1954 Airstream Flying Cloud Trailer Auction by Orvis

[flyguy66]

I own an Airstream and have polished it to a very shiny finish. The problem is the mirror finish disappears after about 3 months, due to oxidation and I have to buff it all over again. There is no way to stop the oxidation unless you paint it.
To get a mirror finish like that on a 22' trailer, I estimate that it took at least 400 to 500 hours with a good polisher like a Makita, and 3 different polishing compounds and
a lot of wool bonnets and rags. The more you polish it however, the easier it gets to restore the luster.
Dick

Once you get it polished up that way couldn't you just get it clear coated?

[kbproctor]

Clear powder coat. There are powder coats that cue with UV rather than heat. I polished a shiner fuel trailer with a slurry of water and flour. Lasted for years.

[Uncle Jesse]

I polished a shiner fuel trailer with a slurry of water and flour. Lasted for years.

Kevin, Is that a little bit of a confession there. Down here shiners try to keep that information under cover and do not put it out over the internet.

[kbproctor]

Kevin, Is that a little bit of a confession there. Down here shiners try to keep that information under cover and do not put it out over the internet.

I hate auto correct!

[Flybyknight]

Once you get it polished up that way couldn't you just get it clear coated?

Yes you can, and it has been tried, however the adhesion is lousy and you loose the mirror finish. It gets duller.
I'm still working on mine:

[flyguy66]

Hmmmm. I think I'd have to cover that bad boy in Rhino Liner and some cool laser cut graphics then.

[John Rhoades]

Yes you can, and it has been tried, however the adhesion is lousy and you loose the mirror finish. It gets duller.
I'm still working on mine:

Dick -

That looks nice even under all that snow.

John

p.s. I owned a 2004 Airstream 30' Classic Ltd for several years.

[DaveMac]

$157,000 winning bid...Holy Mackerel