Everyone who's spent any amount of time reading off this list is familiar with Jim & Sharon Weston and AirMark.

You may not like a mirror finish on your AirAtream and think going to all that trouble is a waste of time but I don't. I don't even have an Airstream yet. Soon but not yet. But I like that SHINE.

Those of you that have followed the shine/no shine debates should remember all the talk of corrosion and oxidation and how Airstreams clearcoat actually exaserbates corosion under the coating that can eat away that alumium hide quicker than if you had no protection at all.

Earlier this week we all got an e-mail from Kenny Adams, a sales person at Paul Sherry RV's offering to answer any queston we might have on Airstreams and related matters.

So I sent him the following

Bassman wrote:
Kenny Adams wrote:

Just want to say Hello to everyone and if I can be of any assistance to anyone feel free to e-mail or call me.

Thanks,

Kenny Adams, Airstream Consultant/Salesman
Paul Sherry RV's
www.paulsherry.com

Kenny,

Since you offered...

There has been much discussion lately about Airstream re-finishing and why the factory applied clearcoat is not good for the longterm life of the aluminum skin etc etc.
What I'm curious about is, can a brand new one be ordered from the factory without the clear coat? Thus eliminating what appears to be the inevitable stripping of same?

Just wondering?

This morning I got this reply from Kenny...
"The clearcoat problems are mostly gone. The company had problems in early 90's due to the fact that the clearcoat company change their formula and it re-acted with the aluminum. The clearcoat keeps the aluminum from oxidizing."

Not completely false but not the Technically correct answer either. Kind of "Presidential", don'tcha think?

Let me say the only connection I've ever had with Mr. Adams is 2 e-mails and I live half way across the country from Paul Sherry RV's and have no ax to grind with them. but as ignorant as I am, even I know better.

Here is what AirMark had to say about this and my question...

Subject: RE: A/S Clearcoat
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1998 22:54:03 -0500
From: "James Weston" jim.sharon@airmarktools.net
To: "Bassman" bassman@kendra.com

Hi Steve,

Jim WILL answer you directly regarding getting hold of a NEW Airstream WITHOUT a clearcoat.

You need to tell, (instruct them - don't "request" - you can do so NICELY!) your Airstream Dealer you want to "Order" your Airstream with:
1) NO clearcoat. You want it left off!
2) INSTEAD of the clearcoat - you want it SHINED with a Resolution and Clarity - that you can read a business card at 12 inches, (24 inches is even better & is the Clarity and Resolution, I obtain when Polishing Airstreams!).
3) In doing so, (#2) - you do not want, swirls, oscillating lines or burns on the skins.
4) Tell them you want a "Shine" like, "Airmark Aircraft/Airstream Detailing(tm)", puts on Airstreams. Tell them to go to our Web Site for a look-see.

This may mean you have to wait an additional few weeks for your Airstream - but you CAN "special' order. And when your spending this kind of, "BIG" bucks, you should have the right to order YOUR Airstream the way YOU want it! It's a rather, "Old Fashion" way to do business and it's the ONLY way I conduct OUR business - it's called, "CUSTOMER SERVICE."

Let me know what your Airstream Dealer says. If they won't/can't Polish it CORRECTLY for you, tell them you want the cost of the Clearcoat deducted from the price of YOUR Airstream and for them NOT to TOUCH the exterior skins in ANY, shape, form or way. That way when you have a delivery date, you can let me know & I'll ship some Sealer to you (at no cost to you,) so you can apply it IMMEDIATELY, to protect the skin till we can schedule my Polishing it for you.

And can back it up.

Can't wait till I lay that on 'em at the RV show tomorrow in Tacoma!

I'll be sure to report all the news. Now if I can just work up the proper discription for "jaws dropping to the floor".

Later Gang

Sorry for the Long Post. But it has to be said.