Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Well my friend came by to bring these to us this evening.

Was wondering. What is the best way to clean these up and make them look great again?





Im going to try to see if baby moons will fit these. Even though a hole must be drilled into the center.

I can't tell you anything about cleaning the rims but I just wanted to say hello from a Finnish American.

Jocko.

For those I'd look around for someone with a media blaster (not sand) to clean them to bare metal without loosing material. Then a nice powdercoat finish. They'd look like new and the new finish would last a long time.

Is the hubcap chrome? That might be a little more costly to have that re-done. Sure would look sharp though

High Desert wrote:For those I'd look around for someone with a media blaster (not sand) to clean them to bare metal without loosing material. Then a nice powdercoat finish. They'd look like new and the new finish would last a long time.

Is the hubcap chrome? That might be a little more costly to have that re-done. Sure would look sharp though

Media blaster is that with them plastic pellets or bb,s sort of speak?

Hubcap is chromed, dont know yet what is underneath though. Thats why I was thinking if baby moons would work on these with just a little work to fasten them on since the hole in the middle.

Classic Finn wrote:

High Desert wrote:For those I'd look around for someone with a media blaster (not sand) to clean them to bare metal without loosing material. Then a nice powdercoat finish. They'd look like new and the new finish would last a long time.

Is the hubcap chrome? That might be a little more costly to have that re-done. Sure would look sharp though

Media blaster is that with them plastic pellets or bb,s sort of speak?

Hubcap is chromed, dont know yet what is underneath though. Thats why I was thinking if baby moons would work on these with just a little work to fasten them on since the hole in the middle.

Glass bead cabinet.

I recently had a Honda motorcycle engine blasted with walnut shells. Left a really neat burnished finish not micro pitted as with sand or glass media. Unfortunately the guy closed shop or I'd have a lot more done!

I agree that having them sandblasted/media blasted(by using fine sand and keeping the pressure to a minimum you don't remove as much metal as some people suggest). I've always thought that sandblasting would be a good way to clean the interiors of rusty scuba tanks. People have told me that it would remove too much metal and make them unsafe. They've never explained this and can't explain the cup of sand I dumped out of a brand new scuba tank when I went to assemble it when I worked at a scuba diving shop. Apparently the manufacturer of the tank thought sandblasting was ok and did so to remove scale from the interior of the tank before selling it.

Cheers,

You can have them Soda blasted. Soda Blasting leaves a good clean surface . Baking Soda is used and does'nt cut into the metal, just the paint and grime. Then have them powder coated as suggested. You may want to take them to a tire shop and have them checked to make sure there good and straight and not out of round or warped before starting with all the work. Easier to fix before they get finished. Good luck and post some pics of the progress.

we had a house that burned... an antique mirror was heavily coated in smoke damage... I used oven cleaner... worked great.

Safest is to have them soda blasted and re chromed.

Hi, Finn:

I can't tell exactly what you have there; but, if it's chrome and rust, you might try using some Coca-Cola in a couple places and see how it turns out (the soda pop that people drink). If it is just dirt and rust on the chrome, it will take it off and the chrome underneath the rust may be okay. (Try rubbing with a cola- soaked soft cloth.)

This is an easy, inexpensive solution to try. If it doesn't work, you won't be out a lot of money or time; but, if it does, you'll save a lot. I have done this with bathroom lights, mirror frames and plumbing fixtures in a couple old homes and it has saved me from having to replace some of it.

Shadow Catcher wrote:Safest is to have them soda blasted and re chromed.

Thanks, Chroming has been banned here in our country due to the pollution it causes and all other effects by the contaminates.

I may have them powder coated. This is one of my main thoughts so far.
Ive started cleaning them up with a real fine steel wool little by little. Cant tell if they are chrome or not as of yet.

Kind of exciting as to what is underneath though.

S. Heisley wrote:Hi, Finn:

I can't tell exactly what you have there; but, if it's chrome and rust, you might try using some Coca-Cola in a couple places and see how it turns out (the soda pop that people drink). If it is just dirt and rust on the chrome, it will take it off and the chrome underneath the rust may be okay. (Try rubbing with a cola- soaked soft cloth.)

This is an easy, inexpensive solution to try. If it doesn't work, you won't be out a lot of money or time; but, if it does, you'll save a lot. I have done this with bathroom lights, mirror frames and plumbing fixtures in a couple old homes and it has saved me from having to replace some of it.

My father also spoke of using Coca Cola for this. Gee a glass for me and some for the wheels.

I have to second the oven cleaner. Works great on getting metal clean, make sure you get the cheap stuff with a scull and crossbones on it. The "Enviromental" stuff isn't as caustic, and may clean an oven better, but what you really want is a caustic cleaner. I have also had good luck with coil cleaner, but you may have to find an industrial chemical suplier such as Motion Industries, or Fastenall to get it.

I'm surprised the media blasting didn't get picked up on. A little secrete, Harbor Freight sells the wallnut shell media, and you can pick up a cheapy blaster while you are there. (I'm assuming you have air though.) If you want to actually use sand, skip HF and head to TSC. They have a recycled product (Diamond) that I have been using for years, and it is super cheap.

dh wrote:I have to second the oven cleaner. Works great on getting metal clean, make sure you get the cheap stuff with a scull and crossbones on it. The "Enviromental" stuff isn't as caustic, and may clean an oven better, but what you really want is a caustic cleaner. I have also had good luck with coil cleaner, but you may have to find an industrial chemical suplier such as Motion Industries, or Fastenall to get it.

I'm surprised the media blasting didn't get picked up on. A little secrete, Harbor Freight sells the wallnut shell media, and you can pick up a cheapy blaster while you are there. (I'm assuming you have air though.) If you want to actually use sand, skip HF and head to TSC. They have a recycled product (Diamond) that I have been using for years, and it is super cheap.

We have an equivalent oven cleaner that I,ll try.

Be sure to wear gloves.