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Post by pkrainert on Sept 13, 2012 22:39:50 GMT -5
Hey guys,
I just painted my trailer and its time To reinstall the drip railing. It is not beat up but the finish looks horrible. Is there am easy way to get them looking good or should I just paint them?
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Gone Kayaking
1K Post Member
long live the Vintage Shasta Trailer Forum....we're gone but you are not forgotten!
Posts: 1,600
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Post by Gone Kayaking on Sept 13, 2012 23:23:34 GMT -5
I'm painting mine! Also they are not very expensive if you want to buy a new shiny one.
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vikx
3K Post Member
Posts: 3,556
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Post by vikx on Sept 14, 2012 0:00:42 GMT -5
I use aluminum wheel cleaner first and pick all the old gunk off. If the edge trim is painted, I strip it with Jasco gel stripper, then the wheel cleaner.
Sand with 220 first, then 320 sandpaper. Finally 000 steel wool. I like the old burnished look but you can polish right up to a mirror like shine. Not all of the pits will be gone, but they are much less noticeable...
Mother's Aluminum polish works well.
Different year Shastas have painted trim or not. The early 50s all seem to have had painted trim. (at least the 56 and 57s) I like the aluminum look myself.
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Post by csh2120 on Jan 26, 2013 20:32:35 GMT -5
I used a brass wire wheel on mine and it cleaned them off of all the junk and made them shine like new. The brass wheels wont scratch the aluminum. They make a course and a fine wire. It even cleand off all the silicon too.
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mobiltec
1K Post Member
Restoring The 57 Shasta
Posts: 1,134
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Post by mobiltec on Jan 26, 2013 23:37:18 GMT -5
My next one will get the unpainted J rail. I really like that look. You can clean up the old ones really good and using a regular bench vice you can fix or bang out any flaws and dents. But for really damaged J Rail you may want to just replace. Of course I have a tutorial on J Rail going on the Deville if you are going new. If you use the old stuff it's easy. Using new takes a little planning. Here is the Deville tutorial if you are interested... www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDRBapymAvEThis video has a few pointers for the Shasta involving why J rail is better than Cap Rail and a bit about getting the putty tape on and stuff. This is a combination of old rail and new rail... www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR75nefBQ5U
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Post by Redwings on Jan 27, 2013 0:08:37 GMT -5
Vikx's method works really well. And that gel stripper works fast and great. I used a small wire brush to help remove the stripper and blistered paint. Then went on to the sandpaper and steel wool
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mobiltec
1K Post Member
Restoring The 57 Shasta
Posts: 1,134
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Post by mobiltec on Jan 27, 2013 0:42:05 GMT -5
Im going to try that. J rail is pretty expensive and not easy to find. Also when you do find it they cut it in half to 8 foot pieces for shipping. Luckilly I can get it in 16 foot pieces locally here. But like I say it's pretty expensive stuff.
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