Pre-stripping phase 7/2/2009

Tire is holding down an old plastic cover.

First coat of Napier applied with gravity feed sprayer. Orange color is reacitve stripper and old clearcoat.

Trial removal with bug sponge.

First application of Napier after water removal. Good condition aluminum skin underneath.
The roof is extremely oxidized, the but lower panels are going to be MUCH easier to fine polish.

Notice the Napier removed clearcoat on the ground.
Once the ground dried, the Napier was easily picked up by vacuum.

Upper areas are oxidized, no clearcoat remained (after 40+ years)
Lower panels are quite shiny after Napier Clearcoat removal.

Beginning right side Napier clearcoat removal process.

First application of Napier Stipper. Anywhere it turns a shade of orange is the reactive clearcoat.
The roof didn't react (no clear remaining).

Watching the Napier RemovAll 220 Stripper do it's thing!

After washing off the Napier RemovAll 220 Stripper. WOW. With 2 hours of dwell time, the Napier RemovAll 220 Stripper lifted the 40+ yr clear and dropped it on the ground. I was able to use a garden hose to quickly re-wet the stripper, then waiting about 5 minutes then respraying with water caused the stripper to fall to the ground without agitation. Light agitation around rivets/hinges completed the removal process.

Think the above aluminum skin looks reflective? Guess again! (see below for latest results)
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After clearcoat stripping, now on to initial aluminum compounding with Nuvite.
A Milwaukee direct drive, a 6" attachment and several different wool pads.
Within 10 minutes I have stumbled onto a method that cuts down to the clean surface rather quickly. Normally it takes up to 10 passes with new compound, that concept has been changed to no more than 5 passes.
I think it might be two decades of experience using a wool pad system. :)

Bare Aluminum. 7/13/2009

Only middle has been compounded.

Nuvite F9 applied to panel. Using your fingertip, apply a small amount in a sequential pattern.
This isn't the best example, the columns(not rows) are far too close together (experiment).

Same panel/location after first pass with Nuvite F9 (heaviest)

After 2nd pass with Nuvite F9 (much clearer)

Hideous issues.

(not the above panel, just another example of clarity)

From here to the last double lines, I have about 5 hours so far to this point. All of the middle of the trailer on the right side has been cut. There are terrific fine scratches from the F9, but it isn't a concern. What scares me most is the top of the trailer, where 40 years of baking in the sun have taken their toll. I am seriously considering using a custom sandpaper with my DeVilbiss dual-action air sander. The oxidation is that bad.

I apologize for how long this post is going to get over the next month, but it is fascinating to see
how the metal transforms from oxidation to clarity.
Imagine a 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder or a Cobra with an aluminum skin.
This process is how they keep it looking so incredible.

Restoration in process.

1967 Airstream Trailer. The KING (it says so by the door!)

Covered in a protective clear, topcoat has since burned off.
This project will take about a month of Saturday/Sunday's.