I'm a stripper

[Splitrock]

Originally Posted by c_lewis77

Vintage trailer supply has some funny shaped cones and such for polishing small spaces.

My auto body shop supply has lots of cones and bullet tip polishing heads. I show one of them covered with the cotton pad. That actually works pretty good.

Originally Posted by c_lewis77

Are you using a cyclo with the nuvite s or the rotary? How is it working?

Yes, using the Cyclo. The actual polishing is going good. I'm about 1/3 done. I may call it good enough when I get all the way around.

I hate the location of the switch on the Cyclo. I'm constantly bumbing it to the off position. I can't keep it running. I may relocate the switch, or turn it around.

[c_lewis77]

Originally Posted by Splitrock

My auto body shop supply has lots of cones and bullet tip polishing heads. I show one of them covered with the cotton pad. That actually works pretty good.

Yes, using the Cyclo. The actual polishing is going good. I'm about 1/3 done. I may call it good enough when I get all the way around.

I hate the location of the switch on the Cyclo. I'm constantly bumbing it to the off position. I can't keep it running. I may relocate the switch, or turn it around.

Funny, I had the same observation on the switch!

[VeggieBullet]

Hi Splitrock
we are getting ready to attack the polishing project on our 31ft and we were following your progress on yours and it looks great!
Got a good deal on a cyclo on ebay and is in transit at the moment. No Pad so we are researching on the best ones for applying the nuvite S.
Would you know the difference between the foam/wool/microfiber ones?
Reading on the cyclo website of course they recommend to have one of each for every process, but we are looking on using the compound bars(brown/green/white) and finishing with the cyclo and Nuvitte S.
Any advice about the pads?
Thanks

[Splitrock]

Originally Posted by VeggieBullet

Hi Splitrock
we are getting ready to attack the polishing project on our 31ft and we were following your progress on yours and it looks great!
Got a good deal on a cyclo on ebay and is in transit at the moment. No Pad so we are researching on the best ones for applying the nuvite S.
Would you know the difference between the foam/wool/microfiber ones?
Reading on the cyclo website of course they recommend to have one of each for every process, but we are looking on using the compound bars(brown/green/white) and finishing with the cyclo and Nuvitte S.
Any advice about the pads?
Thanks

I used the Cyclo orange foam pads with cotton cloth over. I never used the foam directly on the skin. I bought a set of foam pads when I bought the polisher because I didn't know what I needed. I used two sets only because I sat the polisher down overnight on the pads and compressed one of the pads.

I learned to lay the Cyclo down with the pads up.

I bought black, brown, and white compound bars. I used a half the black, 1/4 of the brown, and none of the white. I went black on the oxidized parts, brown everywhere, and Nuvite S with the Cyclo everywhere.

I need to update this thread. I've been done for a few weeks now. Now it rained dirt balls on the trailer so it needs a wash job before a brag portrait. The polish job turned out very nice. Better that I had hoped. I had quite a few hours in it, but I started early in the year, so I got done before the hot weather set in.

This is how I did the Cyclo cotton cloth part.

Using the Cyclo Polisher : Polishing Cloths : PerfectPolish.com

[VeggieBullet]

thanks for the fast response.
where did you get the pads from? and the Nuvite S (how much did you use)
Also, not sure if it was you on in another thread but someone said that used the white bars wit the cyclo...

[Splitrock]

I bought this Cyclo:
Amazon.com: Cyclo Orbital Polisher Model 5-Pro: Automotive

This Accessory Kit:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ls_o03_s00_i01

I got the Nuvite here:
Nuvite Polish

I bought one pound and used maybe 1/4 pound.

I didn't use any white compound bar at all.

[VeggieBullet]

Originally Posted by Splitrock

The next cut I'll use Brown Buffing Compound with the buffing pad,
final cut, I'll use White Buffing Compound on the Cyclo.

Thanks for the links!
We see that you mentioned using the compounds on the orbital buffer and with the cyclo as well....any tricks?
We used the compund bars before but withe the buffing wheels so not really sure how to apply the compounds to the cyclo pad...
Any tricks?
We are getting ready to start our 31' and we are collectin as muc inf as possible.
thanks again

[Splitrock]

The text on that picture was the way I intended to go through the steps, but not the way I actually did the polishing. As I progressed, I kept trying different pads, wheels, and polishes.

I used a few wheels not shown on my pictures. I used a white cotton buffing pad on an electric drill and I used a set of small wheel detailing pads for use in tight areas.

I used a yellow Caswell Treated Vented Buffing Wheel with the black compound to cut the badly oxidized parts - 10" Hole Size: 1/2" BC10

http://www.caswellplating.com/buffing-polishing/buffing-wheels/treated-vented-buffing-wheels.html

My trailer didn't have a lot of really bad oxidized areas. I used the pad in the picture to initially cut the rear end cap with the black compound.

I switched wheels on the buffers, depending which phase I was on. For the initial black compound cut, I often had the 10" vented wheel on one buffer and a 8" white non-sewn airway wheel on the other one.

This is the way I did the polishing:

First cut, Black Caswell compound: 10" vented wheel, and 8" white non-sewn airway wheel.

Second cut, Brown Caswell compound: 8" white non-sewn airway wheel.

Third cut, Nuvite S: Cyclo with soft cotton cloth.

I bought a white compound bar but I didn't use it. I used a "spur" buffing pad cleaner. I cleaned up after compound with mineral spirits. There wasn't much cleanup after Nuvite S.

I live in the country and I burned used rags at the end of every day. If I couldn't burn, I'd submerge used rags in water with a lid on the pail. Those rags REALLY burn, so they're dangerous.

[Splitrock]

One member recommended Busch Super Shine Aluminum Polish. I found it at the auto parts store where I was buying my polishing wheels. I tried it with the Cyclo on the front endcap and it worked pretty good. I had ordered Nuvite S, and when that came in, I tried it and the Nuvite worked better than the Busch. I finished the job with Nuvite, but I didn't redo the part I did with the Busch polish and it'd be hard to see where I changed polishes.

If a polisher wants a little less than mirror finish, I'd recommend the Busch polish.

[Splitrock]

There are several good Airstream Polishing videos on YouTube.

Instructions On Polishing An Airstream - YouTube

Airstream Polishing Demo RMVAC 2010 Rally - YouTube

There's more. Just search "Airstream Polishing" on YouTube.

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

[Splitrock]

July 2012





Still need some detailing and need to roll out the dent in the lower corner.

I'm happy with the way it turned out. Thanks to all who advised me and supplied me.

[Taylormade]

Looking good! I especially like the way the tinted windows really contrast with the shine of the trailer. That's the one thing I have left still... battling those double panes.

[Splitrock]

Thanks! My windows are single pane except for the vista windows. My trailer arrived with all the windows intact and all the original screens in good condition. I simply installed new gaskets and added solar film.

[colberjs]

How much of the Citristrip did it take to do your whole trailer? I am thinking about ordering some for my 30'er.

[Splitrock]

Originally Posted by colberjs

How much of the Citristrip did it take to do your whole trailer? I am thinking about ordering some for my 30'er.

My experience (and my usage) was diffused in that I started out with two gallons of RemovALL 220. I renamed it RemoveSOME after losing one half day and after one overnight soak. I cleaned up the missed spots (LOTS) of the RemovALL and finished with CitriStrip.

The picture on the ladder in post #1 is the size I bought. I think it's a half gallon. I used two of those and bought one additional quart that I didn't use yet. I got extra mileage out of the CitriStrip by cutting the top off the nearly empty jug and brushing all the material that wouldn't pour out.

I used hot water to power wash. The trailer cleaned up with one application of CitriStrip with no missed spots. I'll give somebody a good deal on one unopened gallon of RemovALL. :-)

[Okotoks]

I have recently found that POR-15 marine clean at 50/50 ratio or better if left on the clear coat will bubble/lift it right off and wash away with water.

I didn't not intend to try to strip the clear I was just trying to clean the moss and dirt that had accumulated from sitting for x amount of years.

[Splitrock]

Originally Posted by Okotoks

I have recently found that POR-15 marine clean at 50/50 ratio or better if left on the clear coat will bubble/lift it right off and wash away with water.

I didn't not intend to try to strip the clear I was just trying to clean the moss and dirt that had accumulated from sitting for x amount of years.

Good to know. How'd it do on the moss and dirt?

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