Polishing Step by Step Instructions:

1. If your Airstream looks like it has splotchy sunburn, it has clearcoat. example

PIC here of 62 Safari with Clearcoat.....Notice the clearcoat sunburning on the top areas.

            Same Airstream Safari here July 10th

* Still Not sure?More in Notes below

Clearcoat has to go!

Clearcoat can be removed with

 cans of Auto strip from

Walmart. $4.00 per can.

 Update: Walmart now only

carries Premium Stripper in the

 paint department for $5.94. If

 you can find Auto Strip...it

works a little better

Other brands work ok too. Be sure to remove any plastic such as lenses first.  You can also cover them with blue tape instead. Wear goggles and a mask

blue

This 68 Globetrotter pictured above has the clearcoat removed back to just behind the door. Can you see the difference? How about someone near you?

Spray it on..wait 5 minutes or

 until bubbles, then hose off,

 Scrub with cotton rags or soft brush

 repeat after it dries, repeat

third time if it needs it.

The Airstream above and the Airstream below are the same

 2. Muriatic acid bath..wear goggles and have a water hose ready. Buy Muriatic acid from Lowes or other hardware store for about $10.00 per bottle.

Mix in a bucket with water mayby 5-1 Water to acid.

Take a long handle scrub brush and brush trailer from bottom up in a circular motion.

Hose off then pour Minereal Spirits from Lowes or other Hardware store ($8.00 a gallon) into clean bucket and scrub trailer again.

Notice that window frames and rain gutters are being polished too.

or

if that still seems hard

I can polish your Airstream for you for around $3000 for a 20 foot Airstream.

$150 PER FOOT INCLUDING MATERIALS .

Polishing Notes

*Step 1 Note:

Starting around 1960, Airstream offered Clearcoat as an option. By 1963, Clearcoat was standard equipment.

If your Airstream will not polish, you have clearcoat and you will have to strip the clearcoat.

It is a good thing to have clearcoat because it is easier to polish the aluminum that has been protected over the years.

The 63 Airstream Globetrotter below was found with the old clearcoat.

The picture below is the same Airstream with the Clearcoat removed. Has some shine

 End of Step 1 notes

If you buy a Porter Cable Random Orbital Polisher 7424, it comes with a cheap useless pad holder. I replace mine at CarQuest and use scissors to cut down to size.

Someone should package it and sell it with a good pad holder

------------------------------------------

I have polished Airstreams with a Cyclo Polisher and was not satisfied.

It does work but not as good as the less expensive Porter Cable Polisher.

available at www.cpoworkshop.com/ or ebay for around $119.00

I like CPO Workshop because I had a good experience on getting a replacement for a faulty machine.

The cyclo Polisher is way too heavy...life is hard already.

I have tried Rollite and Nuvite polish with success. It is not as effective as Truck Box Polish in my opinion.

Click Logo above for Vintage Parts

3. Get 100 percent cotton rags such as T shirts

Apply some Mineral Spirits to rag and wipe in a circular motion on a 24 inch by 24 inch section of the Airstream.

4. Ok ..You are Ready

 for Polishing. Need

about 4 or 5 bottles

of Polish from Better-

Built

 $15.95 per bottle plus

 shipping 

Apply small amount

of -polish on pad of

low speed buffer.

If you want to go

faster with heavy

oxidation and you can

 handle a heavy tool, you can use a 8"

grinder with the same

 pad. Mine is Chicago

 brand from Harbor

Freight.

Warning: Use the

 flat area only or you

 will create swirl

marks!

I use a Porter Cable

7424 model available

 from www.cpoworkshop.com/withwww.cpoworkshop.com/withwww.cpoworkshop.com/withwww.cpoworkshop.com/withwww.cpoworkshop.com/withwww.cpoworkshop.com/withwww.cpoworkshop.com/withwww.cpoworkshop.com/withwww.cpoworkshop.com/withwww.cpoworkshop.com/withwww.cpoworkshop.com/withwww.cpoworkshop.com/withwww.cpoworkshop.com/withwww.cpoworkshop.com/with

a better pad plus 6"pads from detailking.com for $30 per dozen

Click below for link

http://www.goestores.com/storename/detailking/dept/152746/ItemDetail-8774189.aspx

wipe pad on

Airstream 24 by 24

area. Turn buffer on

and keep changing

pressure on the

 aluminum.

When the black is

gone, turn off the

 buffer and wipe

Mineral Spirits again

with cotton T shirts in

 a circular motion

until dry.

Repeat this 3-6 times or until your wife can do makeup in the reflection.

Stay out of direct sunlight.

Wash pads in washing machine after pouring liquid detergent directly on pads.

email me with any

 questions. I will add

more info and PICS

My son Derek, Has

been polishing this

 1962 Safari

  Not done yet but

 really starting to

 reflect!

Truck Box Polish for 

Click on the link for Polish

Want more information before you buy? click here

 www.airstreamguy.com/buy_truck_box_polish

     mark@airstreamguy.com

Marriage Tip for husbands

Wipe out the washer and dryer after washing black pads.

If a woman forgets to wipe it out, the man does not notice or care

 Question....Should you buy a Cyclo Polisher?

  Answer....No

Tip: Blue Tape is your friend. Buy it at Walmart or hardware store

Mask off Emblems including the blue Airstream logos before you strip or Polish.

Blue Tape stays on there and comes off as long as you do not wait more than 2 weeks or so.