[VAC] Re: Clearcoat VS Polish...Discuss

[Bob Kiger <myairstream@xxxxxxxx>]

The "clear coat" that most people find offensive is actually broken down by UV and road grime.  Removal will take you down to base aluminum, which on the vintage coaches is the ONLY way to achieve a clean bright shiny trailer.  Polishing or burnishing to achieve a mirror finish is tough but doable.  A lot of people just clean off the clear coat and then let oxidation form a patina which will last for years.  This does not reduce the value of the coach.  Any time you're ready you can get out your polisher and remove the oxidation by "scratching it off" at first with aggressive compounds.  Then you make the "scratches" smaller and smaller with finer compounds. 

Done properly an oxidized trailer can be polished (burnished, scratched) to a mirror finish.  I believe this is the destiny for most vintage coaches.  Oxidation, polish shine.  It gives you something to look forward too :)
Bob
http://mrminimal.com

1966 Airstream "Safari"  WBCCI #2857
1966 Ford F-250 "Camper Special"
Mira Mar Mobile Community
Oceanside, California