My Anodized aluminum Silver Streak polishing project

[VeggieBullet]

Hi Hueytownalss
Just wondering if you ever finished the SS?
We are looking into an Avion TT that has a Electro-Coated (anodized by Electricity rather than an electric charged chemical bath) Generally you see this called E-coated (for Electro-Coated Anodizing).
so we are trying to find owners that had done what you did and how well is it holding up.
BTW the pics that you posted looked great!
Regards

[wdkennedy]

Our 1973 SS Continental Atlas is pretty much finished on the inside. My wife is hung up on the exterior. Thank you all for the perspectives. What about cleaning and finishing in a satin? Removing the gold panels and having them re-anodized? Our first step is to build a battery box elevated above the tongue, sandblasting the tongue and bumper and painting them………hammered silver.

[Eric J Wolf]

Did you have to protect the Gold trim when removing the anodizing?
Are you using the flat surface of the buffing pad with liquid compound or the edge of a buffing wheel with a stick compound?

[Hueytownalss]

The gold had mostly faded. Am using paint to replace that. Do not get oven cleaner on the gold.

I used the edge of the wheel with stick compound.

I have not worked on it in some time, due to illnesses in family. It takes some time, but look great when done.

[Hueytownalss]

It has been quite a while since I been able to work on our Silver Streak polish project. It has been a long few years with family health issues, and deaths in the family, and tremendous load at work. One note however, the initial polish I started is as mirror finish as when I first did it, even sitting out exposed to the elements.

I really would like to finish it, but may not have time. I have someone interested in buying it, and finishing it. Not sure if I will do that or not.

[jpeacetree]

Hi, I’m considering de-anodizing my SS like you did yours. I have a ‘73 Continental Atlas. Just came across this thread, so might not get to you, but Would love to know if the oven cleaner left any kind of texture/pattern on your bare aluminum. I tried a bit on mine and it left an orange-peel look. I’m sure I left the cleaner on too long (overnight), but thought it would be inactive once dry. Also, how long do you estimate it would take to finish the whole trailer. Thanks!

[DavidsonOverlander]

Originally Posted by jpeacetree

Hi, I’m considering de-anodizing my SS like you did yours. I have a ‘73 Continental Atlas. Just came across this thread, so might not get to you, but Would love to know if the oven cleaner left any kind of texture/pattern on your bare aluminum. I tried a bit on mine and it left an orange-peel look. I’m sure I left the cleaner on too long (overnight), but thought it would be inactive once dry. Also, how long do you estimate it would take to finish the whole trailer. Thanks!

I've been polishing my 1965 Avion Truck Camper, which was also anodized. It's a lot work! I didn't have anything that looked like orange peel, but I ended up with a lot of drip marks and runs from the oven cleaner that are hard to get out. On some of them I used 1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper and that helped. It will polish up, it just takes a lot of time! I had to replace some panels and the anodizing on others no longer looked uniform, which is why I decided to polish. I'm finding that the new aluminum panels are polishing better than the old, even though they have a mill finish. I'm wondering if the anodized aluminum also had a mill finish. Some parts of it seem to have a texture while others polish up more easily.

I haven't kept track of the amount of time, but it's been a lot more than I thought. Certainly enough to make me question whether it was a good idea to start! Part of the problem is that I can't put it inside, so I'm limited to working when the sun isn't on it. And then there was winter too. This spring we seemed to go from too cold to too hot too fast!

[jpeacetree]

Thanks for the feedback