Visit our Popular Forums

katzklaw · 02-22-2007, 07:16 AM

i've seen a million and one articles about how to polish an airstream correctly... but i was wondering, if i don't want to shell out the bucks for a cyclo polisher, and i wasn't planning on going all the way to mirror polish anyway, will a standard single head random orbit car buffer do me any good?

any feedback on this would be great...

FreshAir · 02-22-2007, 02:40 PM

Well, I don't know if this will help you but at a rally last fall there was a fellow with his '75 Tradewind that was as shiny as anything I've seen. I asked his method and machine. Believe it or not he had his buffer with him, a $30 7 inch Chicago from Harbor Frieght. He swears that was all he used except some elbow grease for in the corners that the buffer couldn't reach. He did spend the bucks on Nuvite and terry buffer pads. There were no swirls in the finish as I would expect with a non-orbital buffer. Now I went to Harbor Frieght and bought the same machine for $18. And it's variable speed too. The sign said it was $40 and I told the cashier so because I was told it was $30. She scanned it and it read $18. "Do you want it or not!" she demanded. Well to make a short story longer took it home and though I had no Nuvite I tried some automtive polishing compound. To begin with my Tradewind is mostly shiny. I tried the stronger compound on part of the roof that wasn't shiny. The buffer did a decent job. I followed with the milder compound and though I did not spend quality time with it I was greatly encouraged to the result. I will get the Nuvite and try again. As per the gentleman with the '75 follow the buffing with a final hand buff with terry towels. $18 well spent.
Neil.

Lumatic · 02-22-2007, 02:56 PM

I have a trucker friend of mine who uses this stuff on the aluminum on his trucks called "Louisiana Gator Piss" It used to be homemade by truckers but now is actually on the market under the name "Coopers". From what I have been told it is charcoal powder, liquid teflon in a lighter fluid base. Works good but no smoking.

Also the shiniest coach I ever saw was polished with this stuff made by Zep called Four Star. I never tried Nuvite though.

I also never used a Cyclo, Just an adjustable 3/8 drill and one of the Auto Zone cheapie polishers.

Ignorance is bliss, maybe.

Fyrzowt · 02-22-2007, 11:31 PM

I used a Chicago 7" buffer with medium (C?) Nuvite and it turned out pretty nice, but did have swirls. I used the cyclo for the final polish with no swirl. I think you'll have some swirl if you use the buffer unless you have some technique that I don't.
Dave

GreatPumpkin · 02-23-2007, 12:23 AM

Try this thread: Strip 'n Polish Project Thread ( lots of great tips and links)

Short answer, yes, you can use a single head random orbit polisher.

ALANSD · 02-23-2007, 08:10 AM

Funny, I was using my Harbor Freight 30 dollar polisher just last night on my tanks.Using the tool box polish from Lowe's. Worked well so far.

zinbar · 02-23-2007, 03:19 PM

Use your buffer with green compound. green works best then go over it with nuvite S and a cyclo. Takes alot of practice and awhole lot of work. Well worth all of it though.

Alumaholic · 02-25-2007, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALANSD

Funny, I was using my Harbor Freight 30 dollar polisher just last night on my tanks.Using the tool box polish from Lowe's. Worked well so far.

That is wonderful stuff Alan. I have discovered that it can be used in conjunction with Nuvite F7 with good results, but just a tad messy until you learn how much to use.
Thanks!

Boondocker · 02-25-2007, 07:13 PM

Is polishing a water intensive process?

LI Pets · 02-25-2007, 07:38 PM

not at all!

Boondocker · 02-25-2007, 07:49 PM

I was asking about the water as I will have to haul water to the buffing site if I choose to polish this spring.

LI Pets · 02-25-2007, 07:57 PM

No water will be needed perhaps a gallon to wipe things down or dampen a sponge to wipe the surface, but you have no need for a hose.

Boondocker · 03-01-2007, 02:00 PM

Ok, if the clear coat was mostly intact prior to removal, what grade of compound would be best to use next?

Boondocker · 03-04-2007, 04:42 PM

I was out a Lowes today, they didnt have any toolbox polish so I stoped by a auto suppy store and saw a product called Mothers and picked up a small can. Alan, am I correct in understanding that you found Mothers not to be good for polishing?

Also, I am getting ready to order one of the grinders from Harbor Freight to use. Having said that I just picked up a cordless drill (skil) from Lowes and was wondering if it would be of any use in the compounding (say there was a second person to chip in). Yes, no, maybe?

LI Pets · 03-04-2007, 05:22 PM

Mothers can't be used to do a whole trailer, it is only for small jobs.

The drill isn't going to work either, you need the buffing wheel.

You can compound with 3 different grades of compound where the skin is oxadizied.

Black for severe areas the most abrasive, short of 2,000 grit sandpaper.

Red I suggest this for most areas of oxadation.

White for very minor areas.

Then use some type of Nuvite or I used Metalwax.com polish.

ALANSD · 03-04-2007, 06:05 PM

I found Mothers to be pretty good for smaller areas, but does not cut through the really badly clouded looking spots.
For that I have used the Tool Box polish, and it worked well. but still best for my use was the Purple Polish with the addition of the deoxidizer liquid, for especially bad spots.
It cut right thru and took little effort, done by hand. Understand I am not looking to mirror shine my trailer, but I want a nice relatively shiny clean look.
I got that with no power tools, and then I used Liquid Glass to "seal" the finish.

Boondocker · 03-13-2007, 01:03 PM

Will a ladder work well for this job or do I need scafolding to get it done? I am planning on buying a ladder to take with me so now might be the time for that purchase...

InsideOut · 03-13-2007, 02:46 PM

We got these metal saw horses at Home Depot and attached a couple of 2x12's. Much cheaper than those articulating ladders.

Also got a cool aluminum bench-like step stool it's about 3-4 feet long & 18" high...works great for lower (but beyond reach) areas. It also doubles as a bench, table step stool when camping...best thing we ever got! I think we got it at either Lowe's or Home Depot for under $50. Not sure if I have pics on my website of these or not...I can post some later tonight after I get home from work.

Ah...I found a pic of the bench:

And the sawhorses/2x12's (sort of):

Then when working on the top...we really got creative!

Polishing Maxwell

Shari