Clear coat stripping photos

[RBSteeg]

Here is an "environmentally safe" product from Home Depot that seemed to work pretty well in removing clear coat. I rolled it on with mini roller, kept it moist with a pump sprayer every hour or so, left it on for six hours, and then pressure washed it off. Will post more info later.

[RBSteeg]

This product from Home Depot did a pretty fair job of stripping clear coat. I am following up on patch areas that clear coat remains on with this spray on aircraft peeler from Airstream Supply.

[KrisE MN]

anyone else having problems seeing pics?

[KrisE MN]

sorry must be my phone. can see from home. Are these photos showing a whole side or 1/2 done with home depot product?

[RBSteeg]

The first few photos show the stripper on the trailer as it was being washed off. The last picture shows the whole side stripped.


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[twolanehwy]

they don't enlarge when clicked on

[MelGoddard]

They did for me, but I had to try it several times.

[JCWDCW]

Not sure what P&S Trailer Service are using these days but that is essentially how they strip a trailer before re-coating. They mask off anything that isn't to be stripped, then spray the whole unit from top down. Wait 30 minutes then Power-wash the residue off.

Good to hear about the availability from Home Depot. I heard the polishing guys are using something really exotic with peroxide content.
JCW

[CLKIESER]

We recently visited P&S to see about having our 360 Classic stripped and waxed. Their finished results are stellar. However, let's just say it's going to be a while before we can afford that. RBSteeg, what are you finishing yours with?

[RBSteeg]

I'm new to this polishing thing and this will continue to be an experiment I suppose. I started polishing our 1947 Spartan Manor last year. It did not have the clear coat to deal with, although the aluminum got pretty rough from weather exposure. On the airstream I will be starting with a power buffer and liquid polish. (Post pictures of polish later)
When I finally get all the clear coat removed, I think polishing will go fine. Medium and finish. Aluminum looks in good shape on this rig.


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[RBSteeg]

Here is a shot of the Spartan in progress of polishing. Future coffeehouse trailer


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[cwf]

Nice.. shore am glad our 1999 is made of aluminum which won't polish THAT nice...

[MelGoddard]

I got a question for everyone.
Just took delivery of a new 2015 Flying Cloud, on Sat. last. I'm told that the aluminum is coated with a clear coat' at the factory.
Has anyone ever tried using silicone spray, or WD-40 on the skin to protect it from water? It seems to me that doing so would cause the rainwater to bead off.

[cwf]

Originally Posted by MelGoddard

I got a question for everyone.
Just took delivery of a new 2015 Flying Cloud, on Sat. last. I'm told that the aluminum is coated with a clear coat' at the factory.
Has anyone ever tried using silicone spray, or WD-40 on the skin to protect it from water? It seems to me that doing so would cause the rainwater to bead off.

Mel,
congrats on the new 'crib'! keep a good wax on it... AS sells a good one.. many other threads here...

Waxing... when water repellancy is low, is important!

[JCWDCW]

P&S told me to keep my re-coat waxed with Turtle wax to provide the UV protection. Yes it costs a lot for a re-coat at P&S but the factory and others do the same refinishing..same price. AS in Jackson told me they do not p[olish out the stains from oxidized aluminum where the clearcoat is missing. P&S does and they highly recommended them if I needed polishing. Our domes were corroded and clearcoat doesn't cover that up. They buff the metal just enough to remove the corrosion, while keeping the look close to the original factory look. It is different; but our 89 looked so good many SOB owners thought it was a new trailer. Our cost for polishing domes and driver's side roof line down to the windows was $3600 in 2004. We recoated just the top down to the belly line in 2012 for $3000 becaue the clearcoat flaked after an extremely cold winter season storage.

The coating on factory supplied panels that AS buy for their assembly is not the same as the clearcoat used by re-finishers, but it is the sun that does the damage so UV protection is more important than waterproofing. Most members I know use Walbernize RV super seal for their AS. That is what the factory store recommends.

BTW if you have some peeling, cover it immediately with clear enamel spray to stop the corrosion from rain and sun. P&S said just buy a can of clear outdoor spray.
JCW