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Old 07-04-2020, 09:58 PM   #1
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What is this? The cause? The solution?

Been doing some cleaning of my unit today. The interior of a couple of my windows needs some cleaning or maintenance attention, but I don’t know the problem or the solution. Unsure if this is some kind of flaking or build up. Has anyone seen this before?

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Old 07-04-2020, 11:12 PM   #2
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Looks like filiform corrosion. If it is, no good cure. Can sand it off but that creates other aesthetic issues.

Can use corrosionX (wipe it on) to keep it from getting worse ....
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Old 07-04-2020, 11:56 PM   #3
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What is this? The cause? The solution?

Quote:
Originally Posted by wulfraat View Post
Looks like filiform corrosion. If it is, no good cure. Can sand it off but that creates other aesthetic issues.

Can use corrosionX (wipe it on) to keep it from getting worse ....


Seems like a simple part replacement. I wonder if Airstream will sell me a couple of those inners.
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Old 07-05-2020, 02:43 AM   #4
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What year and model is your trailer? Is that a bathroom window?
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Old 07-05-2020, 07:01 AM   #5
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What is this? The cause? The solution?

Quote:
Originally Posted by OTRA15 View Post
What year and model is your trailer? Is that a bathroom window?


On a heavily used, heavily maintained 2015 Flying Cloud. Kitchen windows...it is also mildly happening on every interior (is it vista view?...I think vista view is the top ones though and the lower ones are called something else, Botticelli and Laura would know) window. Noticed on all windows about the same time. I keep my Oceanair roller shades closed often.

Side note, these are light aluminum covers. I hit a deer yesterday that demolished the entire front end of my car and my family shop has priced it out to be $63 for the giant replacement front bumper cover that’s basically the entire front of the car. We live in an era of 3D printing and the internet...there has to be somewhere that one can non exploitively buy these parts. But, I am going to find the part number and discuss it with my RV mechanic tomorrow. I cannot believe what Airstream tried to charge me for THE EXACT product for my fridge sold on Amazon for $49 recently, $149 from Airstream...come on, help your customers out when its failure related and people will stop complaining so much about “quality”.
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Old 07-05-2020, 07:09 AM   #6
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I have another cosmetic complaint on the exterior, but one at a time I guess, lol...I have soap scum on two small areas that drive me crazy.
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Old 07-05-2020, 08:50 AM   #7
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Take 'em off, remove the coating, sand smooth, (wet sandpaper, progressive to 1500grit,(higher if you want a brighter finish, and keep shiny by polishing when necessary.
If JC agrees to replace, it will be with the same part that will most likely develop the same concern.
They are aftermarket parts, with an inferior finish.

Much like battery compartment doors on our Classic.🥴

Bob
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Old 07-05-2020, 09:21 AM   #8
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What is this?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Spartanguy View Post
Been doing some cleaning of my unit today. The interior of a couple of my windows needs some cleaning or maintenance attention, but I don’t know the problem or the solution. Unsure if this is some kind of flaking or build up. Has anyone seen this before?

Attachment 372009Attachment 372010
Agree - probably filiform corrosion. The best practice for removing any corrosion is to use the most gentile approach possible and work up. Using a felt pad could be satisfactory. Work slowly. Impossible goal is factory-fresh finish.
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Old 07-05-2020, 10:21 AM   #9
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It is not filiform. Tmmmhat is cauesed by dissimilar metals. It is simply corrosiooon from moisture on unprotected aluminum extrusion
You can polish it out with polishing compound or as suggested really fine wet sandpaper
Wipe on some urethane clear finish to protect the finish
JCW
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Old 07-05-2020, 10:22 AM   #10
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It is not filiform. That is cauesed by dissimilar metals. It is simply corrosion from moisture on unuprotected aluminum extrusion
You can polish it out with polishing compound or as suggested really fine wet sandpaper
Wipe on some urethane clear finish to protect the finish
JCW
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Old 07-05-2020, 10:45 AM   #11
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On the window frames they are mill finished and not clear coated. Clean them up with aluminum wool. Not steel wool, That will turn the surface black in short order. Then clear coat them with an acrylic clear (not lacquer based clear) and they will outlast you.
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Old 07-05-2020, 02:42 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JCWDCW View Post
It is not filiform. That is cauesed by dissimilar metals. It is simply corrosion from moisture on unuprotected aluminum extrusion

You can polish it out with polishing compound or as suggested really fine wet sandpaper

Wipe on some urethane clear finish to protect the finish

JCW


After studying filiform corrosion today, I think you’re correct.
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Old 07-05-2020, 02:44 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by guskmg View Post
On the window frames they are mill finished and not clear coated. Clean them up with aluminum wool. Not steel wool, That will turn the surface black in short order. Then clear coat them with an acrylic clear (not lacquer based clear) and they will outlast you.

guskmg


Thank you all for giving me the solution here!
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Old 07-05-2020, 02:45 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gsmithii View Post
Impossible goal is factory-fresh finish.


I have a hard time with this [emoji23]
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Old 07-05-2020, 02:54 PM   #15
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So then, my second aesthetic complaint. I wonder if it can be solved with a similar solution?

Somewhat difficult to capture in a photo, but the top of my trim on the back has this issue? And my back taillights...I need a lesson in cleaning an Airstream that’s not just “go with the grain”, it’s these accessory/trim parts that I don’t know how to keep looking good Click image for larger version

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Old 07-05-2020, 03:21 PM   #16
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Are you waxing your trailer? Most of these issues can be alleviated by keeping a good coat of wax on the trailer. That said, I don't use wax. I use Flair which is a hi-tech polish designed for jet airliners.

It is expensive ($35 dollars for one application (you'll need a boatload for your private jet) and goes on hard with a lot of rubbing. Fortunately, if you let it dry completely (about an hour) it comes off very easily.

The instructions say it lasts 5 years, and soap will not remove it. This is not like Nu-finish and looks like any wax.
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Old 07-05-2020, 04:21 PM   #17
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What is this? The cause? The solution?

I don’t wax because the entire internet has a different opinion on the matter and Walbernize products are or aren’t before some year of Airstream...which one, confusing....

I just rinse and dry now after a bad experience of staining the exterior shell of my Zip Dee housing with car wash soap. Terrified of any product on it now.

Walbernize is a soap? A wax? 🤯
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Old 07-05-2020, 10:25 PM   #18
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What is this? The cause? The solution?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Spartanguy View Post
Walbernize is a soap? A wax? 🤯


Walbernize is a wax. I prefer meguiars ultimate wax. Comes off with less effort. It’s good to wax twice per year. Wash with regular car soap from Home Depot or AutoZone or what have you (not from a car wash), apply / remove wax. Easy [emoji4]
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Old 07-06-2020, 01:10 AM   #19
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Filiform corrosion is not caused by “dissimilar” metals. That is electrolytic corrosion. Filiform is caused by moisture, contaminants, and improper storage in harsh environments. NEVER use steel wool on aluminum as it embeds steel particles and THEN you have electrolytic corrosion.
Clean or polish it and then clear-coat it or wax it. (CLear coat is my preference.)
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Old 07-06-2020, 04:39 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Boxite View Post
Filiform corrosion is not caused by “dissimilar” metals. That is electrolytic corrosion. Filiform is caused by moisture, contaminants, and improper storage in harsh environments. NEVER use steel wool on aluminum as it embeds steel particles and THEN you have electrolytic corrosion.
Clean or polish it and then clear-coat it or wax it. (CLear coat is my preference.)
YEP...spot on

Bob
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