VERY EXCITED - Get to turnaround a...... tips and tricks anyone?!?!?

Bates Detailing

Bates Detailing

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1983 Vintage Airstream! This is going to be an amazing turnaround! I've been wanting to do one of these for the last year or two, now I get a chance to turn an aged aluminum Airstream into a mirror :props: Can't wait to get started - Any tips or tricks for those of your that have done one before?!?!?!
 
I can't wait to see pictures! I've always wanted to own one that was polished to a mirror.

Here is a old thread on Meguiar's Online about polishing an aluminum boat. Blinded by the Shine! Hope you can get some tips or tricks from that thread. The only thing I can add is it's going to be a heck of a messy job! lol
 
Great news and good luck B&B,
I had to sit on the sidelines with my buds airstream awhile back (2007):cry:.
But it was all good. I know that your gonna use NUVITE as usual.

Wish you guys much success!!! Youtube is full of "polishing airstream" videos, including one I saw on Nuvite, lol
 
BlueZero said:
I can't wait to see pictures! I've always wanted to own one that was polished to a mirror.

Here is a old thread on Meguiar's Online about polishing an aluminum boat. Blinded by the Shine! Hope you can get some tips or tricks from that thread. The only thing I can add is it's going to be a heck of a messy job! lol
Click to expand...

Thanks man - I know it'll be messy - gloves, goggles, and crappy clothes lol - I don't need black splatter all over our new clothes! That was an awesome thread, thanx for sharing man :dblthumb2:

Vegas Transplant said:
Great news and good luck B&B,
I had to sit on the sidelines with my buds airstream awhile back (2007):cry:.
But it was all good. I know that your gonna use NUVITE as usual.

Wish you guys much success!!! Youtube is full of "polishing airstream" videos, including one I saw on Nuvite, lol
Click to expand...

NuVite - yes sir, that is what Im familiar with...... thanks for the good luck wishes man - this turnaround will be slightly epic :dblthumb2:
 
G'day. I done this 26ft 1981 Airstream last year. Was in a rather neglected state when i started, had a lot of corrosion on one side. Not something we Kiwis see very much in New Zealand either. Big job but rewarding after all the hard work. I done the main polishing using a Rupes rotary & various metal polishing soaps before finishing with a DA using a light cutting foam pad to apply the final polish & then a clean pad with a micro fibre (many) over the pad like a bonnet. Took me 52 hours to do the polishing alone. Only advice would be - a few pairs of disposable coveralls, nitrile gloves, dust masks (black snot for days :props: ) some safety glasses. For the Airstream - make sure none of the panels have a clear laquer, remove badges, take care around the windows ( a few scary kicks from the rotary ) & don't give up, you will make it even when it seems like you have been working for hours & have hardly made a dent. Can't wait to see your pics. Enjoy mate! :buffing:
 
Aaryn NZ said:
For the Airstream - make sure none of the panels have a clear lacquer,
Click to expand...

Find and join an Airstream discussion forum. There are specific paint removers for removing the lacquer off old Airstream trailers that won't also turn the aluminum gray like an acid wheel cleaner does to aluminum wheels.

It's faster and more effective to chemically remove the lacquer paint, especially around all the intricate areas like the windows, than it is to try to compound it off with a rotary buffer.

So strip the paint off first and then polish the metal.



Aaryn NZ said:
remove badges, take care around the windows ( a few scary kicks from the rotary )
Click to expand...

Any place there's a protruding edge of some type will be a potential place to catch your buffing pad on when using a rotary buffer, other than that it should be pretty straightforward and definitely get a pad cleaner as your pads re going to get really dirty.


:)
 
BlueZero said:
I can't wait to see pictures! I've always wanted to own one that was polished to a mirror.

Here is a old thread on Meguiar's Online about polishing an aluminum boat. Blinded by the Shine! Hope you can get some tips or tricks from that thread. The only thing I can add is it's going to be a heck of a messy job! lol
Click to expand...

This extreme makeover was done by Tim Lingor, one of the best forum moderators I've ever known and very talented when it comes to detailing. Here's the pictures...

Tims_boat_01.jpg


Tims_boat_02.jpg


Tims_boat_03.jpg


Tims_boat_04.jpg


Tims_boat_05.jpg




:xyxthumbs:
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Aaryn NZ said:
G'day. I done this 26ft 1981 Airstream last year. Was in a rather neglected state when i started, had a lot of corrosion on one side. Not something we Kiwis see very much in New Zealand either. Big job but rewarding after all the hard work. I done the main polishing using a Rupes rotary & various metal polishing soaps before finishing with a DA using a light cutting foam pad to apply the final polish & then a clean pad with a micro fibre (many) over the pad like a bonnet. Took me 52 hours to do the polishing alone. Only advice would be - a few pairs of disposable coveralls, nitrile gloves, dust masks (black snot for days :props: ) some safety glasses. For the Airstream - make sure none of the panels have a clear laquer, remove badges, take care around the windows ( a few scary kicks from the rotary ) & don't give up, you will make it even when it seems like you have been working for hours & have hardly made a dent. Can't wait to see your pics. Enjoy mate! :buffing:
Click to expand...

Mike.Phillips@Autogeek said:
Find and join an Airstream discussion forum. There are specific paint removers for removing the lacquer off old Airstream trailers that won't also turn the aluminum gray like an acid wheel cleaner does to aluminum wheels.

It's faster and more effective to chemically remove the lacquer paint, especially around all the intricate areas like the windows, than it is to try to compound it off with a rotary buffer.

So strip the paint off first and then polish the metal.





Any place there's a protruding edge of some type will be a potential place to catch your buffing pad on when using a rotary buffer, other than that it should be pretty straightforward and definitely get a pad cleaner as your pads re going to get really dirty.


:)
Click to expand...


Cool - thanx for the advice gentlemen! Very helpful!

Mike.Phillips@Autogeek said:
This extreme makeover was done by Tim Lingor, one of the best forum moderators I've ever known and very talented when it comes to detailing. Here's the pictures...

Before:
4989106_0631__small_.jpg




After:
4989106_0636__small_.jpg


4989114_1403c__small_.jpg




:xyxthumbs:
Click to expand...


Yep - that's a beautiful turnaround for sure :dblthumb2:.









I start the project next Tuesday and plan on spending the entire day just prepping the it (remove any clear, tape, tape, tape, and then tape some more..... also cover and protect the windows.)

Im estimating roughly 5 full days :

Day 1 : Prep (4 guys)
Day 2 : First Cut large areas / complete areas by hand that are needed (4 guys)
Day 3 : Finish First Cut/ start and finish second cut (3 guys)
Day 4 : Finish Polish Entirety (2 guys)
Day 5 : Extra day alotted for finishing touches and or hiccups :/



This is the game plan, but as we all know it will be a miracle if it goes this way!
 
BillE said:
WOW!!!!!

That's pretty...

Bill
Click to expand...

Thanks mate. A fair bit of hard work went into that. Was very neglected when it was brought to me. Its owned by a winery over here & they have converted the inside into a mobile tasting deal. :buffing:
 
While I'm sure the airstream will have a glorious look to it upon completion, the work (as I'm sure you're aware of) is far from glorious. When I worked on an all aluminum truck for a good friend, I tested rotaries, the Cyclo, the G110V2 and the Flex 3401. The 3401 was a life saver on that job and worked best with purple foamed wool pads with Poorboy's World Pro Polish. The chemical cleaners in Pro Polish work well on aluminum. Collinite Metal Wax worked well on the follow up detail of the big aluminum beast. Just throwing out a few ideas as to what I found to work well as a lot of what I tried didn't work very well with the aluminum. Good luck and plan on going through lots of pads on this one.

The Grumman-Olsen truck I did took 8 PFW and about 6 Cyclo wool pads to complete. I have a feeling the Airstream will have a smooth type of aluminum panel compared to the brushed aluminum panels of the Grumman-Olsen so foam pads may be your best choice as the wool tends to instill lots of marks that are hard to remove from the aluminum.

You might want to have a bucket with a 5 pound bag of flour in it with you to aid in removing the black residue from the aluminum after polishing. Rub a cotton or microfiber towel around in the bucket of flour, lightly shake the excess flour from the towel, then wipe off the black residue with the flour covered towel. You'll be amazed at how easy and clean the stuff comes off using this tip.

Please post many photos and the process/products used on this if you would and above all have fun with it.
 
There is a learning curve but you will pick it up quick. Do your research online and you will be OK.

Believe it or not -I HATE POLISHING ALUMINUM!! LOL!

262.JPG


351.JPG


4a_b25.JPG


outside_1.JPG
 
tuscarora dave said:
While I'm sure the airstream will have a glorious look to it upon completion, the work (as I'm sure you're aware of) is far from glorious. When I worked on an all aluminum truck for a good friend, I tested rotaries, the Cyclo, the G110V2 and the Flex 3401. The 3401 was a life saver on that job and worked best with purple foamed wool pads with Poorboy's World Pro Polish. The chemical cleaners in Pro Polish work well on aluminum. Collinite Metal Wax worked well on the follow up detail of the big aluminum beast. Just throwing out a few ideas as to what I found to work well as a lot of what I tried didn't work very well with the aluminum. Good luck and plan on going through lots of pads on this one.

The Grumman-Olsen truck I did took 8 PFW and about 6 Cyclo wool pads to complete. I have a feeling the Airstream will have a smooth type of aluminum panel compared to the brushed aluminum panels of the Grumman-Olsen so foam pads may be your best choice as the wool tends to instill lots of marks that are hard to remove from the aluminum.

You might want to have a bucket with a 5 pound bag of flour in it with you to aid in removing the black residue from the aluminum after polishing. Rub a cotton or microfiber towel around in the bucket of flour, lightly shake the excess flour from the towel, then wipe off the black residue with the flour covered towel. You'll be amazed at how easy and clean the stuff comes off using this tip.

Please post many photos and the process/products used on this if you would and above all have fun with it.
Click to expand...

Cool man - thanx for the tips! So you think a foam cutting pad would be better than the wool?







Joe@Superior Shine said:
There is a learning curve but you will pick it up quick. Do your research online and you will be OK.

Believe it or not -I HATE POLISHING ALUMINUM!! LOL!
Click to expand...


Thanx Joe - I've polished miles of leading edges on aircraft, but never a fully polished aluminum plane! Bet that was tons of work! What products did you use if you don't mind my asking?
 
100% rolite polish and lake country wool pads made specifically for polish aluminum. Contact Lake Country they will set you in the right direction.
 
Well day one went ok - I wanted to say thanx to Joe at Superior Shine for tossing some info my way on the phone.... a big help :dblthumb2:

Going to finish prepping all day tomorrow then cut away - should have some teaser pics tomorrow :buffing:
 
B&B Tennessee said:
Well day one went ok - I wanted to say thanx to Joe at Superior Shine for tossing some info my way on the phone.... a big help :dblthumb2:

Going to finish prepping all day tomorrow then cut away - should have some teaser pics tomorrow :buffing:
Click to expand...

Are there pics up yet?
 
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