lakewoodgirl
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1954 Lakewood
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Post by lakewoodgirl on Jun 28, 2014 12:04:46 GMT -8
What was the title of that Erma Bombeck book? If Life is a Bowl if Cherries, What am I Doing in the Pits?
That's how I am feeling right now! What have you all done to eliminate or at least reduce the pitting in the aluminum trim without having to full on replace? Mine, I don't feel, is so horrible that replacement is necessary but I know there must be a trick to at least reduce the appearance! Since the weather here is going to be ungodly hot next week, I need a good indoor project and don't mind sitting for hours if someone can clue me in. Thanks!
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Post by bigbill on Jun 28, 2014 12:47:23 GMT -8
Remembering Erma shows your age! She lived just a couple miles down the road from me and she offered some very good food for thought, it was a shame to lose her so early.
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lakewoodgirl
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Post by lakewoodgirl on Jun 28, 2014 13:00:28 GMT -8
I was just a little girl then, but I have an old soul. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Post by universalexports on Jun 28, 2014 13:20:27 GMT -8
steel wool and vinegar is remarkably quick at polishing aluminum, for deep pits, I'd use fine grade sandpaper then steel wool to give it a nice shiny sheen.
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lovnvintage
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Post by lovnvintage on Jun 28, 2014 15:26:29 GMT -8
Not sure it would work for what you are doing. But my eyebrows and anything that was on the trailer was painted with a really thick paint and markers of some type. I have been trying for weeks to get it off, stripper, steel wool with vinegar, steel wool and paint thinner. Nothing was getting it. I found a little polishing wheel that goes on the dremmel. And what a lifesaver it was for me, cleaned off the old paint(even in the screw holes) and shined them like new at the same time. The water fill and all that I had finally got the paint from will also get a new shine with the dremmel. If you have one you might give it a try. The little wheels of course aren't all that cheap but well worth it in my opinion.
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John Palmer
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Hi, From a vintage trailer guy located in Santa Ana, CA. It's good to see lots of activity here.
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Post by John Palmer on Jun 28, 2014 15:37:50 GMT -8
For gods sake, DO NOT polish aluminum inside, it's a mess! You will have the black aluminum oxide dust everywhere, and it will not clean up easily. Polish aluminum OUTSIDE, in the shade! Also wear a respirator.
You cannot polish PITS (they will just fill up with black compound), they have to be sanded out "before you start" the polishing step of the process.
The amount of pitted corrosion is a determining factor on "if I will even buy" a trailer. It's much more cost effective, to pay more, and find a nicer, easier trailer (less pitted) to restore.
It still takes me, "one day per window" to restore, rebuild, re-glaze, re-seal, sand and polish the frame and eyebrow.
Every time, I hear a trailer owner tell me, "they are going to do their own windows", they always bring them back to me "not done"!
I agree, I HATE windows.
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Post by vikx on Jun 28, 2014 21:25:37 GMT -8
ME THREE. I hate windows and any kind of aluminum polishing...
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Post by bigbill on Jun 29, 2014 7:09:44 GMT -8
I have found that a pad sander with fine paper will work on window frames to make getting pits out a lot easier and faster. Lay the window down on a good supporting surface on top of a large piece of cardboard for cushion then start with a 150/220 grit paper and work your way finer till you get the finish you want. You will still have to work the corners by hand but it can save you hours.
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ladywendolyn
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Post by ladywendolyn on Jun 29, 2014 22:18:10 GMT -8
Which dremel polishing wheel did you use?
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lakewoodgirl
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Post by lakewoodgirl on Jun 29, 2014 22:31:38 GMT -8
I picked up a dremel polishing kit today. I'll share w/ everyone how it works and which one I used.
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lovnvintage
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Post by lovnvintage on Jun 30, 2014 2:36:40 GMT -8
My favorite discs are the abrasive brushes and detail abrasive brush. The first ones actually took the paint off and the latter shine them up. Both come in varying grit(I guess is how to describe). Of course the cut off discs and sanding discs have come in handy as well. I had bought one of the kits as well but haven't used many of the other parts.
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lakewoodgirl
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Post by lakewoodgirl on Jun 30, 2014 8:57:34 GMT -8
I wasn't sure what one I was going to like so the kit seemed the way to go. Heck, it was only $15 and I'm sure I'll end up getting use out of most everything in it. So far, the softer wire brush is working great at removing the pits. Much easier and quicker than sand paper, and any scratches seem to be polishing right out.
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lovnvintage
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Post by lovnvintage on Jun 30, 2014 9:06:33 GMT -8
There's that little one that is plastic and kinda "feathery" looking, it is one of my favorite ones. I notice it too comes in two different degrees of strength.It seems to polish out any scratches really good, but one of them really makes it shine. I find the cutoffs very handy for shimming down the paneling when needed. I am in the process of pulling the 3rd window now to shine up and replace butyl.
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pathfinder3081
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Post by pathfinder3081 on Jun 30, 2014 11:12:19 GMT -8
It's no fun polishing the Aluminum Trim, that's for sure. Depending on how "pitted" it might be of course will determine how hard you have to hit it. I did not like the Flapper Rigs in Orange and then the Blues. I guess if I had it on a stationary Bench Grinder or something with some power it would have been different. I am glad that it worked for you. Effort versus results did not pay off for me. For others in the hunt, I'd be careful jumping the gun with a wire brush drill rig or abrasive “grinder style” sanders. I recommend trying some, heavy steel wool dipped in Turpentine. The Turpentine helps mud-up the aluminum dust so you want make streak scratches. You can see fast results sometimes but getting it down the home stretch can be a tiresome pain in the wrist. One of my first repairs was resealing the rear window.. Before I knew about the Steel Wool and Turpentine trick I took a fine wire brush attached to my drill to it. Oh Yeah.. It cleaned it up… Looks like a “swirly, machine filed mess” absent any pitting of course. It’s the eyesore of my camper. Next time the window is out I’ll have to sand out the “removal” scratches and buff them all out. Perhaps by then I'll have something more suited for the task..
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globestar
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Post by globestar on Jul 6, 2014 16:51:22 GMT -8
I should have found this post before taking the wire brush to my trim. Though honestly, I'm pretty ok with it looking a bit brushed and swirly - it's definitely better than the way it started.
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