Looking for shiny aluminum finish

[arylia]

shiny teardrop.jpg (110.18 KiB) Viewed 1136 times

Hello everyone! This is my first post here, but I have been lurking around for a while. After saving up money for a while I am finally ready to make the jump and will be purchasing my first camper. By the end of spring I will have my very own custom built trailer. As much as I wanted to build one myself, I am not anyone near the skill level needed to complete this project in a timely manner and will be hiring someone to do this for me.

My perfect teardrop would have the exterior of the teardrop featured below (source unknown). The reason for my post is that I was looking for information on this type of aluminum that is reflective and shiny like that of an airstream. The teardrop will be kept in my garage when not in use and keeping it covered and shiny will not be a problem for me.

Does such a product exist and where can I purchase it?

What are the disadvantages of this type of aluminum versus the aluminum found at http://www.wrisco.com/aluminum-sheets/11.html. Does anyone know how much more it costs versus the other aluminum?

My understanding is that the airstreams use a thicker aluminum that is less prone to dents and scratches. Is this accurate?

Thank you so much!
Whitney

[halfdome, Danny]

Whitney, welcome to the forum.
The teardrop you are showing appears to be a mill finish and a lot of polishing to get it to look like it does.
Almost any aluminum sided teardrop could be polished that way if desired.
I've been there done that and will only use anodized aluminum, no more polishing.

Here's an example of what's available in the market place.
Aluminum Sheets
032 4x8 032 4x8 White on White Aluminum Sheet
040 2x2 040 24x24 White Aluminum Sign Blank Masked 1 Side
040 4x6 040 4x6 White on White Aluminum Alliance
040 36x72 040 36x72 White on White Aluminum
040 4X8 040 4x8 White on White Aluminum Sheet
040 4x8 BA 040 4x8 Black Anodized Aluminum Sheet
040 4x10 B/W A 040 4x10 Gloss Black on White Aluminum Raven
040 4x8 CB A 040 4x8 Chevron Blue Aluminum Sheet
040 4X10 CB/W 040 4x10 Chevron Blue 1 side White 1 side Aluminum
040 4x8 BBG A 040 Bright Brushed Gold Anodized Aluminum
040 4X8 BBC A 040 Bright Brushed Clear Anodized Aluminum
040 4x8 BRC .040 4x8 Brushed Clear Aluminum Alliance
040 4X10 BG 040 4x10 Bright Gold Aluminum
040 4x8 bga a 040 Bright Gold Anodized Aluminum Polished
040 4x8 BCA A 040 Bright Clear Anodize Aluminum Laminate Silver
040 4x8 A H/R 040 4x8 Hunter Red R/W Aluminum Sheet .040
040 4x10 HR/W 040 4x10 Hunter Red 1 side White 1 side Aluminum
040 4X10 040 4x10 White on White Aluminum Sheet
040 4X10 B/W 040 4x10 Black one side White 1 side Aluminum Sheet
040 4x10 Y/W 040 4x10 Yellow 1 side White 1 side Aluminum
040 4X10 BBGA 040 4x10 Brushed Brite Gold Anodized Aluminum
040 4x10 BC 040 4x10 Bright Clear Aluminum
040 4x10 BRC 040 4'x10' Brushed Clear Aluminum
040 4x10 CS A 040 4x10 Clear Satin Aluminum
040 4X12 040 4x12 White on White Aluminum Sheet
040 4x12 MF 040 4x12 Mill Finish Aluminum Sheet
050 4x8 050 4x8 White on White PVC masked 1 side Aluminum
050 4x10 .050 4x10 White on White Film Masked 1 side Aluminum Sheet
050 4x10 MF 050 4x10 Mill Finish Aluminum Sheet
063 4x8 063 4x8 White on White Aluminum Sheet
063 4x8 MF 063 4x8 Mill Finish Aluminum Sheet
063 4x10 063 4x10 White on White Aluminum Sheet
063 5x10 063 5x10 White on White Aluminum Sheet Masked
080 4X4 080 4x4 White on White Aluminum
080 4X8 080 4x8 White on White Aluminum Sheet
080 4x8 MF 080 4x8 Mill Finish Aluminum Sheet
080 4x10 080 4x10 White on White Aluminum Sheet
125 5x10 MF 125 5x10 Mill Finish Aluminum Sheet

Danny

[Woodbutcher]

Just a quick story, about shiny aluminum. I caravan-ed several hundred miles behind a very well taken care of Aluminum Teardrop .

This was my view. At times it was dangerous, even with Polarized sun glasses.



At one point a guy behind me felt I wasn't moving fast enough and was leaving to much room between me and the shiny trailer in front of me. So he passed me. He immediately started dancing around the lane, looking for a place that would not blind him. He lasted less then one minute and he pulled over onto the shoulder and let me pass. He then pulled back out on the road and stayed a long way behind us for a very long time. The only way I could drive long distances behind the shiny trailer was to use my peripheral vision to keep from going blind.

I'm not trying to tell you not to do this but your fellow motorists might appreciate the standard shine.

[tony.latham]

The guy's sitting down 'cause he's poooped.



Me? I prefer the patina that grows on your 'drop with age.



Tony

[arylia]

Thanks everyone for the replies! It would be a lot of work to keep clean but would be stunning when it is

Good point about the reflection in other driver's eyes though, I did not think of this and it seems very dangerous!

[martymcfly]

I once saw a guy that was restoring an older Airstream. He was buffing it out and using flour to polish it out.

[aggie79]

I used bright clear anodized aluminum on my teardrop. It is reflective but is nowhere near as reflective as polished mill finish aluminum. The anodizing keeps it looking that way. (It doesn't have to be polished).

The aluminum cost about twice what I could have purchased mill finish aluminum - approximately $1000 for a 4' tall x 5' wide x 10' long teardrop.

[Redneck Teepee]

Welcome Whitney, I agree that the shiny stuff looks great. It is though a real bear to keep looking nice n shiny anodized or not. What's important is get what you want or you won't be happy till you do.

[Tomterrific]

Wow! I never thought about sun reflection off polished aluminum until now. I think polished for the sides and mill for the hatch might be better. Mirrors use aluminum on the back of glass for reflectivity.

Aircraft use Alclad for shiney aluminum sheets. That is a strong alloy with a layer of pure aluminum rolled on top. The pure aluminum is much more corrosion resistant that the alloys which tend to dull.

Tom

[aggie79]

It is though a real bear to keep looking nice n shiny anodized or not.

Actually, the shiny anodized aluminum stays shiny and doesn't dull like polished. Once a year, before camping season, I add light coat of carnuba wax. The reason is not to maintain the finish but to make it easier to wash off tree sap, bird droppings, etc.

[Redneck Teepee]

It is though a real bear to keep looking nice n shiny anodized or not.

Actually, the shiny anodized aluminum stays shiny and doesn't dull like polished. Once a year, before camping season, I add light coat of carnuba wax. The reason is not to maintain the finish but to make it easier to wash off tree sap, bird droppings, etc.

I can't wash and dry mine fast enough not to get water spots, so I go back over with a liquid wax/cleaner in a spray bottle to spiff it up.