black spots?.....

[crazeevw]

Started polishing my Classic Motorhome recently. Have LOTS of small black spot (circles) on the front end cap. Short of sanding, is there anything someone can recommend? Will get some pix tomorrow and post here. I've been using Nuvite G6 polish, and the black bar from Caswell Plating, along with their polishing buffing wheel.
Hoping that there's someone who can help me with this, don't want to do a half-baked job.
Thanks, Derek

[overlander63]

Do the spots look like paint or tar splattered on the front? Do they look like something imbedded in the metal?

[AIR-Quarius]

Keep polishing.

[crazeevw]

Guess the suggestion of 'keep polishing' is the right direction. When I went out this evening to take pix, it seems that keeping that buffer wheel going, is what I need to keep doing. Posted are some of the pix so far. Guess with all that a front cap encounters while driving, I should be happy with what I've accomplished so far.
Thanks, Derek

[ddstech]

Its important to get all the polish off between steps or grades of polish. But yes, the key is to keep polishing. Be consistent, and take your time.

[AIR-Quarius]

Crazee, that looks almost like tree sap. I use a cream rubbing compound called 3M super duty rubbing compound (nicknamed 'Gravel in a bottle').
This 18 ounce bottle will cut through all that stuff and will take the metal gently down to a dull finish that will polish back up with mother mag polish and some kerosene to wipe up the black. I get the bottles at R & E Paint supply. I was just wondering though how well your Airstream will shine being an 89 model. Ours shines up well and stays that way. Just don't park under or store it under trees that sweat.

[JFScheck]

So - what turned out to be the actual cause of the black spots?

[crazeevw]

No idea about the black spots. I've been the owner for less than a year. No idea of history except for PO, who only owned my Airstream for less than 2 years. Know that rig was parked under a tree by PO. I'm slowly getting these black spots to go away, using the most suggested by others. KEEP POLISHING.....
Thanks, Derek

[Becky B.]

It does kind of look like tree sap. The best way to get that of (if indeed it IS sap) is to use some really hot water on a rag. It'll melt it right off. Don't bother with chemicals. You could give it a whirl & see if that's what it is. If it does nothing---keep polishing!

[AIR-Quarius]

I am almost certain it is residue from tree sap. However I now realize you are in a motor home unit. Some skins of airstreams are different some brushed looking with a grain, and the others are alclad. But everybody is right to keep polishing and do not get a case of tennis elbow. For those of you that DO have tennis elbow...there is a pressure point about three inches down from your elbow , and in the top center of your forearm. Take your left hand tip of your thumb and force it straight down into the muscles there and press til you feel pain. This tells the nerves in the surrounding area to heal. And this does work.

[crazeevw]

Wondering, since this motorhome was sitting next to Tampa Bay for almost 2 years, possible that all of the salty air couldn't have caused some of my 'black' spots?
Thanks, Derek

[ddstech]

Blue tarps that contact the aluminum and shift with the wind leave black spots too. Particularly on the curves.

[crazeevw]

To my knowledge, PO that I purchased this from didn't use any tarps on the moho. Anyone know where there is a website that you can plug in a VIN and find list of previous owners?
Thanks, Derek

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by crazeevw

Wondering, since this motorhome was sitting next to Tampa Bay for almost 2 years, possible that all of the salty air couldn't have caused some of my 'black' spots?

Yes...sort of. They could very well be salt-water corrosion spots (that tend to be rough to the touch) which have caught & held the polishing compound - thus showing up as "black spots". You can use paint thinner to clean these areas and see if that helps, but ultimately if you keep polishing them, the rough little craters will get smoothed out getting rid of them permanently.

We had a similar looking black spots from road-rash craters on the front of our trailers - once the aluminum gets smoothed out - they go away. Being that yours are on the front end cap, sounds like road rash could also be a contributor...small divots from pebbles and such, which have collected salt from the ocean air and grew. My guess is they didn't show up until you started polishing...and it's compound trapped in them.

Shari

[AIR-Quarius]

With all this going on...why not go ahead and get a microscope or even a jewelers eye piece - and take a really close look. But I know if you keep a polishing, it will go away.

[ddstech]

I would go with whatever Shari says. Her word is as good as the bible.