Polished Aluminum and glare...

[jdaan]

This could be a little bit of a silly question...I just picked up some sheets of mirror polished anodized aluminum for the exterior. I wanted a nice shiny tear, but I'm wondering about the glare going down the road. Has anyone out there with polished aluminum had any issues?

Thanks,
Justin

[halfdome, Danny]

Can't answer your question but was wondering where you got your aluminum.
I polished the roof and galley lid on my teardrop and figure it'll keep the tailgaters away. Danny

[jdaan]

Keeping tailgaters away isn't a bad thing at all. I got the aluminum at Sun Supply Inc, a sign supply company in Portland. There's one in Seattle and several other cities as well. They had it in stock with a vinyl protective sheet and were more than happy to sell it to me.

Justin

[halfdome, Danny]

Keeping tailgaters away isn't a bad thing at all. I got the aluminum at Sun Supply Inc, a sign supply company in Portland. There's one in Seattle and several other cities as well. They had it in stock with a vinyl protective sheet and were more than happy to sell it to me.

Justin

Thanks Justin, I'll check them out. Danny

[aggie79]

Justin,

I used the same polished anodized aluminum on our teardrop and haven't noticed any glare issues.



I really like the anodized aluminum. Although it is not as ultimately shiny as "non-anodized" polished aluminum, you don't have to worry about maintaining the shine. I do give mine a quick coat of liquid carnuba wax every so often. (Don't use aluminum polish - it will remove the anodizing.) It helps keep bird poop, tree sap, and other things from sticking and makes clean-up quicker.

Take care,
Tom

[TPMcGinty]

I have a friends with polished aluminum on their tear (Toby and Sue). I follwed them once and the glare almost blinded me. It made me back WAY off.

[doitright]

On my first trip with my Rear door scotty I liked the shine I had got on it. It took me about 40 hours to shine it up. Well before I got to the campground I was going to . I was chased down once from a man that loved the camper and made a offer (way too low only about 10 X what I had in it) About 10 cars passing me with thumbs up then about 8 cars passing with the other finger up. It was a very sunny day. So more people liked it than had a problem with it. But I have never got it to shine like that again.

[jdaan]

Thanks for the responses. I guess it's pretty mixed, but doesn't seem to be a huge issue. I would prefer more thumbs up than the other finger, though. Maybe the anodizing is enough to keep the glare from being too bad.

Justin

[emiller]

My friend has mirror stainless steel on his tear and I hate being behind him.

[jdaan]

Okay. Made some decisions. I had asked the original question after buying mirror polish aluminum, then started second guessing it. After getting home with the 4 sheets, I realized they had accidentally mixed in a sheet of "brite brushed" finish with the mirror polished sheets. After looking at it for a few weeks, I decided when I went back to exchange I'd exchange the three mirror finish for the brushed finish. It's still fairly reflective, but not a mirror finish. I noticed a difference in glare just pulling out the mirror sheets and loading the brushed into my truck. The look isn't quite as flashy as the mirror, but still sharp. The anodizing should keep it looking nice as well. Good idea on the wax, Tom, thanks.

Justin

[Wimperdink]

My friend has mirror stainless steel on his tear and I hate being behind him.

+1

Okay. Made some decisions. I'd exchange the three mirror finish for the brushed finish.
Justin

Thank you!