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Post by vikx on Apr 23, 2021 10:11:18 GMT -8
There are a couple of tricks my partner, Vicx, uses: When there is corrosion on the aluminum, he sands the metal and sometimes even uses a dull knife to carve bumps and imperfections, then sands smooth. He polishes with several different compounds; rough first and progressively finer. The final mirror polish is accoumplished with a clean buffing wheel and light rouge. For smaller areas on windows, it's a Fordham wood carver with cloth wheel. For eyebrows and larger pieces, a buffing wheel on a bench grinder motor. (HF sells one) NOTE: be VERY CAREFUL using the big buffer! It will catch the piece and pretzelize it, not to mention hurt a person. NOTE #2: The Fordham Carver is a great little motor but will overheat if overused. It's designed to carve wood, so we had to rest it while working. It came with a flexible shaft and was hung overhead. A heavier duty motor would be better, but we didn't find one... Mobiltec has a video about polishing windows as well. cannedhamtrailers.com/
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Post by Teachndad on Apr 25, 2021 5:13:48 GMT -8
Nice work there Andy! I have always wondered what those hubcaps really look like. My Rod and Reel came with hubcaps like that, but they are so badly rusted, the chrome could not be saved. I still have them. One goes on the spare rim. The nice thing about these hubcaps is that they can clear some of the bearing caps that stick out far.
Chroming is very very expensive.
Cheers,
Rod
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Andy Smith
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Post by Andy Smith on Jul 24, 2021 15:39:03 GMT -8
How important is it to have original drip caps? A PO tried to use some GROSS clear caulk as a repair for the drip cap over the door. By the way my daughters blow dry made short work of getting it off the trailer but it is kind of beat. And now I’m wondering if I replace the worst ones or try to straighten? This is not going to be a show boat it is going to get used for camping, but I don’t want to loose value if I don’t have to.
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Jul 24, 2021 15:53:38 GMT -8
If you have a vice with a small anvil on the back of it you can use that and some sticks with rounded ends and a hammer to fix dents. You can straighten the lips out in the vice as well as flatten all the screw holes. You can really fix a lot of them up pretty nice. Then polish them. You can buy new but the only ones I know of have paint on them that is not easy to get off. I think some people here have found ways to do it though. There are some really hokey looking new ones you can buy but they look nothing like the originals.
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Andy Smith
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Post by Andy Smith on Jul 24, 2021 16:15:29 GMT -8
Thanks Larry! I am not afraid of doing the work so I will “stick” to it and attempt straighten them out as best I can.
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Jul 24, 2021 19:43:47 GMT -8
Thanks Larry! I am not afraid of doing the work so I will “stick” to it and attempt straighten them out as best I can. You can couls also contact Chris. trailertrasher1@gmail.com He may have brows AKA drip caps that will work for you. Just needs measurements. They are important to have on the camper. All of these windows leak enough as it is.
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Andy Smith
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Post by Andy Smith on Aug 10, 2021 14:25:46 GMT -8
Pictures to prove I have been doing something in between watching all of Larrys videos! Untitled by Andy Smith, on Flickr Found the original Screen door under the bed. I will repair and re-screen. Untitled by Andy Smith, on Flickr Somebody "repaired" the storage door with a piano hinge. I wondered why I couldn't open the door all the way it was hitting on the old hinge assembly that was left on. Untitled by Andy Smith, on Flickr Untitled by Andy Smith, on Flickr A nice 110 outlet mounted up near the top I assume to hang exterior lights from. Not sure what I would use this for since I plan to do under chassis lighting to give a cool glow (think off-road rock lights) and use vintage coleman lanterns for task lighting.
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Post by vikx on Aug 10, 2021 14:53:34 GMT -8
Outside outlets are the bomb if you don't mind the cord hanging down. You could even put a solid cover on and use it for a junction box until you figure out what you want to do with it...
POs are not often well thought of people around here.
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Aug 12, 2021 10:01:59 GMT -8
POs are not often well thought of people around here. Aren't we all POs now? LOL... I know what you mean Vikx. And it's not just trailers. I spend a good portion of my working career remodeling houses. You think that what POs do to trailers is weird? You should see what they do to their houses....
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Post by Teachndad on Aug 14, 2021 4:56:53 GMT -8
Hi Friends,
For the drip caps, if the trough in the drip cap is dented, you can use a drill bit laid lengthways that is the same diameter of the trough. I have a picture of this process somewhere. You carefully and gradually clamp the drill bit in the trough and you can get it pretty close to the original shape.
For other dents near the curved ends, you can turn it over and tap gently with the round end of a ball peen hammer.
Rod
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Post by Teachndad on Aug 15, 2021 5:52:03 GMT -8
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Andy Smith
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Post by Andy Smith on Aug 15, 2021 7:12:05 GMT -8
Awesome! I was thinking of what could be used for doing just that. I was considering a dowel, but I can see how I probably have a drill bit already in the tool box. Thanks for the heads up and picture.
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Andy Smith
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Post by Andy Smith on Nov 2, 2021 10:59:42 GMT -8
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Nov 2, 2021 12:21:30 GMT -8
A garage you can fit in...nice!
Window cleaning is no fun but rewarding when it's finished.
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Andy Smith
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Post by Andy Smith on Nov 5, 2021 15:36:02 GMT -8
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