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09-07-2017, 12:33 PM
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#1
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1 Rivet Member
Multiple
, Pretty Much All of Them
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 12
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Getting a Painted Vintage Airstream Back to Aluminum Silver
Hello,
Just wondering how difficult it is to take a vintage airstream that's been painted a solid colour (e.g. red) and turn it back to the original polished aluminum?
Feels like a monumental undertaking but maybe I'm wrong?
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09-07-2017, 12:37 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1995 25' Excella
xxxxx
, xxxxxx
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 2,349
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You aren't wrong
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09-07-2017, 02:04 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
1973 21' Globetrotter
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,314
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There are lots of variables here. How big is the trailer? How thick is the paint? What type of paint, etc...?
There are plenty of people who start out with a trailer that has clear coat on it, remove the clear coat, and then start polishing it. This doesn't seem all that different.
But...It is still a big chore, and the bad news is that there is probably a reason why it was painted in the first place. It could be that there is a bunch of bodywork that is hidden under the paint, could be the surface of the sheet metal has been wrecked, ie., someone sanded off all the Alclad, etc.. It might be that you have an Argosy, and only think that its a painted Airstream....
good luck!
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09-07-2017, 02:44 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2007 22' International CCD
Corona
, California
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,180
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A quick and dirty verification of Argosy/Airstream status would be to see if a magnet sticks to the smoothly-curved end caps.
If it does, it's made of galvanized steel, and is for sure an Argosy...
__________________
Rich, KE4GNK/AE, Overkill Engineering Dept.
'The Silver HamShack' ('07 International 22FB CCD 75th Anniversary)
Multiple Yaesu Ham Radios inside and many antennae sprouting from roof, ProPride hitch, Prodigy P2 controller.
2012 shortbed CrewMax 4x4 Toyota Tacoma TV with more antennae on it.
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09-07-2017, 03:02 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1966 22' Safari
1955 22' Flying Cloud
Fredericksburg
, Texas
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 2,936
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As Belegedhel said, too many variables and unknowns. But, if it is a vintage Airstream and not an Argosy, there may be hope. We're working on a 55 FC that the original owner had painted the top white with the hope of keeping the inside cooler. We stripped the top which was a lot of work. The paint actually came down the sides about a foot. I used Aircraft Stripper which is nasty stuff. Whoever painted it had used, what appeared to be a Zolatone primer. So we had to get aggressive with the Stripper. I had read before that vintage Airstreams that the owner opted to have the tops painted actually did the aluminum a favor by protecting it. Once we stripped the paint, we polished with Nuvite and it shined up like new. I think I would sure get a bunch of questions answered before taking the leap. Good luck.
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09-07-2017, 03:26 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1969 25' Tradewind
Shasta Lake
, California
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,039
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Or when the paint is removed you find Bondo
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09-07-2017, 05:59 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
, Minnesota
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,721
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Might be cheaper paint the whole thing silver.
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09-07-2017, 07:22 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
1975 Argosy 28
Springville
, Alabama
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 836
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Getting a Painted Vintage Airstream Back to Aluminum Silver
Not all argosy had steel endcaps mine are fiberglass. They experimented with the 70 argosy
__________________
Matt
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09-07-2017, 07:37 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
1974 31' Sovereign
1979 23' Safari
Wayland
, New York
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,632
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Also depends on the surface prep done before painting. PO sanded the front lower section where rock guards would be and put on ugly bed liner type material. I was able to strip easily but due to the sanding the only viable option was to repaint.
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09-07-2017, 08:56 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 26
Morrill
, Nebraska
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,014
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I am not aware that Airsteams had a 1 piece end cap. This should give you a clue as to what you have.
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09-07-2017, 09:10 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
1963 22' Safari
2020 27' Globetrotter
State of
, Washington
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,512
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We stripped the 55 wally byam cruiser this summer. I figure I have over 200 hours of paint stripping, 6 gallons of aircraft stripper, 3-4 dozen plastic razor blades, 4 orders of stainless steel wool off amazon, lots of gloves etc. Painstaking work, but on the other hand I wouldn't really consider painting over old paint anyway. Best to get down to a clean slate, polish, or repaint.
__________________
Scott & Megan
VAC LIBRARIAN WBCCI 8671
1963 Safari from the 1963-64 Around the World Caravan
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09-08-2017, 09:22 AM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1984 29' Sovereign
Savannah
, Missouri
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,478
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I agree, besides that, you will discover the reason why it was painted in the first place..
__________________
WBCCI 5292 AIR 807
NEU #64
New England Unit
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09-08-2017, 09:26 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Taos
, New Mexico
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 566
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I haven't done it myself but I'm thinking if it were me I would start with a small area that is not a prominent spot on the trailer and see what works and how much effort it takes. Expect to find areas that the paint was used to cover something up - like bondo - and just deal with it. If it is too much work for your purposes then you can decide the best solution at that time. I'm thinking it would be a lot of work and more than I would want to DIY myself. But - the good news is the underlying aluminum should shine up nicely once the paint is gone ...
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09-08-2017, 12:40 PM
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#14
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1 Rivet Member
Multiple
, Pretty Much All of Them
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 12
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Thanks for the help everyone!
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09-08-2017, 04:58 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
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Get a magnet and make sure the upper domes are not steel. It could be an Argosy. It it will take a ton of aircraft stripper and you don't know what the surface looks like. You might strip a small area to make sure it is not pitted or scratched badly.
Perry
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09-08-2017, 05:36 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
1989 34.5' Airstream 345
Saint Petersburg
, Florida
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,702
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Stripping Paint
I've used Citristrip on paint on my Airstream. Now, the STUBBORN roofing paint that someone chose to apply to roof, I bought Aircraft Stripper on Amazon, since big box stores don't always stock it.
Will say this, if you choose Aircraft Stripper, long sleeves, long pants and gloves are a must. As well, a respirator from Paint Store will help with the TOXIC fumes.
Good Luck, Derek
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