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Darkspeed · 08-28-2011, 07:56 PM

Here is my breakdown for the 31'

2 days per side , 1 day per endcap with black bar

1 day per side , 1/2 day per endcap with white bar

Tools:
Dewalt 3000 rpm polisher
5/8 to 1/2 shaft adapter
3 3lb black Emory bars
2 3lb white fine bars
2 10" treated airway wheels
Ear protection
Face mask
iPod

Darkspeed · 08-28-2011, 07:58 PM

Polishing

Darkspeed · 08-28-2011, 08:00 PM

Tools - caswell -http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/index.html

Darkspeed · 08-28-2011, 08:10 PM

Process:
Soften the edge of the airway wheel by spinning it on a wheel rake, then load it by spinning it on the black bar.

Polish moving left to right very slowly in 6" rows, I do bottom to top

When one square foot is done you can run back over it quickly bottom to top and it will pick up any residual black compound.

When you have done a square foot take a moment to reload your wheel with compound from the black bar.

When you have done three square feet clean out your wheel on the wheel rake

Listen to tunes or book on iPod . Zen out... Slow line..... Slow line.....

Then when done with black wipe down the skins with kerosene to dissolve any residual black crud.

Install new wheel on polisher and start over with white bar.

soldiermedic · 08-28-2011, 08:13 PM

Very nice. It is amazing that in such a short time you removed the shell, fabricated a completely new frame, and now have polished the shell. When are you opening for business as I am sure people want to know!

Steve

Darkspeed · 08-28-2011, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soldiermedic

Very nice. It is amazing that in such a short time you removed the shell, fabricated a completely new frame, and now have polished the shell. When are you opening for business as I am sure people want to know!

Steve

Thanks Steve! I feel like I'm dragging butt.. No plans to open for business .. It may be fun to help some others out when I get done though.

Darkspeed · 08-28-2011, 08:33 PM

Forgot to mention I am not polishing the top. I'm painting it with supertherm so it will be white.

desertair27 · 08-28-2011, 08:55 PM

Looks like you're having some great success with your trailer.I have to ask why you picked the treated airway wheels and the polishing bars.I'm using the nuvite products and although they are working well I'm confused about when and where to use which of there products.You only have two bars to worry about and you're polish job looks awesome.Do you plan to use a cyclo polisher?
Keep up the good work.

Darkspeed · 08-28-2011, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertair27

Looks like you're having some great success with your trailer.I have to ask why you picked the treated airway wheels and the polishing bars.I'm using the nuvite products and although they are working well I'm confused about when and where to use which of there products.You only have two bars to worry about and you're polish job looks awesome.Do you plan to use a cyclo polisher?
Keep up the good work.

The treated airway wheels last longer because they are treated , and the airway design keeps the aluminum much cooler so you don't warp it. I was planning on cyclo later but I'm pretty happy with the results from the white bar.

The black bars are nice because they will erase scratches , pits , filliform. My trailer was neglected in a swamp for most of it's life and had some scary pits and scratches.
Thanks...

desertair27 · 08-28-2011, 09:33 PM

That's what I needed to hear,I'll be ordering the vented pads and bars to check them out.
thanks for the info.

Darkspeed · 08-28-2011, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertair27

That's what I needed to hear,I'll be ordering the vented pads and bars to check them out.
thanks for the info.

No problem. Don't forget to order a wheel rake. I just got the one that screws to a table.

Darkspeed · 08-28-2011, 11:34 PM

Start with a side, they are much easier to polish than an endcap. Do endcaps when you get good.

Figure 15 seconds for a 6" pass.
If I came to a deep scratch I would stop and add black bar to the wheel and blend in the scratch.
I'm sure I was removing a lot of material but it looks a lot better.
I broke the 3lb bars in half so they were easier to handle.
The black bars will erase fillform but to speed things up in areas where I had huge patches I used a foam sanding block to sand it out first.

ND10CentCan · 08-29-2011, 06:07 AM

We were hoping to avoid the whole polishng routine but after removing the multitude of decals and seeing the mess they made on the exterior, we might be using your methods to shine things up. Thanks for posting with both the directions and the pictures. Your trailer looks great.
Sandy

Darkspeed · 08-29-2011, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ND10CentCan

We were hoping to avoid the whole polishng routine but after removing the multitude of decals and seeing the mess they made on the exterior, we might be using your methods to shine things up. Thanks for posting with both the directions and the pictures. Your trailer looks great.
Sandy

Just to clarify, all of the polishing I did was after removing the factory clearcoat with Jasco stripper from Lowes. You can not polish with the clearcoat still on the aluminum.

Thanks Sandy!