polishing Avion with less than a year's oxidation

[ASavion]

My avion was purchased only a year ago and at that time it had been polished. It was kept in a barn all winter but is already looking dull - is this normal? That it should oxidize so fast? And do I need to resort to using a polishing machine as if it were a vintage job? Or can I just clean it back to it's previous shine? Or is it simply a case of using the polish and machines but it will take less time as it has happened so recently?

Also would anyone know if I can rent the equipment and what the best way of going about this would be?

[Melody Ranch]

What year is your Avion? Early ones can be polished like an Airstream. Later ones, with anodized skins are a different story and require much different process....most likely impossible. If its an early one, follow Airstream techniques. Experience has taught me a Cyclo with a light (Nuvite white) polish is good for this upkeep type cleanup.

[ASavion]

Thanks so much for your help Melody Ranch - It's 1962 - so probably like an Airstream then? I have no idea if it has clearcoat on it and i went to try to see if I could make a difference with some aluminum polish and a rag today (just to see whether a cyclo was needed) and it was still misty looking. It looks pretty shiny overall still - it's just lost the real mirror shine it had. I don't want to invest in a Cyclo until I am absolutely sure I know what I am doing. Should I be clearcoating it afterwards? Or does the Nuvite white polish help with that? Thanks so much for your help. We are going to maybe attempt to polish it this weekend and early next week! eek!

[Taylormade]

I've had mine polished for a year now (AS) and, after a year of sitting, it's definitely dull. I hit it this past week with grades C and S, both with the cyclo, and it's a mirror again. This is on a 78 with no clear coat or walbernize or carnauba for that matter... just polish

Here's a few pics to show the difference:

After a year of sitting. Looks good and got compliments still, but...



This picture, after touching her up with C and S, is on another level of shine.

[perryg114]

The better the polish the longer it will last. Also coating with wax will help keep it from getting dull. Humidity and salt will make it get dull faster.

Perry

[Becky B.]

I've always kept up the shine like Taylormade did.....go over it once with Nuvite C with a Harbor Freight polisher an then with Nuvite S and the cyclo. It's "like the song that never ends, it just goes on & on my friends"!!!! I've downsized from 31' of polishing to 17' of polishing! And for long, close trips I got an Avion that is anodized! ('84)