Why won't it clean up???

[augier]

Hey folks,
I started with the lower section just cuz it was easier then worked my way up...But when I got to the top the stripper didn't take anyhting off.. I pressure washed the top on that side first but nothing budged. What do you guys think this is?

I attached a photo so you can check it out...

Green is where I buffed with Mothers Aluiminum Polish
Blue is where I pressure washed and stripped the clearcoat
Red is where nothing happened.....

[goransons]

we found on our 69 that the upper rounded surface clearcoat had long since baked off from the sun in those areas. It may not come off with stripper because it came off years ago. Just a thought.

[Kevin245]

Originally Posted by goransons

we found on our 69 that the upper rounded surface clearcoat had long since baked off from the sun in those areas. It may not come off with stripper because it came off years ago. Just a thought.

I believe goransons hit the nail on the head so to speak. I suspect the clearcoat is long gone on the top and radiused areas. These areas take the brunt of the UV exposure.

Have you tried to buff anywhere in this area of question?

Kevin

[cameront120]

Firmly wipe the area in question with a white rag. If it comes away with dark grey or black residue, then there's no clear coat - you're dealing with bare, oxidized aluminum. Also, I would think that a pressure washer on the trailer could play havoc with the seams.

[53flyingcloud]

Originally Posted by cameront120

Firmly wipe the area in question with a white rag. If it comes away with dark grey or black residue, then there's no clear coat - you're dealing with bare, oxidized aluminum. Also, I would think that a pressure washer on the trailer could play havoc with the seams.

I agree..You can clearly see in the photo that, the whole top section is heavily oxidized.
Good luck on your project..
53FC

[gtijewlr]

One product I've used that polishes the uncoated aluminum is called WENOL and while it
does a good job I cant seem to get an even job on the whole trailer so I'd eventually like to spend the money and get it done by a pro-but does anybody know if there's any place in Western Canada (we're close to Calgary) that does this. All the ads I've seen on line are
places nowhere close to where we live.
Garth & Joanne

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by Kevin245

I believe goransons hit the nail on the head so to speak.

Hmmm...I don't think so. If your trailer is a '60 Safari as noted below your avitar, it didn't ever have clearcoat. As I recall, clearcoat wasn't an option until the 1964 model year. Of course, there is a possibility that the lower panel was replaced at a later date with a new clearcoated panel or the entire trailer was coated after '64, but it's not likely.

I suspect that the top is just more oxidized than the rest of the trailer and a more agressive polish will be required to clean it up. You may want to check out some of the polishing threads to find what others have found to be successful...we have used the Perfect Polish method, it's been very effective for a bright polished finish.

Shari

[augier]

Hey there,
Yeah I guess I shouldtry buffing those problem areas....Ok If my meal is not ready I will thry to work on that ......Thanks everyone.

Oh I would think the pressure washer would almost act as a simulated heavy storm wjile driving ...and if that leaks then i have problems right? Anyway luckily I had no leaks....

[Frank's Trailer Works]

Tim Shepard, Aka SafariTim, aka the golden voice of the vintage airstream podcast, has a 1960 Ambassador. At some point it went back to the factory to be clear coated. So it is possible for a 1960 to have clear coat even though it was not an option until 1964.
I want to ask this, and feel free to ask me to buzz off, but why are you polishing when your frame looks like swiss cheese? Is it that curiosity has overwhelmed you and you cannot resist? I see so many people start polishing when the structure is totally compromised. Structure can only be done at the right time, aesthetics can be done at any time. Polishing takes dedication of time and that time would be better spent working on structure. Just my opinion, tell me to shut my mouth, I understand, but just want to be a voice of reason.
I have a lot of polishing to do myself. It is something I wish I had never started. One thing I have concluded is there has got to be a better way. The amount of time the current methods require is just wrong to me. I bet the companies that polish airplanes do not take 150 hours to do a 747. Why does a 26 foot trailer require that. Of all the methods and products I have tried, the Nuvite gives the deepest shine, but the amount of effort just does not seem justified. I plan to find a better way.

[53flyingcloud]

"I have a lot of polishing to do myself. It is something I wish I had never started. One thing I have concluded is there has got to be a better way. The amount of time the current methods require is just wrong to me. I bet the companies that polish airplanes do not take 150 hours to do a 747. Why does a 26 foot trailer require that. Of all the methods and products I have tried, the Nuvite gives the deepest shine, but the amount of effort just does not seem justified. I plan to find a better way."

Actually, there are several reasons.
1. The 747's are polished by a professional "team".
(I suspect that they have a license to work around aircraft frame)
2. The surface area and, the metal is altogether different.
3. Because it is a pro, the equipment is expensive and, highly specialized.
4.It's a teamwork of 4 or more, working in tandem.
Here's a typical website with the details of equip and, the cost of same..
Airmark Surfacing Tools - providing aluminum polishing, buffing wheels, air craft polish, boat polish and much more.
ciao
53FC..

[Gene]

Originally Posted by augier

Oh I would think the pressure washer would almost act as a simulated heavy storm wjile driving ...and if that leaks then i have problems right? Anyway luckily I had no leaks....

I don't think a heavy storm has a pressure of more than 2,000 psi. Maybe you had the pressure washer wand set to low pressure so it's just a little more than a garden hose. At high pressure, seams can start to fail and the next time fail a little more; leaks may not be seen for some time, maybe after the the frame under the floor has rusted away. I know I sound like a little old lady, but why take a chance with 2,000+ psi?

Gene

[silverleeper]

Originally Posted by InsideOut

Hmmm...I don't think so. If your trailer is a '60 Safari as noted below your avitar, it didn't ever have clearcoat. As I recall, clearcoat wasn't an option until the 1964 model year. Of course, there is a possibility that the lower panel was replaced at a later date with a new clearcoated panel or the entire trailer was coated after '64, but it's not likely.

I suspect that the top is just more oxidized than the rest of the trailer and a more agressive polish will be required to clean it up. You may want to check out some of the polishing threads to find what others have found to be successful...we have used the Perfect Polish method, it's been very effective for a bright polished finish.

Shari

Hi Shari, I'm not sure what it is with the 60 trailers but ours had a clear coat. I too was corrected about this awhile back. It's to bad the records were lost, these little trailers seem to have allot of little secrets.

Hi Augier, I agree that its oxidation. There are allot of threads on polishing. Herb (jbond) showed a polishing method that I liked in Bozeman last summer. I don't know of a link to show it to you. Maybe someone can jump in here.