How would you polish this trailer?

[Craig Encinitas]

Hi everyone.

Well, word of mouth spreads quickly. I’ve become the new person in charge of cleaning up horse trailers around the area. But this one is a standard Interstate single-axle cargo trailer with an aluminum exterior.

I’ve no idea what to do about the roof:

I’m having difficulty finding information on which pads, polish and sealants would be proper for oxidized aluminum exteriors. I’ve done two panels so far with a G9 DA, 3” LC white polishing pad and some old metal polish that was in storage. It seems to be working.

Before:

After:

Obviously, the pad is turning black after each area. Should it be cleaned or swapped to a fresh one after each panel like on automotive finishes? I’ll switch over to a 15mm DA today to speed up the job.

Would a rotary and wool pad be easiest to make the diamond plate gleam?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[dgage]

I know how I’d do the job.

I’d hire you! Lol! Nice job so far.

And if I were to do the job, this would be my perfect excuse to buy the Flex cordless finisher. What can I say, I’m a professional tool collector.

 

[DUBL0WS6]

Maybe Mothers Mag or metal polish

 

[Craig Encinitas]

...it’s coming along

 

[TrustJesus]

Great work, so what is on top of roof? Did you get that figured out?

 

[Rsurfer]

The key now Craig, is to find a good lasting LSP for all the great work you've done on that trailer.

They are few Geeks here that do air planes, maybe one of them will chime in.

 

[Craig Encinitas]

^
Thanks. I’ve been using an old bottle of metal polish that has a sealant in it.
However, I’d like to do another complete pass over the panels to clean it up more. There’s leftover oxidation trails.



This is the roof. Oof!

S.O.S. pad??


I want to make the diamond plating gleem. May need a rotary for that.

 

[98CayenneTA]

The key now Craig, is to find a good lasting LSP for all the great work you've done on that trailer.

They are few Geeks here that do air planes, maybe one of them will chime in.

I did this plane a few years ago and won't be doing another one lol. That was my first and last !

Single stg. polish with CarPro Essence then coated with Cquart U.k 3.0.
(Bottom of plane also)

Think I went through 100 - 125 ml. of coating.

Sent from my SM-G988U using Tapatalk

 

[Rsurfer]

I did this plane a few years ago and won't be doing another one lol. That was my first and last !

Single stg. polish with CarPro Essence then coated with Cquart U.k 3.0.
(Bottom of plane also)

Think I went through 100 - 125 ml. of coating.

Sent from my SM-G988U using Tapatalk

:wowwow:Stunning

 

[TMQ]

Agree...

Stunning!

Tom

 

[TMQ]

Craig...

Before anything...Did you wash the top?

That will help to get your thoughts at right direction.

I would prolly test with Megs #7. It's an oily thing which just might soften the crap enough to wipe off. Won't hurt to see what it does.

Tom

 

[TMQ]

Done this on a trailer couple years back.

Cut up bunch of scrap carpet.
Used Collinite metal cleaner/wax with scrap carpet.

Made the alumium shine as if you ran a rotary buffer with rouge!

Also maybe try comet...

Tom

 

[TrustJesus]

What’s on the roof of trailer? It looks like mildew.

 

[57Rambler]

I’ve no idea what to do about the roof:

I’m having difficulty finding information on which pads, polish and sealants would be proper for oxidized aluminum exteriors. I’ve done two panels so far with a G9 DA, 3” LC white polishing pad and some old metal polish that was in storage. It seems to be working.

For exposed aluminum that is oxidized, I'd take a look at this product duo from Marine31 ...

Marine 31 Pontoon Detailing Kit


3M makes a similar line of product as well.

 

[PaulMys]

Craig:

To answer the question in your thread title........... I wouldn't.

 

[Craig Encinitas]

^
Sound advice, Paul!
For the sake of knowledge and experience, I am taking on challenging projects. So in the future when someone asks me, “Can you...?”

Yes, I can.

Got my first ceramic coating detail next weekend. If I hadn’t done it on my own car this summer, I’d be way nervous doing it on someone else’s.


57Rambler, thank so much!

 

[PaulMys]

^
Sound advice, Paul!
For the sake of knowledge and experience, I am taking on challenging projects. So in the future when someone asks me, “Can you...?”

Yes, I can.

Got my first ceramic coating detail next weekend. If I hadn’t done it on my own car this summer, I’d be way nervous doing it on someone else’s.

I totally get it, man.

I was just talking about me, personally. Lol

 

[Craig Encinitas]

What’s on the roof of trailer? It looks like mildew.

It may be mold. These trailers tend to sit around for months and owners don’t seem to ever wash them. I haven’t cleaned the top yet. I’ll have to start that just after sunrise, as I don’t want that sun reflection torching my face (Ask me how I know).

Tom, thanks for the tips.

I am grateful, at least, that there’s no time pressure for neighborhood jobs.

 

[TrustJesus]

Regardless, customer should be happy with results

 

[DUBL0WS6]

I like the Comet suggestion or Purple Power degreaser as a wash.