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03-30-2004, 10:07 AM
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#1
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Rivet Master 
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Can An Argosy be polished??????????
Ever see a polished Argosy trailer?
We have attached a photo of an Argosy trailer being polished.
At the time of the photo, the work was incomplete, but good enough to show those that might want to do their's, or have it done. The end caps will be painted metallic silver.
The polishing was done by Barry, The Polishing Guru, in Riverside California.
His phone number is 909-7887625.
Andy
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03-30-2004, 10:13 AM
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#2
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Moderator

1968 17' Caravel
Battle Ground
, Washington
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,217
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That looks pretty good. I'd heard the rumor that the Argosy aluminum was not of a quality that it could be polished. If you have a chance to get a shot of it after the endcaps are painted, that would be neat to see how the finished project looks. Looks like Barry sure knows how to get the shine on!
__________________
Stephanie
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03-30-2004, 10:54 AM
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#3
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2 Rivet Member 
melbourne
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 50
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Question?
Does Barry use a cyclo as the other gurus and kings do?
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03-30-2004, 10:56 AM
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#4
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Just an old timer...

2004 22' Interstate
Tipton
, Iowa
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,706
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In
Ever see a polished Argosy trailer?
We have attached a photo of an Argosy trailer being polished.
Andy
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So much for conventional wisdom! I'd have bet lunch that it couldn't have looked that nice! Wow!
Roger
__________________
havin' to fix my broken Airstreams since 1987...
AIR 2053 Current: 2004 Airstream Interstate "B-Van" T1N DODGE Sprinter
Former Airstreams: 1953 Flying Cloud, 1957 Overlander, 1961 Bambi, 1970 Safari Special, 1978 Argosy Minuet, 1985 325 Moho, 1994 Limited 34' Two-door, 1994 B190 "B-Van"
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03-30-2004, 11:06 AM
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#5
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Just a member
1978 28' Argosy 28
Tampa Bay
, Florida
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,544
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The $64.00 question is how much would it cost to change out the end caps with Airstream ones??
I hope my better half does not see this picture  she will want to strip the paint and get started!
__________________
Brett G
WBCCI #5501 AIR # 49
-------------------------
1978 Argosy 28 foot Motorhome
Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something. -- Plato
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03-30-2004, 11:30 AM
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#6
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Rivet Monster

1975 31' Sovereign
1980 31' Excella II
Sprung Leak
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 7,172
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stefrobrts
That looks pretty good. I'd heard the rumor that the Argosy aluminum was not of a quality that it could be polished. If you have a chance to get a shot of it after the endcaps are painted, that would be neat to see how the finished project looks. Looks like Barry sure knows how to get the shine on!
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It was my understanding that the panels being used on the Argosy were in part, panels that had surface imperfections that would not pass inspection on an Airstream. It would seem to me that by polishing that a lot of the imperfections would be diminished. Also in a production situation it would be less expensive to not use a blemished part that to take the time to polish it. JMO
Aaron
__________________
....so many Airstreams....so little time...
WBCCI #XXXX AIR #2495
Why are we in this basket...and where are we going
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03-30-2004, 08:10 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master 
1975 Argosy 26
1963 24' Tradewind
Seattle
, Washington
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,340
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So many projects!
Ok, stripping is next. But..... who did the window in the door? Did you do it Andy - how much? I'd love to come down and have this done - in fact - thinking about a coastal trip this summer! This may sell it!
Marc
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03-30-2004, 08:15 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master 
Dallas
, Texas
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 561
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Quote:
I hope my better half does not see this picture she will want to strip the paint and get started!
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When can we start? I loved the silver look of our AS trailers, but I really love the functionality of our MH. I can't imagine not having the vista view windows, but only the Argosy MHs have the vista views.
A polished Argosy MH could be the ultimate!
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Edie
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03-30-2004, 09:33 PM
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#9
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3 Rivet Member 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 211
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Argosy polishing
I started a thread about this topic last year when I started stripping my '74 Argosy motorhome. The jury's still out for me.
I don't know about Argosy using reject Airstream panels, but it does look like they let somebody practice with a dual-action sander before painting mine! There are areas that have clearly been sanded, but most of the skin is mill finish under the paint. The sanding was done down low, where someone standing on the ground could reach.
It also appears that there may be different alloys used in different parts of the coach. Maybe a softer grade where curves are tighter? There's also what appears to be a little factory Bondo on the nose!
My final paint vs. polish decision may become a practical one, since I'm about to have shoulder surgery. I suspect polishing an entire motorhome might be murder on a torn rotator cuff.
Bob McKeown
Nashville
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03-30-2004, 09:46 PM
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#10
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418
2007 25' Safari FB SE
1958 22' Flying Cloud
1974 29' Ambassador
Yucca Valley
, California
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: 1963 26' Overlander
Posts: 4,804
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Barry says that they strip first, then sand the trailers first, with several different grades of paper, then slow polish, then cyclo polish.
Barry apparently is used to polishing ultra thin but mega buck airplane parts.
Not cheap, but seems very knowledgeable about ppolishing an treating aluminum.
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03-30-2004, 09:53 PM
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#11
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Aluminut
2004 25' Safari
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, Illinois
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,477
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thenewkid64
The $64.00 question is how much would it cost to change out the end caps with Airstream ones??
I hope my better half does not see this picture  she will want to strip the paint and get started!
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I would guess that it would be in the neighborhood of warbucks to swap the end caps.
BTW...I think it's too late....seal has been broken...
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03-31-2004, 07:36 AM
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#12
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gunnyusmc
2006 25' Safari FB SE
Livingston
, Texas
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 436
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Hi Bob
My 24' trailer is stripped and like you mine has some bondo and some streaks that are real shinny like they have been polished so I have desided to paint mine light silver. I think each Argosy will be different, but the factory seconds does seam to be true.
Don Primrose
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