Anne, yes it needs a "touch up" not a full hardcore polish once a year or so with normal use (likely more often if you live in say a salty environment). When it is first polished they generally use a heavy duty polisher quite often with several different levels of polish to work through the oxidation and bring out the finish. It is hard, slow work. Then at the end, they usually use a Cyclo brand dual head polisher with a lighter abrasive to pop it and and give it that mirror shine. Generally the Cyclo is what is used on the yearly touch up unless you get some bird poop stains etc. that need extra attention. Generally the touch with the Cyclo goes rather quickly, perhaps a few hours or so. Note, the vintage trailers have an Alclad finish that really gives the true mirror shine that so many like. The newer (post 80/85??? or so) trailers have a different type of panel that will still shine up very nicely, but doesn't give the full, super mirror effect.
Vintage Trailer Supply sells much of what is need to polish (not that you would choose to do it yourself) and step by step instructions:
http://www.vintagetrailersupply.com/Aluminum_Polishing_s/3.htm
The average size trailer (I guess a 25 - 28') takes about 100 hours of work. Hence, why I am thinking about having 1st Impressions do it. Although it might not be a bad fall/spring project for me. My '99 is mostly showing fading/peeling (as typical) along the top edges and the end caps (Airstream pattern baldness). The majority of the trailer still looks fine. If I do it myself, I will likely strip it in sections thereby keeping my clearcoat intact in the other areas until I am ready to work on them. That should help to make the polishing a bit easier.
During the 90's Airstream had to switch to a different type of clearcoat system due to EPA requirements, this system has proven to be rather short lived (10 years or so) a compared to the earlier systems. The 2000 on trailers use a newer coating system, that so far, seems to be holding up a better most cases. However, if need be or wanted all of these can be strip and shined or stripped and recoated. A few people even paint them, I like some of those, but it's not what I want in owning an nice shiny silver Airstream!
One last note, P&S in Ohio is generally considered to be the "kings" of polishing or recoating. The do very nice work from what I have seen, they can even take an 80 or 90's trailer, strip it, recoat it and then put modern emblems and graphics/pin striping on the trailer that makes it look like a newer model (if you wish). Of course the will also just polish it too.
http://www.pandstrailerservice.com/
More info than you likely need or want, but I thought I would post it just in case.
I know one thing, I would hate to be doing any of this outside today!!! it's going to be 100+ here today.
Dennie
Frederick, MD
--- In AirstreamList@yahoogroups.com, Anne Pearse Hocker <aph948@...> wrote:
>
> Thanks, Dennie! Beautiful job! I will bookmark this. If you keep it uncovered, do you have to do this annually?
>
> Anne in VA
>
>
> On Jul 22, 2011, at 12:19 PM, Denman wrote:
>
> > Anne, just FYI, if you need polishing services, 1st Impressions Mobile Polishing and Detailing have done a number of Airstreams over the past year or so. I mention them because they are not too far away from you, as their shop is just south of Hanover, PA. Folks seem to be happy with their work and their prices seem to be fairly reasonable. They can do work at their site or come to you. I have been going back and forth on whether to take my '99 to them or do it myself.
> >
> > Here is a link to a post in Frank's Trailer Works Blog with some photos an Airstream that was done by 1st Impressions.
> >
> > http://frankstrailerworksblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/another-10-at-5.html
> >
> > Dennie
> > Frederick,MD
> >
> > --- In AirstreamList@yahoogroups.com, Anne Pearse Hocker <aph948@> wrote:
> > >
> > > What is the average lifespan of clearcoat? What happens if it is peeling off and you do nothing?
> > >
> > > Thanks!
> > >
> > > Anne in VA
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
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