander63

The polish job looks great. Now, if I only had time to polish mine that well.

Yes, yes Terry... I, too, wish that you had found some time to polish yours up to a mirror shine...

And I am also interested to see how Brad's polishing went on the second one without the sanding prep?


-Marcus

[bredlo]

Originally Posted by reggiemon

Interesting, Brad. What was the outcome on the 2nd tank?
Tanks.:>)

Well, for better or worse - all that hand sanding did make things look really easy for the Cyclo, when it fact the Cyclo was just finishing up the job. The second tank came out just as good, but required a lot more time with the Cyclo.

Overall, I'd skip the hand sanding and go for the Cyclo, except in the places where it can't reach. For that, I used 400, 600 and 800 sandpaper by hand, followed up by Nevr-Dull wadding polish. Worked very well.

[64airstream]

Brad,

Two thoughts:

1. I think a final photo is in order.

2. If you put a little poly on your tank stand and put it in a box with a couple pieces of sand paper, I'll bet you could sell it on e-Bay as an Airstream Tank Polishing Kit.

Great job, and one of these days, maybe the day after this Christmas, I can put your experience to good use.

Thanks for sharing,

Roy

[64airstream]

OOPS - I guess that should have gone out to AZ as well.

[bredlo]

Originally Posted by 64airstream

Brad,

Two thoughts:

1. I think a final photo is in order.

2. If you put a little poly on your tank stand and put it in a box with a couple pieces of sand paper, I'll bet you could sell it on e-Bay as an Airstream Tank Polishing Kit.

Great job, and one of these days, maybe the day after this Christmas, I can put your experience to good use.

Thanks for sharing,

Roy

Fair enough!
I still need to finish up the handle on the second tank, and lots more polishing to do in general... but here's proof I did tackle the second one.

And great idea on selling my pile of 2x4's, er, tank cradle. "Tank Polishing Kit" does have a nice ring to it!

[utee94]

Ha!

I have no doubt someone would buy it on ebay for $150 minimum!

The tanks look nice, by the way.

[mistral blue]

Maybe not quite $150.... what would shipping and handling be to CT?

[64airstream]

Brad,

I'm thinking it would be fun just to see what it would bring on e-Bay, but you'd have to include the word "Airstream" or it's just a bunch of 2X4's and you won't get your $150.00 reserve.

The tanks look great, by the way.

Roy

[bredlo]

Originally Posted by mistral blue

Maybe not quite $150.... what would shipping and handling be to CT?

I'd feel so silly shipping 6 pieces of 2x4 and 8 drywall screws all the way over there!

If you have a miter saw (or know someone who does) I'd be thrilled to simply send you the dimensions (which would be different if you have something other than a 30# tank anyhow) and you could toss one together in a matter of minutes! It's easy!

[azflycaster]

I used scrap plywood, a couple of pieces of 2x2 and some carpet to make mine. Patent pending.....

[bredlo]

Originally Posted by azflycaster

I used scrap plywood, a couple of pieces of 2x2 and some carpet to make mine. Patent pending.....

Perhaps we bring them both to Albuquerque next week and sell them to unsuspecting hot air balloonists as "ballast cradles"??

[Alumin8]

Brad,

Wow, what great results. I now have true polish envy but thanks for the advice. I am just starting to start my restoration with a great starting Excella. It is exciting to see the results others have enjoyed with some time and elbow grease. Airstreams sure evoke pride than the SOBs.

Joe