Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

HI,
I guess I did a bad thing to my salvaged aluminum windows by cleaning the aluminum with S.O.S. I'm informed by another post on the forum that the steel can imbed in the aluminum and then rust. Apparently the experts don't use S.O.S. pads on their aluminum for that reason. So, I guess my salvage windows are now educational materials and will soon become roofs for seed starting garden boxes. I have just flunked windows 101 and I'm not even to the measure twice cut once part of building yet. I did learn some things along the way and will probably buy some nice new windows from Grant.
Kris

I looked at Grant's site, and he now has some black framed windows, so I may go there also... I can always do a little rounding on the corners myself.

Yes, aluminum can 'pick up' with abrasion as it is usually soft... but, on windows, I would not worry about it., you can always paint them if it becomes a problem....

I found a source for round cornered, half awning windows for 125 each (12x18).... which is cheaper than the 650 I got from a boat supply place. Screens included.

Thanks Arne,
Is your window source on-line?

Kris

They are, but have no pics.. I called them to get approx prices... getting windows is harder than I expected it to be.. I asked about black frame, round corners w/screens, 12x18 for 125.... Not sure I want to spend that much as I want 4 windows... may go to Grant and get them and then paint the frames.

http://www.dcmco.com/dcmwdcomp.htm

Thanks Arne.
Kris

Kris!
I don’t think you totally destroyed your windows. If some of the steal from the SOS pad did get embedded, you can find it by using water to wet down the windows. Take a magnifying glass after they dry and look for the rust. Use 400 grit wet dry sand paper to sand out the rust spots.
Try it! You may salvage them any way. After all that give them a coat of clear varnish!

Chuck

Thanks Chuck,
I'll try your idea. By the time I'm finished with these windows, I'll know them quite well.
Kris

you can get much of it off with a stout magnet also.

Hi Laredo,
Thanks for the good magnet idea. By the time I get my trailer built to the point the doors go on, the windows will have rusted if they are going to. It seems like each step and decision of this build is taking a long time, but I'm having fun so far.

Kris

Let 'em rust.... it builds character.. and since there must be so little of it (if any, realistically), it can only go so far... I would not fret about it.

That's probably a good way to look at it, Arne.
Kris