Painting an Airstream

[tslanier]

I know there have been threads on here relative to painting an Airstream and Andy at Inland RV has commented. I did a search and couldn't find anything. The only part of my rig that needed polishing and recoating was the front center cap. I had that done and it is not the qualtiy of the original clearcoat from Airstream.
I intend to keep my unit long term as I am very happy with it.
My questions are relative to the cost of painting, the appearance painted silver vs the original with the clearcoat and the differences in how it would hold up over time.

[2airishuman]

TOTALLY IGNORING for the sake of this post...

that ARGOSYz are painted streams and still look good 30-40 years AFTER painting...

Originally Posted by tslanier

... I did a search and couldn't find anything...

there are 100s of threads on this topic, many with details ON details and PIX...

in fact THIS topic goes back almost to DAY 1 of the forums...

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f474...tream-180.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f474...eam-13135.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f474...coat-9928.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f474...oat-17943.html

this one is especially good ((lots of details, diy tips, photos and arguments))....

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f474...5-a-10522.html

ONE vendor claims to have all of the secrets, while MANY OF US have had streams painted with great success...

and using INDUSTRY KNOWN materials, standards and techniques.

properly applied pigmented paint (any color) will out live plastiKote 4-5 TIMES over...

we dont' KNOW how long the new alcoa clearcoat will survive, it's only been in use 9-10 years.

besides it is NOT available for application by any of us.

here's a couple of pics on my old moho after she was painted...

===))see posts #1263-1266 below((===

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f232...tml#post550691

dupont's IMRON brand flexible paint line was THE defacto' standard for aircraft and 'streams 4 at least 2 decades...

http://www2.dupont.com/Coating_Solut...nds/imron.html

but their are OTHER worthy products now that survive nicely on AlumINum...

cheers
2air'

[wmarsha]

powder coat it!. actually, after having my car hauler X-ray'd at the Canadian border, such a big oven probably already exists....
ol' bill

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by tslanier

I know there have been threads on here relative to painting an Airstream and Andy at Inland RV has commented. I did a search and couldn't find anything. The only part of my rig that needed polishing and recoating was the front center cap. I had that done and it is not the qualtiy of the original clearcoat from Airstream.
I intend to keep my unit long term as I am very happy with it.
My questions are relative to the cost of painting, the appearance painted silver vs the original with the clearcoat and the differences in how it would hold up over time.

When "properly" painted metallic silver, you will have a paint job that lasts at least 25 or more years, if you wax it once a year.

Andy

[tslanier]

Air,
I put in the search field, "airstream painting" and couldn't find anything.
Andy,
I'm convinced on the durability vs this plasticoat that is frustrating. I need to see one that was done properly up close to feel comfortable. I'm definitely leaning that way as the only thing I don't love about my Airstream is the blasted clearcoat/oxidation/peeling issue.
What does the pricing look like?

[2airishuman]

no problemo' happy to help.

go to ADVANCED SEARCH>>keyword>>>p a i n t i n g ((take out the spaces))

then RIGHT BELOW the keyword box, select >>>"titles only" since there are SO MANY hits on the term otherwise...

http://www.airforums.com/forums/sear...archid=1899805

of these 93 threads many are directly about your question.

try a few other key terms ((always just ONE WORD)) in titles, like c l e a r c o a t, or [I]p l a s t i k o t e

or just P A I N T, and again limit to titles only...

or try I M R O N in the text field search...

http://www.airforums.com/forums/sear...archid=1899815

it's all there BURIED like the dead sea scrolls...
_____
of course after getting an estimate u may wanna skip the whole notion...

((8-10,000$+ would NOT be outta line for p a i n t i n g a 34))....

cheers
2air'

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by tslanier

I put in the search field, "airstream painting" and couldn't find anything.
Andy,
I'm convinced on the durability vs this plasticoat that is frustrating. I need to see one that was done properly up close to feel comfortable. I'm definitely leaning that way as the only thing I don't love about my Airstream is the blasted clearcoat/oxidation/peeling issue.
What does the pricing look like?

I did a post outliner the exact painting instructions, maybe 1 or 2 years ago.

Maybe a mod could help you find it.

If not, I can post it again.

We no longer do any major color painting, due to local regulations, etc.

Andy

[4RXLA]

Andy painted my trailer 20 years ago and it cost upwards of $10,000 back then. Back in those days, you could use quality paint in California. The silver metallic has held up exceptionally well. The pewter looks great also except where the desert sun hit it every day. From 1977 to 1990 when it was painted, my trailer was plasticoated 3-4 times at significant cost each time and only lasted a couple years. In fact, the the top was painted first originally because of black oxidation. If you can find the proper materials and a quality shop, it will be well worth it.

[tslanier]

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

I did a post outliner the exact painting instructions, maybe 1 or 2 years ago.

Maybe a mod could help you find it.

If not, I can post it again.

We no longer do any major color painting, due to local regulations, etc.

Andy

Andy,
Does that mean you don't do the metallic silver for Airstreams anymore?

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by tslanier

Andy,
Does that mean you don't do the metallic silver for Airstreams anymore?

Correct.

There are way to many restrictions, and laws, that make spray painting a trailer or motorhome, impossible, in southern California.

i will repost the prep and paint methods, as well as the special metallic silver paint formula we have, that was approved by Dupont, many years ago.

I will also post a photo of a metallic silver painted Airstream motor home entrance door, that was severely damaged, that till this day, does not show any signs of cracks or chipping.

It's all in the preparation, and the paint materials used.

Andy