But WHY should I polish my aluminum?

[InsideOut]

...and you can make breakfast!



Shari

[David Lewis]

Originally Posted by Mx468

I polish because I love the look of it. I also rent my airstream out and people love the polished look, I believe it helps with my rentals, stands out above the rest, can't imagine a airstream without the high mirror finish. Ever since I was a kid that's what I remember, shiny airstreams with a mirror finish

what do you get for your airstream rental and how do they pull it....I have an nice 1985 30 ft Excella but it really takes a 3/4 ton truck to pull it. I suppose I could rent it already on a spot an many around here if I got enough?

Anyway thanks and good luck
Mine is not polished
David

[JCWDCW]

Originally Posted by rucos

Very very nice !!
I would call mine a 1/2 polish ....I spend about a day once a year giving it a going over.
I thought I wanted the total mirror once upon a time but realized that it was alot of work and maintenance.
Its kind of like I now like the flat black finish that Harley Davidson came out with ....I really got tired of polishing all that chrome and just wanted to ride ..LOL

Based on conversation with Airstream dealer, less than high polish leaves a rough surface that is more prone to oxidation. Just as this post notes. Chrome polish is more durable and may only need touching up every few years
I just had my’96 stripped and I will only buff it to a uniform finish. Have not decided about clear coat or nano finish.
JCW

[guskmg]

If your trailer has the factory pre-coated aluminum finish you need to Walbernize it twice a year paying particular attention to the rivet heads and cut metal edges. This will go along way in preventing filiform corrosion.
guskmg

[TouringDan]

Originally Posted by bass-o-matic

Ah, well, it's homemade but the community here and Colin got me started on the right foot. It's all Buck Riveted 2024T3 ... so... same as vintage?

Beautiful work bass-o-matic and glad to see that you are out there camping with a well designed custom built aluminum camper.

I would love to see it in person. Do you participate in any of the Tin Can Tourist rallies?

Dan

[bass-o-matic]

Originally Posted by TouringDan

Beautiful work bass-o-matic and glad to see that you are out there camping with a well designed custom built aluminum camper.

I would love to see it in person. Do you participate in any of the Tin Can Tourist rallies?

Dan

Oh. That would be great! I didn’t know they allowed one offs.

[islandtrader]

I'm leaving mine very dull...I will equate it to the rat rod look in street rods...LOL

[vanster]

Good exercise

[TouringDan]

Originally Posted by bass-o-matic

Oh. That would be great! I didn’t know they allowed one offs.

bass-o-magic- They sure do. Here is a custom trailer built by a trailer shop in Florida. I saw it at the Tin Can Tourist Winter Rally in Brooksville, Florida in February, 2019.

Dan

[Disco Stu]

Thanks for sharing Bass-o-matic, and very well done!

[Halford1]

If you do not polish it, people will start finger write "Wash Me" on your trailer. maybe other unwanted messages would be written.

It is up to you to polish or not to polish. To wash or not to wash, vacuum or not vacuum, detailing or not detailing.

I wash, polish and detailing because I want to. I also do it on my autos. I like my shoes polished clean. I like my clothes clean and ironed. I do it because I like it that way. If you do not like polished Airstream, that is fine with us. Many do not anyway. Just camp...

[new2trailer]

The biggest reason to polish your trailer to annoy other drivers with the glare. An added side effect is everybody around you will know where you are. Other than that there is little reason to polish.

Mike

[docflyboy]

I've got my '68 Caravel polished, but have at least two caveats. First you'll think crazy things are happening in your rear view mirror as you see reflections off the curved surfaces. Second, your pride and joy is mostly missed by other drivers who have their noses in their cell phones as they are driving.

The comment about the high mirror shine being the one that reduces maintenance I think is true. I had mine polished by the shop that did the shell off, but to have the shell's molecules truly re-arranged, will take you some time and several cuts at it. Mine gets a little fuzz that you can feel with your hand when you wash it with soap and water. The imperfections show more, but if you've got a crease or some hail damage, I've had pretty good luck straightening the metal, but then your patina will be messed up and you will have to polish to some degree, even if you decide to let it get a new patina.

If there is a wipe on clear coat out there, then polish would be definitely worth it. It just seems like all the products that you might use to protect it other than wax, require an etch to bond, defeating the purpose. Jerry

[Eagle & Bear]

1) It looks cool.

2) The deer stand still about 10' from the trailer and stare at themselves.

3) I drive about 50 to 55 mph. When we are on a four lane highway I will see the passengers in the cars that are passing us video taping their reflections in the mirror finish on our trailer.

4) I can use the reflective surface to create some very nice photos.