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goransons · 11-24-2008, 10:04 PM

we found the top was much easier to polish, my thoughts were that the clearcoat baked off earlier, and just tarnished naturally, below it had all the chips from rocks, pitting etc, plus road salts, dirt etc over the years. Probably spent 4 times as much time below the belt line than above, even though it was less surface area. Nothing beats the sound of a cyclo =)

Its looking great, love the wheels/baby moons too.

Ken J · 11-25-2008, 07:00 AM

Clear coat has been an option since about the late 50's - so that may be original - and yes its probably baked off from the sun.

FWIW - you can't see the top, so I didn't polish it...

Where two or more 4cu-er's gather its an event!

Ken J

LHall · 11-25-2008, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goransons

we found the top was much easier to polish, my thoughts were that the clearcoat baked off earlier, and just tarnished naturally, below it had all the chips from rocks, pitting etc, plus road salts, dirt etc over the years. Probably spent 4 times as much time below the belt line than above, even though it was less surface area. Nothing beats the sound of a cyclo =)

Its looking great, love the wheels/baby moons too.

Thanks!

The wheels are actually the stock rims with the original hubcaps. They are full hubcaps from a '56 Plymouth which were used in the early 60s.

dogpound · 11-25-2008, 07:49 AM

Louis;

OK, I'll bite. What do you use with your buffer. The top of mine is peeling and we don't want to spend the $4,500 to do another clear coat. I tried Turtle Wax and the aluminum just turns black and it is hell getting it to get a shine.
Your trailer looks very good. Hope to see you and Sergio in Cottonwood in Feb.
_
Bob and Lou
Members Four Corners Unit/CAC
WBCCI # 10105
AIR # 28748

LHall · 11-25-2008, 08:07 AM

Bob,

We are using jewler's rouge with a high speed buffing wheel. We are hopefully going to finish the first pass today, we will take a picture of what we are using for you.

We are planning on making the Cottonwood Rally. Looking forward to seeing you and Lou.

**azflycaster** · 11-25-2008, 05:20 PM

Mr InsideOut did a demo using that technique this year at the RMVAC, it was very impressive. He went back over the area with the cyclo and produced a mirror finish.

slowmover · 11-25-2008, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by easyride

Just don`t wash your buffers in the wife`s new washing machine,been there done that!!!! Dave

This'll take care of that problem (I buy it for hard water buildup, and find it cleans the machine nicely):

http://www.summitbrands.com/brands/WasherMagic.aspx

In the same way, for the dishwasher (which has been known to "clean" a few unusual items):

Lemi Shine – Official Site – The Hard Water Expert

I find both at an appliance repair/supply house.

goransons · 11-25-2008, 08:29 PM

can you take me a close up shot of those hubcaps sometime so I know what I'm looking for? love the look

LHall · 11-26-2008, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goransons

can you take me a close up shot of those hubcaps sometime so I know what I'm looking for? love the look

I would be happy to do that. It just so happens that I have an extra set that were originally on the trailer when we purchased it. Two of them are in good shape, but the other two really could use a re-chroming. I ended up finding another pristine set on E bay for around 25 bucks so I just decided to keep the old ones for spares.

I will take a close up photo and post it here.

LHall · 11-26-2008, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azflycaster

Mr InsideOut did a demo using that technique this year at the RMVAC, it was very impressive. He went back over the area with the cyclo and produced a mirror finish.

We learned of this process from attending the Restoration Rally last April. Levon demonstrated the method and has used it extensively on a number of trailers that he has restored. We are pleased with the outcome, but there are a few precautions especially working around drip caps, lights, corners of hatches and doors. It is easy to catch something and rip it off and you really have to be careful when you are working on ladders as the buffer really "bites" into the oxidation which can cause you to lose balance if you are not careful.

azfiredog300 · 11-26-2008, 07:40 AM

Looking really good Louis, I was contemplating using that method since seeing it at the resto rally. I wish I could see it at Picacho but my Department is not allowing any vacations due to the economic slowdown. I will be thinking of you guys and would like to extend my holiday greetings to all.

LHall · 11-26-2008, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dogpound

Louis;

OK, I'll bite. What do you use with your buffer. The top of mine is peeling and we don't want to spend the $4,500 to do another clear coat. I tried Turtle Wax and the aluminum just turns black and it is hell getting it to get a shine.
Your trailer looks very good. Hope to see you and Sergio in Cottonwood in Feb.
_
Bob and Lou
Members Four Corners Unit/CAC
WBCCI # 10105
AIR # 28748

Bob,

Here are a few photos of how and what we were using to polish. The only question you may want to get clarification is that your trailer is much newer and I know that AS used a different type of aluminum on the newer ones. I am unsure how this process will work on the newer units. You might want to PM Lavon and see if he has used this on a newer rig.

The bar of red stuff is the rouge we are using. There was a gray bar for the first cut, but that is nearly gone so we photographed the red one. The comb looking thing is to clean your buffer pads as you polish. All of these items and buffing wheels were included in the kit we purchased.

LHall · 11-26-2008, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goransons

can you take me a close up shot of those hubcaps sometime so I know what I'm looking for? love the look

Here is the close up of the hubcap that you requested.

LHall · 11-26-2008, 11:29 AM

We finished the curb side this morning between rain drops... yes rain in Phoenix. One of our 50 or so non-sunny days here.

Anyway, here are some photos showing the results.

LHall · 11-26-2008, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azfiredog300

Looking really good Louis, I was contemplating using that method since seeing it at the resto rally. I wish I could see it at Picacho but my Department is not allowing any vacations due to the economic slowdown. I will be thinking of you guys and would like to extend my holiday greetings to all.

Thanks Jerry, perhaps you will make the Restoration Rally in April. We are planning to attend again, maybe we can do some more polishing.

Have a happy Thanksgiving

Aerowood · 11-26-2008, 12:00 PM

I bought the same kit about 2 weeks ago. As all the exterior lights and protrusions are off the GT and I am ready to start. I have already polished all the removable exterior aluminum parts. I bolted the buffer to a board and then clamped it to a bench so I would not fling the parts across the room.

n2batr · 11-26-2008, 12:50 PM

Kip, I think you'll be happy with this system. It is definitely faster than using nuvite and compounding. I have used both methods on the doors I am restoring. Using the rouge is faster and gives a finish that looks as good as nuvite which is much more laborious. The rouge method definitely heats the aluminum so moving much more rapidly is essential. Ed

Ken J · 11-26-2008, 12:55 PM

Looks great

Yes! We will do some more polishing at the restoration rally....

Ken J

Aerowood · 11-26-2008, 02:04 PM

What speed did you use for the initial cut?

LHall · 11-26-2008, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aerowood

What speed did you use for the initial cut?

we used the max speed on the polisher, it worked much better than the slower speed. I believe our polisher max speed is around 3000 rpm. We just kept the wheel moving.