door scuffs

[potoole]

I removed some stickers from the door of my 2015 Bambi Sport. I used some Goo Gone and a green scrubby pad and that was not a good idea. Now I have some pretty good scuff marks right above the door handle.

Does anyone know of a good product to help clean this up? What steps do I need to take? I don't know what kind of finish is on the camper. I think it is whatever the factory put on it in 2015.

My thoughts are to try some Car Polish by Nu Finish, NF-76.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BPSW7C

I was just going to rub it on and off with a cloth by hand.

Thanks for your suggestion in advance. Sorry, the two door photos are rotated incorrectly.

[mikeinca]

The Alcoa panels on your Airstream have a plastic-coat finish. If this finish becomes very lightly scratched it's possible to restore the shine with a mildly abrasive automotive polish like Meguiars #205 Ultra Finishing Polish. I've had success with this.

However, if the scratches are deeper, go through the plastic-coat or remove it entirely down to the aluminum as appears to be the case from your photos, I don't know of a way to restore a uniform finish to the panel with just a simple polish.

[potoole]

mikeinca

I will try the Meguiars #205 and report back. Thank you!

What would be the steps to restore a uniform finish if it goes entirely down to the aluminum? I am thinking that I could just refinish the door as I don't have this problem all over.

Phillip

Originally Posted by mikeinca

The Alcoa panels on your Airstream have a plastic-coat finish. If this finish becomes very lightly scratched it's possible to restore the shine with a mildly abrasive automotive polish like Meguiars #205 Ultra Finishing Polish. I've had success with this.

However, if the scratches are deeper, go through the plastic-coat or remove it entirely down to the aluminum as appears to be the case from your photos, I don't know of a way to restore a uniform finish to the panel with just a simple polish.

[mikeinca]

Originally Posted by potoole

mikeinca

I will try the Meguiars #205 and report back. Thank you!

What would be the steps to restore a uniform finish if it goes entirely down to the aluminum? I am thinking that I could just refinish the door as I don't have this problem all over.

Phillip

You're welcome, but I don't think the Meguiars will work on your issue since it appears the plastic coating has been too damaged and may be missing altogether in the areas that you scrubbed with the pad. Using a polish will only work on mild surface abrasions and you're way beyond that.

Maybe someone else who has had a problem similar to yours can chime in but my guess is that short of a replacement, you're not going to get that panel to match the rest of the trailer.

[Silvr_Bullet]

There are threads here, you could have an aluminum piece to cover the spot, like your state map etc. or something integrated around the door handle.

[majorairhead]

Maybe a local Ford certified aluminum repair body shop might take on the task of prepping and clear coating the door.

[kscherzi]

There's been several suggestions to use Nyalic clear coat spray to repair the plastic coat. They sell a regular sized spray can of it. It would probably protect the exposed aluminum okay, probably take some skill to make the repair close to transparent.

https://www.nyalic.com/

[mikeinca]

Originally Posted by kscherzi

There's been several suggestions to use Nyalic clear coat spray to repair the plastic coat. They sell a regular sized spray can of it. It would probably protect the exposed aluminum okay, probably take some skill to make the repair close to transparent.

I used a spray clear coat product to repair a small area at the top of the rear end cap where my trailer got into a minor altercation with a rain gutter. It made a small dent which I was able to remove but the plastic coating was damaged and I wanted to seal it so moisture couldn't get underneath.

Your point about making the repair close to transparent is well taken as it was beyond my skill level to do that. Fortunately, the area in question can't be seen from ground level and I accomplished what I intended. That said, if I had tried the same repair in a highly visible area I wouldn't have been very happy with the result.

[kscherzi]

I must have accidentally driven too close to a tree and scratched long scratches along the whole length of the trailer. They did not wash off with soap and water. I did successfully buff them out with Turtle Wax 53866 Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Polish and Wax. It claims to buff out minor scratches and did that on my trailer. Found it at Auto Zone. Not sure about your case, but try the least destructive things first.

[Di3s3l_Power]

you will need to fine sand & light buffer the area to create a smooth surface and then apply few clear coats of whatever Airstream uses or similar (for aluminium)

is not a big deal

[potoole]

The Meguiars #205 did not help (as was expected by most of the people on this thread). Now I am looking at this product: Nyalic in an Aerosol Can as suggested by kscherzi.

https://www.nyalic.com/Nyalic-12-oz-...an-_p_131.html

I don't need the door to be perfect, I just don't want it to be so obviously scratched up. Does any one have any direct experience with the Nyalic Aerosol?

[uncle_bob]

Hi

The only way to get a good looking finish is to get the trailer ceramic coated. They pull off *all* of the existing coating and replace it. Anything else is going to be a bit weird looking. What's on there now is not what's in a spray can. Even with a pro doing the spray, it's going to look odd where it meets up .....

Bob