Will Walbernize Fix This?

[John Graves]

Hi all, I’m the new owner of 2012 550 ultra #492

I just had my new like new camper shipped from Colorado where I bought it to my home in Rhode Island. When I flew out to Co. to look at and purchase her, she had a few blemishes, but not as many as she had when I received her. What was supposed to be a four day 2000 mile journey to Rhode Island, turned out to be 3500 mile three-week journey Zig zagging across the country on a bumper pull. (thanks youship)

Any how, the galley door looks like it was parked under a tree or something and then someone tried very aggressively to remove whatever Staind it leaving nasty swirl marks.

I do own a heavy duty Dewalt variable speed buffer, Will Walbernize and my buffer work to remove this mess? Or is there something else I should try?

Thanks for any insite on this matter.

John

 

[Cary Winch]

Yes, I believe most of that will clean up without having to go to a more aggressive product than the Walbernize.

Cary

 

[RShep]

Amazon.com: Mothers 05101 Mag & Aluminum Polish - 10 oz: Automotive

This product has worked well for my 550 which looked a lot like yours. One 10 oz container is enough to do my 550 with a little left over. You will need lots of polishing clothes as the oxidation it removes fills up the polishing clothes quickly. I follow up the polishing with a hard car wax coat. Some disposable gloves or diswashing gloves will help keep the black oxidation off your hands. Commit to polishing an entire area as spot polishing leaves an unsatisfactory appearance. If you use a buffer have lots of extra pads. I keep a bucket of soapy water handy to wash them out as I am working. BTW Costco sells a large bundle of microfiber polishing towels for a reasonable price and they are ideal. I would follow Gary's advice first as this is a more aggressive product than Walbernize. There is a balance between getting the results you seek and creating work for yourself. My first attempt was most ungratifying but with some trial and error I have come to harmony with my 550's finish.

 

[Cary Winch]

Keep in mind that the Mother's is going to polish the camper quite a bit. Not necessarily a mirror finish but far from restoring the original brush finish which is what John is asking to do. For keeping with the original looking finish it would have to be something less aggressive like the Walbernize.

When a camper has a good amount of aluminum conditional issues and needs a more stepped up solution something like the Mother's is a great solution. And it is very possible John might find he may just want to give it a light polish to fully get rid of all the blemishes. This would be the next step if the Walbernize just is not doing the trick. That is the great thing about an aluminum finish like this. You can always buff it out to look great. We have a '03 in the shop right now that had a ton of conditional issues on the aluminum from poor outdoor storage and the new owner wanted it looking like new. We hired a guy to buff it out and it looks great again now, but much shinier than a stock finish. The lightly polished finish like that is pretty easy to maintain too.

What we use is Wizards products. First buff out the tarnish and damage with this:
Turbo Cut™, 32 oz
Then finish it up with this:
Shine Master™, 16 oz

Cary

 

[Brian & Lucy]

Another owner does 50% Walbernize and 50% Flitz Metal polish. I'd used Flitz with success on other items in the past, so had some. For me it's been a great combo. I made the mistake of writing a vacation message on the back of our sandy back hatch. After washing, it looked like it would never come off. Buffer with the products above was great.

 

[mariusz]

Whatever you do let us know and fallow up with pics