A Warning...

Whoa! I can't find it now, but I swear a year of so ago or so there was a pic or a short video with Craig showing how to Walbernize. It was taken from his right side and he was standing behind the tear finishing polishing the hatch. (The easiest part.) He had that smile Evan knows and I want to say a freshly ironed short sleeve plaid shirt. I'm either crazy, dreamed it or it has been removed from the site. Your call Betsey. Boy, am I brave.

I believe anything one does to the mill finish on CI aluminum will affect how it looks, including kissing it. When I used the Turtle Polishing Compound in the green can my mill finish was history, however it did not alter the finish I had other than to make it shine more. I think all retail rubbing compounds for automobile use are medium grit. I did find 3M liquid rubbing compound to be a little more gritty and the liquid really eats aluminum - not good. One can feel different grits with the fingers. As rubbing compounds are made to clean and polish paint they will not remove your mill finish in normal cleaning use. Theoretically they will clean the valleys and round the peaks a little.

Now the important part. Technique and experience. They will determine what it looks like when you are done.

Hilditch
 
Hilditch said:
Now the important part. Technique and experience. They will determine what it looks like when you are done.

Hilditch
Click to expand...

I am setting Mick off to do it, so who knows. He is good with the claybar on the car, so he knows a bit about polishing vehicles and getting them clean. He did a test on the alcan and things looked better, but we will have to try with something like turtle wax.

Thanks for that update. We were guessing it would be something along those lines. Did all of this knowledge come from experience with the trailer, or was this experience from your trade/hobbies?
 
Just FYI, for folks interested in this issue. Here is an email I got from the WoodyWax folks:

I spoke with Woody to get his recommendations:

1. To clean the raw aluminum- Woody recommends WOODY'S ULTRA GLOSS RESTORING COMPOUND. This can be very messy- because of the black residue. Woody has been developing a new product - a rinse able raw aluminum polish which he asked me to send you a sample of- which is easier to use, and not as messy. I will send both - a Compound sample- and a rinse able metal polish sample.

2. To protect, he suggests his WOODY WAX. I will enclose samples of this as well. After you have cleaned, apply with a cotton glove or towel, and then wipe off with blue shop towels.

I will send you a goodie package with instructions...please e mail or call with any questions.

Congratulations on your new trailer ! You will receive another e mail with your shipping information for your FREE SAMPLES !

Sue
Susan Hughes
WOODY WAX
(561) 741-4424 or (800) 619-4363
Fax: (561) 741-7814
woodywax22@aol.com
 
OK now I am confused.
I got Lily a few months ago and have not done anything to her finish besides a wash at home after each camping trip.
Does Camp-Inn recommend waxing first thing right after purchase? I'd think CI would give it to us with a wax coat if that's what was needed.
Wax, walbernize, sharks -- what's a girl supposed to do???
 
Monica said:
OK now I am confused.
I got Lily a few months ago and have not done anything to her finish besides a wash at home after each camping trip.
Does Camp-Inn recommend waxing first thing right after purchase? I'd think CI would give it to us with a wax coat if that's what was needed.
Wax, walbernize, sharks -- what's a girl supposed to do???
Click to expand...

use the WoodyWax
 
Yes, the general consensus seems to be to go with the Woody Wax.
I started out planning to just let mine fade naturally, but I think I drove over some nasty salted roads and my aluminum skin looks quite a bit worse than a lot of the older Camp-Inns that I've seen. I know Camp-Inn has been testing the Woody Wax, but I haven't heard anything official from them yet.

The Woody Wax is pretty easy to put on - but you want your aluminum to be looking good before you apply it. My trailer will take a bit of work to get back to that point. Perhaps yours is still in top shape.
 
I spoke to Cary. He suggested I Walbernize, and that a pro will likely do a better and faster job than if I do it myself. He has someone else do his. He also said to try some Bon Ami for the greasy handprints the looked-loos left, but that didn't work. Walbernizing that small area did.
There is a page of directions for Walbernizing on the Camp Inn website.

I have decided I'm okay that Lily shows her wear and tear. Kinda like me - my wrinkles and other unmentionables are okay. I never was one for make-up LOL, but we do like clean!
 
I have read all this and am confused. What if anything should I have some one do at the factory or is there somewhere close that would either wax, sharkhide, etc to protect the finish till I get home. I will have to drive over 2000 miles till I get where I can do something myself? Is a week or more likely to do any permanent damage that could be prevented? Thanks, Dave
 
Ask Cary if they will Woody Wax it before you pick it up. He has someone local who can do it if willing. Walbernizing is something you do after a finish is compromised. Once Walbernized you will still have to wax it. Think of Walbernize as a high quality rubbing compound.
 
I lost our local guy that did the polishing (he had a career change). So this is not something that we can offer to anyone anymore.

Cary
 
Dave,

Not sure when your pick up day is, but as long as you aren't driving in freezing conditions, you will probably be fine. I picked our trailer up in October and ended up driving through a big storm with freezing conditions. The Midwest salts the roads (not something we see here, although I have been trying to find out what our de-icer solution is made out of). I ended up with some white oxidation spots on the sides from that. Others might have other opinions. Joan and the other NWerners can give you more tips.
 
I left CI on June 1st. We stayed close and it rained that night and the next day. On the 3rd we stopped back by CI and I pointed out the stains running down the sides, back and front of the tear that remained after a bath. I was given a bottle of Walbernize.

The rest of the story can be found here by searching "Woody Wax."

Hilditch
 
Thanks for the above information. My trailer won't be ready till late Oct, or Nov so I was concerned but I guess I will have fun with the buffer and Woody wax when I return. I was hoping to have it done ahead of time but unless something changes I guess I will just deal with it at that time.

Again thanks for comments above. Dave
 
An hour of prevention equals 16 nasty hours of cure. One can't wax a tear in an hour but the ratio still applies. As others here can attest, the aluminum mill finish and a buffer get along like a wire brush and fine china. Most just throw in the towel. It's a matter of personal pride, priorities and investment.

Hilditch
 
Thanks Hilditch, I was looking for the hour of prevention but don't know where I would wax a new trailer 2000 miles from home. I don't plan on taking a buffer and rags with me. Should I be start looking for detail shops in the area or are there any?

Unless I am reading all this wrong a new trailer would be ready to wax when you pick it up. Is this correct? The wallbernizing is just a cleaner that you would use once you get it dirty. And again what about the sharkhide has no one confirmed that it is an easier product. Ladymc seems to like it a lot. Dave
 
If you wanted to, you might be able to wax it before you leave. I think it only takes a couple of hours.
 
Last guy that did a mirror polish was too afraid to use his after that. He ended up selling, and getting a new one...
 
But Bill won't be like that, will you Bill? We've seen a small Airstream with the mirror finish and it didn't stop the owner from camping. Looked real nice, too. Heck, you can always polish it again and if you find you don't like the effort in a mirror finish, just let it go. Time and travel will put her back to the original look. At least you will have tried it.

Now I like the idea of giving our CI a circular pattern, sort of like the Spirit of St. Louis, but Jim won't have it.


He's probably right, as usual.

Camp On,

Sue
 
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