My 81 Excella II was polished by a local detail shop in 2019, they wanted to get into Airstream polishing and completed the job. They also made a UA-cam video. This was their first one and they did the best job they could but now I’m doing a second polish and see a lot of mistakes. With several missed areas of clear coat we are going over these with Airplane stripper and cleaning most of the unfinished areas. Question : I’m using airway buffing wheels (yellow with green compound) to knock down the oxidation. I have several hash marks and light scratches, will a white airway wheels with purple compound remove these issues?
You are quite the perfectionist my friend. That is really nice to see. I have a 19 7531 footer that has never been clearcoated anything. And I’m 63 years old I’m trying to figure this out. I think you’re amazing I’m gonna try to figure this out
Oh, good! You're in Texas, too!! Watching your ither polishing vids and thinking about doing mine in Dallas in July gave me heatstroke. Now I know its possible. 😅😊 I'll keep watching, buy the gear you recommend and get polishing on my 2017 International Serenity soon. Thanks for the vids. Very helpful.
You do a great job explaining how to get that perfect shine. I have a 1969 and a 1968 under restoration. I currently use a wool bonnet and I’m not getting the results I want. Your video is helpful in enabling me to seek out the proper bonnet and polishes to achieve the results.
Firstly I'm glad to see you're using the proper PPE.... you certainly don't want aluminum in your lungs or in your eye's. Get magnetic ferrous metal in your eye and they can use magnets to help it out, that isn't going to work with aluminium. Really interesting the explanation of the sun vs vertical and horizontal cuts. Love your content, keep up the superb quality that you are getting known for. Looking forward to seeing the completed Airstream and any lacquer etc that you add to prevent oxidization.
I agree, its just not worth not protecting yourself. I appreciate it and glad you are enjoying! So I am looking into a ceramic coating for long term protection. I am researching some companies and want that to be an offering in the future so expect some content on that soon.
Beautiful work & Video! And DOH the cloth hood is a bit of safety gear I should have been using the past 30 years when I sand polish or get mucky to keep crap out of my hear (what’s left of it).
Hi Ian, on this particular airsteam you mentioned that it had been stripped of the clearcoat. Is that a requirement before polishing? Or, will the polishing process you use remove the clearcoats as well?
Depends on the year. Pre-1968 there was no clear coat BUT repair panels , from airstream of course, do. My ‘68 has patches that I’ll need to strip to match the original. That’s all I know about that.
I was wondering if you've experienced any warping of sheet metal when polishing in the high temps. I definitely dont polish out in the heat, because your causing heat with the wheel and rouge
What is your next step after the Yellow/orange airway ? I started polishing previously with the usual nuvite and cotton pad and have the dreaded swirl marks that i need to get rid of. Iyo what would you use next to try and get rid of those marks ? Thanks for the videos !
My next step is the green/purple joker wheel but I would try a sewn cotton or flannel wheel and the green bar from zephyr. I will be doing a video soon on the next stages that may help. I got a Torq DA Orbital (used for paint correction so zero swirl, kind of like a cyclo) for the finish to add to the mix.
About how many of the orange pads would you say you go through on a rig of this size? Im about to start polishing my 1968 playmore camper. It's a 14 footer and had a frame off restoration with an all clad aluminum skin to replace the old corrugated one. Thanks!
Couple things why don't you do the roof first and work your way down. Second question what do you put on after you're done polishing to keep it from oxidizing
Due to the rotational direction of the polisher if you move top to bottom you leave a ton of compound and you won't achieve good results. I use Zephyr Pro40 Polish on a microfiber cloth at the very end. It has a sealant in it. Also, polishing changes the surface of the aluminum which decreases oxidation compared to the natural grain of aluminum. You also need to maintenance polish it every 2-3 years to keep it clean and free of oxidation.
Please consider other drivers on the road and DO NOT shine up your trailer, it causes big problems for those around you when the sun reflects off of it.
My 81 Excella II was polished by a local detail shop in 2019, they wanted to get into Airstream polishing and completed the job. They also made a UA-cam video. This was their first one and they did the best job they could but now I’m doing a second polish and see a lot of mistakes. With several missed areas of clear coat we are going over these with Airplane stripper and cleaning most of the unfinished areas. Question : I’m using airway buffing wheels (yellow with green compound) to knock down the oxidation. I have several hash marks and light scratches, will a white airway wheels with purple compound remove these issues?
You are quite the perfectionist my friend. That is really nice to see. I have a 19 7531 footer that has never been clearcoated anything. And I’m 63 years old I’m trying to figure this out. I think you’re amazing I’m gonna try to figure this out
This is great info. This is so much faster than other methods I've seen, thank-you for sharing.
Oh, good! You're in Texas, too!! Watching your ither polishing vids and thinking about doing mine in Dallas in July gave me heatstroke. Now I know its possible. 😅😊 I'll keep watching, buy the gear you recommend and get polishing on my 2017 International Serenity soon. Thanks for the vids. Very helpful.
You do a great job explaining how to get that perfect shine. I have a 1969 and a 1968 under restoration. I currently use a wool bonnet and I’m not getting the results I want. Your video is helpful in enabling me to seek out the proper bonnet and polishes to achieve the results.
Thank you! Yea, I just find the airway wheels to work faster and produce better results.
Firstly I'm glad to see you're using the proper PPE.... you certainly don't want aluminum in your lungs or in your eye's. Get magnetic ferrous metal in your eye and they can use magnets to help it out, that isn't going to work with aluminium.
Really interesting the explanation of the sun vs vertical and horizontal cuts.
Love your content, keep up the superb quality that you are getting known for.
Looking forward to seeing the completed Airstream and any lacquer etc that you add to prevent oxidization.
I agree, its just not worth not protecting yourself. I appreciate it and glad you are enjoying! So I am looking into a ceramic coating for long term protection. I am researching some companies and want that to be an offering in the future so expect some content on that soon.
I wish I was in Texas. Ontario winter SUCKS ASS. THANKS for all the demos. I’ve only got one to do. ❤
What grit is the Sct drum for the first cut?
What wax and all the materials brands of preferred for the stainless steel ??
Could you list the two metal polishing wheels you used? The ones listed in the description are flannel/cotton 😅
Beautiful work & Video! And DOH the cloth hood is a bit of safety gear I should have been using the past 30 years when I sand polish or get mucky to keep crap out of my hear (what’s left of it).
Is it necessary to remove the plasticoat prior to the first cut, or will the first cut remove the plasticoat?
Wow! You're turning that ugly dog into a beautiful butterfly! Whoever owns that Airstream is going to be one happy fellow!
Haha, it is looking good for sure. I think he will be as well!
Hi Ian, on this particular airsteam you mentioned that it had been stripped of the clearcoat. Is that a requirement before polishing? Or, will the polishing process you use remove the clearcoats as well?
Depends on the year. Pre-1968 there was no clear coat BUT repair panels , from airstream of course, do. My ‘68 has patches that I’ll need to strip to match the original. That’s all I know about that.
But how do you get the lines out like on the door?
Add links to the polisher and polish etc you use
Hi great video , where can I buy the equipment and products you are using ,doing a great job
Same question
I've just started using the same products for polishing too. Very good results, you're doing a great job!
What are the brand of pads?
What are they made of?
Type of polish?
Thankyou
I was wondering if you've experienced any warping of sheet metal when polishing in the high temps. I definitely dont polish out in the heat, because your causing heat with the wheel and rouge
what wheel is on the SET ?
What is your next step after the Yellow/orange airway ? I started polishing previously with the usual nuvite and cotton pad and have the dreaded swirl marks that i need to get rid of. Iyo what would you use next to try and get rid of those marks ? Thanks for the videos !
My next step is the green/purple joker wheel but I would try a sewn cotton or flannel wheel and the green bar from zephyr. I will be doing a video soon on the next stages that may help. I got a Torq DA Orbital (used for paint correction so zero swirl, kind of like a cyclo) for the finish to add to the mix.
About how many of the orange pads would you say you go through on a rig of this size? Im about to start polishing my 1968 playmore camper. It's a 14 footer and had a frame off restoration with an all clad aluminum skin to replace the old corrugated one. Thanks!
What mask do you use.
I really need one.
Thanks.
Hi Ian, great information in this video. Do you have a product you recommend for stripping the clear coat? Thanks so much.
Not really. The only one I have stripped I used the no longer available Aircraft Paint Stripper. I know vintage trailer supply has a product.
Aircraft stripper is still available but they took the nasty chemical out.
Have bought it Oreilys and Auto Value.
Does a decent job.
Thank you that is a great question
Great video man thanks
Killer video!
Have you considered using a pneumatic buffer? I see they run up to 2500 rpm
Couple things why don't you do the roof first and work your way down. Second question what do you put on after you're done polishing to keep it from oxidizing
Due to the rotational direction of the polisher if you move top to bottom you leave a ton of compound and you won't achieve good results. I use Zephyr Pro40 Polish on a microfiber cloth at the very end. It has a sealant in it. Also, polishing changes the surface of the aluminum which decreases oxidation compared to the natural grain of aluminum. You also need to maintenance polish it every 2-3 years to keep it clean and free of oxidation.
So thorough! Your awesome
Would you come to SD to polish my airstream?
Where do you get your metal flange to prevent death? 😅
You can get them on our website - www.millergarageairstreams.com/store
Let’s talk about the rouge ... what do you use ....
Never mind I found the stuff but with the dewalt buffer do you just use the edge as well?
Where you find the polishing compound?
The link should be in the description, its Zephyr's Brown Tripoli Bar.
@@MillerGarage Thank you very much I appreciate your time to answer
Ian - What drum do you recommend using on the SCT?
The buffing drum, it works the best at cutting thru fast.
Hi, nice job on your videos and rv restorations.
If I could know, what grit is the sct wheel you are using?
Thanks. Thats what I was looking for as well.
What is the SCT
Please consider other drivers on the road and DO NOT shine up your trailer, it causes big problems for those around you when the sun reflects off of it.
Shhhhh