Patina

Does anyone have pictures of a camp inn covered in patina to compare to a camp inn that was walbernized?

Anna&Steve
550 Classic #269

 

Sure we can wait if it looks even and nice maybe we won't walbernize, ours is starting to look a little dull but we dont want to wait to long and have a bigger mess on our hands.


Anna&Steve
550 Classic #269

 

We walbernized ours once at the end of 2008 and two times in 2009 we are looking to see if it is worth the effort we dont want it to get to bad before we deside what to do.

Anna&Steve
550 Classic #269

 

Re: Patina & Walbernizing

Here is some new info copied from the Camp-Inn Facebook page:

New News on the cleaning with Walbernize: After extensive testing we learned a few tricks. One of the big problems with the Walbernize is it is intended for a mirror polished surface. The brushed surface of the Camp-Inn, especially if it has ANY pits (either etched or stones) is far from mirror.

The Walbernize seems to get into the microscopic texture of the brushed surface and makes buffing it difficult. The result is darker blotchy areas that never seem to buff out. Any pits make this problem even worse.

Well, here is the trick! After cleaning with Walbernize, wipe off the excess and don't bother with the buffing step.

Instead, take a paper towel, fold it up, and dampen with lacquer thinner. (not wet, just damp) Put the folded towel over the mouth of the container and tip it for just a second.
One simple wipe will remove the Walbernize residue. Flip the paper towel and wipe a new area. Refold and wipe until the towel is used up. Use a fresh towel and lacquer thinner as touch up. (wipe in a single action, not back and forth or circles, experiment, see what works for you.)

The only negative is that it will remove any protective properties of the Walbernize. The original finish is bare aluminum, so it will be returned to the original bare metal state.

We took some pictures and videos of restoring a badly damaged finish, it came out pretty nice. We will be posting them in the not too distant future. (when we get time) This person (who will remain unnamed) used the "Aluminum Cleaner" setting at the car wash without testing it on a small inconspicuous area first. Don't try this at home kids (or anywhere else for that matter)! It made the whole trailer white and blotchy. He kept getting asked if that was one of the old originals.

Let me know if you have more questions.

Craig

 

Re: Patina & Walbernizing

Betsey thanks for the info if you have any pictures of a camp inn that was never done with walbernize at least for a long time we would like to see what that finish looks like.

Anna&Steve
550 Classic #269

 

Re: Patina & Walbernizing

Thanks for the info - I guess it's a good thing I never got around to buying those two buffers.

Caution note on lacquer thinner:

This stuff is not compatible with the human body. A friend of mine was cleaning a paint gun barehanded and injected some into his thumb. He almost died, but they cut off the end of him thumb instead and saved him.

Use good thick latex gloves and even then you get only about ten minutes of use before it eats through the gloves. Replace them often. Just imagine what it would be doing to your hands without them. You may also want to wear safety glasses. It's easy to get some in your eyes when splashing it around on a wet rag and VERY painful.

 

Re: Patina & Walbernizing

Ken,

Craig said it is a trade off, as they have not yet found anything they can coat it with that does not cause discoloration or other issues (tarnishing).

 

Re: Patina & Walbernizing

Anna & Steve,

If you look on the Camp-Inn website under Teardrop Trips then under "Walburnize" you will see this picture of a badly stained CI:



Here's the after pic:



It took an hour to get the hatch to this point, but that included using the buffer. If you just did the lacquer thinner after Walburnizing, the total time would be about a half hour.

When Craig finds the pictures of the REALLY bad one that he talked about (that used the car wash aluminum polish) I will post them...It was by FAR much worse than the above one and the after results were pretty amazing.

Our rentals have been Walburnized with the buffer once a year and they stay looking great.

 

Re: Patina & Walbernizing

Use mine too to prove that the feat can be duplicated.

 

Re: Patina & Walbernizing

Yep, but it's not working...

 

Re: Patina & Walbernizing

Here are a couple of leads for someone who wants to do some research. First to get it clean.....it appears we have a local shop that specializes in cleaning the aluminum on trucks and trailers (big rigs). Look in your area for a similar shop. A fellow I know says there is a spray-on wash-off product they use to fully restore the finish. At least such a shop could make recommendations and when I get the time I'm going to locate the shop and talk with them. Second, a protective coat is then required to keep things looking nice and the product for that may be Shark Hidehttp://www.airforums.com/forums/f474/shark-hide-protectant-42667.html . This guy uses it on his boats and this link is to an Airstream Fourm. Anyway, hope this helps and provides a project for someone.

Kent

 

Re: Patina & Walbernizing

Kent,

Be very leery of the spray on aluminum cleaners. What we have seen so far is they will discolor the metal on your trailer. Anything that is called a metal whitener. I have seen it be used to remove bad stains before buffing. But, either way you will have to Walbernize the metal afterwards.

Cary

 

Re: Patina & Walbernizing

Cary, I agree about being careful. Still, these guys may have something to offer, just need someone to do the research. I read more about the shark hide and it appears folks have mixed results. Just because my guy uses it on his boat does not necessarily make it appropriate for my trailer! My first trust is the research and experience Camp-Inn has to offer. If you build them then you are likely good at caring for them.

Thanks Cary,

Kent

 

Re: Patina & Walbernizing

Betsey or Cary what do you think about clear coat sprayed on the camp inn after you walbernize and clean with lacquer thinner?

Anna&Steve
550 Classic # 269