Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I previously hijacked Danny's (halfdome,danny) thread on polishing aluminum. I figured I better start my own thread to show my results and explain my method. The following comes from Danny's original thread. My next post will continue with my progress.

Danny, I think I am about to hijack your thread, but only because we are using a similar process. Here are pics of my effort so far (EDIT by me--I had previously written I had used Nuvite C7 when I had in fact used F7. I have changed all references to read F7--sorry):

First compounding stage using compound polisher and Nuvite F7. At this stage just one pass working on a relatively small 2X2 section:


After completing a larger section, the difference is really showing:


Another view of the same area:


A view of the hatch after completing compounding, then going over with the Cyclo polisher and Nuvite F7 :


Here is a comparison with where I am on the hatch and what I was able to do on the highly corroded test piece (test piece is on right, reflection on left is the hatch). The test piece had 3 passes with the compound polisher and Nuvite F7, one pass with the Cyclo and F7, and one pass with the Cyclo and Nuvite S:


I did a lot of experimenting on the test piece using the polishing steps suggested on the Perfect Polish website. I can achieve a mirror finish, but it would take 5 or 6 passes with the compound polisher using Nuvite F7 (which is a polish with moderately aggressive cutting capability), a couple of passes with the Cyclo and F7, and a couple of passes with the Cyclo and Nuvite S (their finish grade polish).

The multiple passes are necessary to remove sandpaper or Scotchbrite pad induced scratches. On the test piece, the pits from corrosion never went away, although they should (maybe) with multiple passes. Deeper scratches take multiple passes until the edges of the scratch are "rounded" and blended in.

I'm not sure I want to achieve a mirror finish--that wasn't my objective. I did want a shiny finish and found I was already having corrosion formation that had to be addressed. I know the Nuvite is probably the most expensive route, but I am trying to follow a proven process.

Here are the results of this weekend's sweat and mosquito bites:

Tackled the roof, front, and tongue box.


Another angle of the same thing:


You can see the effect of the compounding step in those photos. What I am doing is 2 passes using the compounder and Nuvite F7 (am I starting to sound like an infomercial for F&?) and then one pass with the Cyclo and Nuvite S. The swirl marks mostly disappear with the second pass and the pass with Nuvite S.

After I finished the second compounding step, I noticed that I was losing light and stepped outside the barn. Lookee what I got to see:


Sometimes you gotta stop and smell the sunset!

I spent today finishing the compound step on the roof, front and tongue box, then one pass with the Cyclo and Nuvite S. This first shot looks great:


In reality, it doesn't look quite that good. Here is another angle


As you can see, it's not perfect, but as I said previously, I'm not going for a perfect finish. This is close enough for now. Maybe someday I will go for a perfect reflective surface with no scratches, swirls, or streaks. It would probably take another half dozen passes for that. But not in this heat and humidity.

Tony cant ya jest fix it up more to a mirror shine jest so we can have more pics?

That looks great Tony...

Dem thar skeeters are about all up n died here in da far nort..I think dey froze thar arshes off..

Classic Finn

Classic Finn wrote:
Dem thar skeeters are about all up n died here in da far nort..I think dey froze thar arshes off..

Classic Finn

Wish that would happen here. I think they have sucked all the blood I have to offer. Feeling pretty itchy today.

halfdome, Danny wrote:Looking very nice Toni . It's obvious you had better aluminum to work with. Even though I put a lot of effort into mine it appears to not be as shiny as yours, and that's okay. We are very pleased with it from what it was. I'm sure the passenger side will come out better given it's not as scratched. Keep up the great work,:applause: Danny

Well, mine is fairly shine, and it looks great from 25 feet. I think part of it might be the grit in the polish. Everyone who has done this has said they had to make multiple (how many is multiple? two? seven?) passes to get scratches and dull ares to shine. Yours is looking great compared to the "before" pictures. In fact, one of the last shots makes it appear you have dually trailer wheels!

There is a guy here locally who has a Shelby Cobra that is bare aluminum in finish. No paint. No sealer. It is polished to almost mirror shine. Looks like a chrome-plated car -- really. I have some photos, somewhere. I know the guy.

I also know the guy who polished it, and maintains it for him. If you want, I can find out how he does it.

I'll look for the photos tonight.

tonyj wrote:Well, mine is fairly shine, and it looks great from 25 feet. I think part of it might be the grit in the polish. Everyone who has done this has said they had to make multiple (how many is multiple? two? seven?) passes to get scratches and dull ares to shine. Yours is looking great compared to the "before" pictures. In fact, one of the last shots makes it appear you have dually trailer wheels!

Tony, I'm sanding the passenger side now with 220 grit and after more than an hour I can still catch my fingernail on some of the scratches. The next level will be 320 grit so no matter what brand of compound or polish a sanded tear is going to require a lot more passes and will never look as good as a non sanded tear. I must have made 8 passes of compound and the same on the polish before the Cyclo and it really didn't make that much difference to the finish but it made it even looking. On the other hand the dualies are just a reflection of your imagination Danny

halfdome, Danny wrote: On the other hand the dualies are just a reflection of your imagination Danny[/b][/color]

Danny--I'm imagining things all the time. In the words of our President, I am the Imaginer.

I tried some 400 grit and after 3 compound passes the area still showed big time. I figured I would have to use 800 or 1600 grit. Maybe just a slick piece of paper! That's when I decided not to sand out the scratches. I know there will be more.


CD--Would definitely like to know the guy's process. After doing what I have done on the trailer, I would never want to try it on a car.

Tony your tear looks so shiny. Your doing a super job on it. I'll have to see it in person. Peg

Thanks, Peg. I look forward to it.