mel
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1964 Shasta Airflyte
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Post by mel on Apr 3, 2016 15:49:26 GMT -8
My windows, screen frame and metal trim is not coming all the way clean and shiny like most peoples I see on here. No matter what I do it all wont come off. Has anyone ever seen this before?? I used a steel wheel on my drill and 0000 steel wool only on the parts that wernt too bad. All the parts that wernt as corroded/dirty cleaned up nice... In this photo the larger one cleaned up way more than the smaller one. Close up Window, all the windows look the same as this one close up
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Ten
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70 Shasta 16SC + 1964 Airflyte
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Post by Ten on Apr 3, 2016 18:39:53 GMT -8
Try rubbing them out with some coarse steel wool. The real fine wool gives a nice fine finish, but for the rougher spots the coarse stuff will take some more of the stain and pitting away. You may never get all the way through the pitting and the worst of it. The best approach is to consider it "character".
When I did the frames for the 16SC, I used a mag wheel and aluminum polish to clean it up to a shine, then cleaned the residue off with Windex. They came out good but did not get rid of all the pits and stains.
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turbodaddy
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Post by turbodaddy on Apr 3, 2016 18:47:49 GMT -8
I had the same problem, I used a wire brush on a drill to create a brushed finish instead of polished. Aluminum is malleable. It all came out clean looking and uniform, but not polished. I applied carnuba wax, and it looks nice 2 years later.
You could try to fill and sand the pitted areas and then do something like powder coat or paint. I think that as long as you do whatever you are able to do to improve the overall condition of the trailer, this will become a minor issue, that only you and some hard core enthusiasts would even notice.
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davek
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Post by davek on Apr 3, 2016 20:25:25 GMT -8
A few rounds of mag wheel cleaner (acid) scrubbed with green scotchbrite pads between treatments followed by a drill and cloth wheel with Nuvite F9. The F9 compound polish will "heal" the pits and might make them almost disappear. The F9 will leave deep scraches and will need to be followed with C then S compounds. Most of my window frames have deep black pitting like that and I have spent way way to many hours cleaning them up. [ Edit: you could probably use some much less expensive polishing rouge from harbor freight in place of the Nuvite polish. br]
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davek
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Post by davek on Apr 3, 2016 21:18:24 GMT -8
Disregard my previous post. That would be if you want to fully polish your frames. From the pictures it look like you want to wind up with a non polished aluminum finish. Actually did some window frames today. Stated off with this super pitted corroded frame. I did two mag wheel cleaner treatments with a green scotchbrite pad scrubbing between treatments. Next coated it with mothers mag wheel polish and scrub it with 000 steel wool. The mothers polish helps pull the black out of the aluminum. I just did a quick job on this frame so there was still a small amount of black (the areas I am leaving dull will not be seen well when the windows are installed and the other areas will get polished cleaning up the remaining black/pitting) but if I had spent another 20 minutes I could have nearly gotten out the rest of the black. After the mothers and steel wool you can treat it with mag wheel cleaner again to knock down the shine from the mothers polish if you want the untreated aluminum look.
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gary350
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Post by gary350 on Apr 4, 2016 5:55:06 GMT -8
Buy a 4 1/2" angle grinder at Harbor Freight $14. Buy a soft cone wire brush not the hard wire twist brush. This will remove paint, silicone, ugly places on metal is seconds. This is much faster than an electric drill with a wire brush.
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desotogal
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Post by desotogal on Apr 4, 2016 17:42:25 GMT -8
I read somewhere that it is preferable to use scotch brite pads to clean the aluminum as opposed to steel wool as the wool may possibly imbed into the softer aluminum surface. Is this wrong? Once the weather lightens up here in the Empire State, we'll be looking into pulling the windows and giving them a good cleaning/restoration.
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Ten
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70 Shasta 16SC + 1964 Airflyte
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Post by Ten on Apr 4, 2016 17:49:08 GMT -8
I spent more time picking the steel wool out of my hands than the aluminum. Depending on the finish you are trying to achieve, going back over with a polish and a polishing wheel in a power tool (drill or dremmel) should take care of any left-over wool.
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Apr 4, 2016 18:03:44 GMT -8
I start with two baths in acid. 50/50 mix with water. Wear gloves and protective eye wear. Face wear would be better.
Spray on with Hudson Sprayer and allow to set for a couple minutes. For bad areas rub with green Scotch Bright pad. Rinse and don't leave on glass for more than about 3 minutes. It can etch the glass. Repeat....
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Post by rogerthedodger on Apr 5, 2016 19:52:15 GMT -8
Hi mobiltec, I am dealing with windows too, what kind of acid, pool acid or ?? Roger
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Apr 5, 2016 20:32:49 GMT -8
Hi mobiltec, I am dealing with windows too, what kind of acid, pool acid or ?? Roger It's sold by any car detailing retail outlet. It's for cleaning mag wheels. A gallon is about $15. The name of the brand I buy is in my window videos but it escapes me at the moment. I'll look in the shed and remind myself tomorrow and hope I remember to post it. If I forget just PM me.
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Lola53
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Post by Lola53 on Apr 5, 2016 21:12:08 GMT -8
Hi mobiltec, I am dealing with windows too, what kind of acid, pool acid or ?? Roger It's sold by any car detailing retail outlet. It's for cleaning mag wheels. A gallon is about $15. The name of the brand I buy is in my window videos but it escapes me at the moment. I'll look in the shed and remind myself tomorrow and hope I remember to post it. If I forget just PM me. Mobiltec, I watched your video when working on Lola's windows. Great video. You described it as "Car Glo" Heavy Duty Acid. Here's a screenshot: Your video is at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWZXvJbbMa8Mark
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Post by rogerthedodger on Apr 6, 2016 6:21:12 GMT -8
Ok. Thanks. They are in San Diego, not fresburg(Fresno). I will keep looking. Roger
Anybody try muriatic acid and water 50/50??
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Apr 6, 2016 6:28:18 GMT -8
Thanks Mark...
For anyone else looking for help on windows I have a whole series about cleaning and polishing the frames in the Trailer Tutorials And Tidbits section of my website.
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mel
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1964 Shasta Airflyte
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Post by mel on May 9, 2016 4:33:10 GMT -8
This is driving me crazy! So I have now tried 0000 and 00 steel wool, a wire brush for my drill, scotch bright pads, mag wheel cleaner and mothers polish and it will not come off!! so I have came to terms with the windows not being perfect. But it is really bugging me on the screen door. My step dad has some muriatic acid do you think that would be too strong? nccamper how well did your alumabrite work? where did you buy it? and how much mobiltec I have watched your videos and might need to try that acid you use, I was just trying to avoid purchasing a bunch of stuff.
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