Heavy Oxidation #2

[cuyeda]

After reading the previous thread titled "Heavy Oxidation", my trailer may need a bit more help than just the Nuvite polish process. If you made your way from the first "Heavy Oxidation" thread, thanks, I need your suggestions.

I have a 1947 Curtis Wright, and after looking at some of the other Airstream being polished, my trailer is much more oxidized. This trailer may not have seen a spec of polish to maintain it since it was manufactured. I am new to the hobby, but have polished a canned ham. Armed with the standard cyclo polisher, rotary polisher, wool pads, Nuvite C, F7, G6, and S grades I do have feel for the process.

Here is shot of the rear, ok I cleaned it up a little bit since this photo (rear shot):


Here is shot to give you an idea of the grain, or depth of oxidation:




One pass with the rotary polisher, and Nuvite C, showing a few scratches and pitting:


I have a bunch more photo samples, but this should be a start to know what I am dealing with. After any comments, I will post a link to more photos of the trailer, and ask the serious questions in my next post.

How would you approach this project for polishing?

[Frank's Trailer Works]

First... my trailer looked exactly that bad after the first pass...

And sometimes it looked like this after five passes...

But persistence is the key. You will probably need to do some wet sanding through the grits to get those deep pits and scratches out. You will need 320, 400, 600, 1000 grit aluminum oxide wet/ dry paper. Your local auto body supply shop will have it. I have also been told that a product called Alumibrite is available through NAPA. I have not tried it yet, but it is an acid that will take the heavy surface off faster. I personally like to wet sand, so I have used that method where needed.

Second... remove all of those rusty screws. Throw them away and do not re use them. They need to be replaced with stainless steel. The screws are causing you more problems than you know. There will probably only be a few sizes used through out the rig, so buy them by the box. Stainless will not react with the aluminum.

Third... I am jealous and envious. I think this is one I saw on ebay a while back and wanted it very badly. It being on the Pacific coast and me being on the Atlantic coast put an end to the dreaming. I need to finish my current project before I start another any how.

Good luck and keep us all posted. Start a blog about your restoration. It is a lot of fun to share it with people all over the world.

[Frank's Trailer Works]

one more thing... your trailer is 51 years old, it has earned the Wright to show some age....

[Aerowood]

I would be very careful using an acid etch. If you don't get it cleaned out of any seams it can accelerate corrosion.

[Over59]

A worthwhile cause indeed. I suspect trail and error is the best approach unless you can afford to take it to someone with a drum polisher and experience with airstreams.

What's the condition of the inside, floor, and frame. For me these came first. I can use a dull trailer post full monty. I can not use a shiny one with a rotten floor, full of mice nice, and mildew. If it's a frame off save the polishing for last.

[Frank's Trailer Works]

Originally Posted by Aerowood

I would be very careful using an acid etch. If you don't get it cleaned out of any seams it can accelerate corrosion.

I haven't tried this method. It was advised by a very reputable restorer in the northeast. He uses it now as the first step on every trailer. Not an etch, but a wash. He stated that it is important to wash off all the product though-ally. I do agree in using extreme caution using an acid on aluminum.

Originally Posted by Over59

A worthwhile cause indeed. I suspect trail and error is the best approach unless you can afford to take it to someone with a drum polisher and experience with airstreams.

What's the condition of the inside, floor, and frame. For me these came first. I can use a dull trailer post full monty. I can not use a shiny one with a rotten floor, full of mice nice, and mildew. If it's a frame off save the polishing for last.

I could not agree more with all the above. Do the frame, then the floor, then the systems and save the polishing for last. You might end up replacing some panels anyhow, so start at the bottom and work up. Except if you are polishing, start at the top and work your way down.

[cuyeda]

Where do I start... Thanks for the comments... It is interesting from other polishing threads I read, don't acid wash it, never use sand paper etc... Then there are people who do acid/oxide wash, and do use sand paper. ;-)

Aerowood: Yes, one of the serious questions I had. Should I acid wash it, and started getting quotes from a a few local truck stops. Next, will go to a couple truck wash places to get a better idea of what to expect. Of course a thorough rinse is in order. Because my trailer is already gutted I can reseal the seams from the inside, and planning on it, but only the side walls. The ceiling will be determined. I really don't want to go there if I can help it.

Over59: Yes, I have done some trial and error already on a few areas (See photo album). Sanding with wet/dry, but with a much higher grit 1200. I could always go coarser. I haven't tried the drum polisher with reuge bars yet. Someone who does tankers swears by it. I do have a referral that is trusted polisher amongst vintage trailer owners, and a reasonable quote that most would not even think twice about paying the money. I am not cheap, I just like to learn for myself, stand back and say "Yes I polished it." If I didn't already have the equipment, then I would have someone else do it.

62overlander:
As for the steps on the restoration, I know what I should do first, but when I first got it, I was excited to see how it would shine up. I stopped polishing to get into this new thread to help with my learning curve. Now I am cutting in floors to be able to at least sit inside. ha ha.
There may be a very small panel to replace which is accessible, and should be easy to do. There will be a couple dings that will be the trailer's character marks (small baseball size dent on top), and don't have a good access to work it outwards from the inside.

This is not the one on Ebay, and have seen a couple listed. I pulled the pictures down for reference and history. Some of the dents on Ebay looked a bit scary. I believe my trailer is in a little better condition.

Not all the panels are shining up the same, but it may be due to my trial and error. The 2nd picture has couple passes on it:


See the rest of my album here.

[monocoque]

Originally Posted by cuyeda

After reading the previous thread titled "Heavy Oxidation", my trailer may need a bit more help than just the Nuvite polish process. If you made your way from the first "Heavy Oxidation" thread, thanks, I need your suggestions.

I have a 1947 Curtis Wright, and after looking at some of the other Airstream being polished, my trailer is much more oxidized. This trailer may not have seen a spec of polish to maintain it since it was manufactured. I am new to the hobby, but have polished a canned ham. Armed with the standard cyclo polisher, rotary polisher, wool pads, Nuvite C, F7, G6, and S grades I do have feel for the process.

Here is shot to give you an idea of the grain, or depth of oxidation:
One pass with the rotary polisher, and Nuvite C, showing a few scratches and pitting..

I have a bunch more photo samples, but this should be a start to know what I am dealing with. After any comments, I will post a link to more photos of the trailer, and ask the serious questions in my next post.

How would you approach this project for polishing?

Looks like the Nuvite polish is doing a great job! Keep polishing! Probably no need to use sandpaper. In the http://www.airforums.com/forums/f441...ion-42083.html thread we were finding that the wetordry sandpaper suggested by 62overlander and others was only necessary for extreme oxidation and/or filiform corrosion. You're lucky I don't see any filiform corrosion here. Also the sandpaper cuts more quickly than multiple passes with the Nuvite polish. You can find examples there of using different grades of sandpaper. Around post 141 you can find photos where we used 320 grade sandpaper to address the worst case of filiform corrosion I've seen so far. Keep up the good work and keep posting photos!

[TomW]

Originally Posted by 62overlander

And sometimes it looked like this after five passes...

I declare I see the face of Jesus after five passes.

You might want to consider eBaying that section of skin...

Tom

[Frank's Trailer Works]

not to highjack but once on the subway in Mexico City there were women on there knees genuflecting and crossing themselves. The words "Donde este Jesus Cristos" drew my attention to the severity of the situation. I was totally freaked out and never wore my hair down after that anywhere in Mexico

[byamcaravanner]

Originally Posted by TomW

I declare I see the face of Jesus after five passes.

Originally Posted by 62overlander

once in Mexico City there were women on there knees crossing themselves... "Donde este Jesus Cristos" ...I was totally freaked out and never wore my hair down after that anywhere in Mexico

The irony is killing me...

Tom, I see it too.