Polishing

Video # 38

Airstream Polishing

In this episode, Classic Rides' host Kevin Tetz is excited about getting started on the Airstream's aluminum exterior. According to Kevin, one of the striking things about an Airstream is its aluminum exterior. Seeing an Airstream on the road with a polished exterior is not only beautiful but unmistakable.

For this show, Tom Numelin from Perfect Polish helps Kevin out with his Airstream polish job. To demonstrate how to polish an Airstream trailer, Tom will concentrate on one area only for this demonstration. According to Tom, the coaches of this vintage have been outside for around forty to fifty years, being exposed to all the elements, like road rash, rain and dirt.

In order to find out how much time you need to spend polishing the Airstream, calculate about eight hours of polishing per linear foot of trailer. So this twenty-seven foot Airstream will take around two hundred hours to polish! Kevin suggests doing this project a little at a time, so as not to overwhelm you and tire you out.

This 1970 Airstream also has a clear coat polish that had to be stripped using an industrial paint stripper that was brushed on and washed off after a few hours. Tom shows us commonly used polishers that will work for this job like the compounding polisher and the right-angled polisher. Another is the dual-head random orbit polisher.

Kevin shows us different kinds of polishing compounds of various grades, from an aggressive one to a fine finish. These polishing compounds are specifically designed for aluminum aircraft and Airstreams. To use the polishing compounds, apply around a teaspoonful on the polisher of choice, and spread the compound around the area.

Tom starts by using the more aggressive compound, applying pressure over one area. He uses a spur tool if the polishing compound gets stuck in one area. In just two passes, the Airstream looks like new again. Tom says that older Airstreams with more corrosion might need five to six passes.

A microfiber polishing cloth removes the residual compound off the trailer's surface. Next, the random orbit dual polisher is wrapped in a cotton cloth and some medium grade polisher is applied to it. Tom moves the tool quickly over the surface when using this tool. The aluminum shine comes out in no time.

For the final polishing stages, Tom applies fine grade polishing agent on the dual-orbit polisher. As before, this stage of polishing requires quick and even movement. Tom reminds us that in this step, you must keep polishing until all the polish is removed from the surface.

A final clean and buff with a microfiber towel completes the polishing process. Kevin also suggests using a smaller polisher when working around the rivets of the Airstream.

I hope you enjoyed this video on how to polish Airstream trailers!

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