Re: [A/S]Clear Coat Polish

[Roy Lashway <rlashway@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Well this is a new one.  Airstream did have some problem with the clear 
coat material in the late half of the 90's primarily because they stopped 
spray fiishing and put on a precoated aluminum panels on the rigs.  This 
finish didn't last two years and so they went back to spraying on 
clearcoat.  Problem arose  that that company who made the old stuff had 
folded up..  Airstream reportedly bought their formula and started  
making product  but it took them a couple of years to get it right so 
they put out a lot of bad product for awhile   Some of the dealers 
(refinishers) also got this bad product.  There were so many problems 
that Airstream then quit the  warranty of the product except if they 
applied it at the factory. Which I think is still the case.  Many 
dealters quit coating with out a/s standing behind the product A/S sold 
them.  Lot of finger pointing went on/goes on.  Well now (for last two 
years I believe) Airstream  again no longer sprays but is now using a 
"new" precoated aluminum.  I have heard that it cannot be recoated and if 
a spot is damage the only recourse is to replace the panel?  Maybe 
someone knows more  about this   However,  there are still dealers out 
there who still do a good job of clear coating but for those wanting to 
clear coat be sure you go to an experienced dealer and one who can give 
you references of work completed.  Then contact the references.  

For those of you with older trailers who want to recoat just remember 
that you may only get 10 years of wear unless you take good care of the 
finish.  This means keeping it clean by washing periodically and at least 
annually  or more often to use Walbernize Glazing product. We have "read" 
from those who have used this product regularly over the years who claim 
their finish is as good as new after 20years or so.  Most a/s owners do 
nothing.  The Walbernize treats the clear coat and keeps to pliable and 
does not permit it to dry out an flake off.  A  point is that you may be 
just as far ahead to polish your trailer as to have it recoated.  Cost of 
polishing and  getting a new clear coat is about the same $100.00  per 
foot the last i heard. Upkeep, if done right, is probably about the same 
which means some form of cleaning/light polishing annually. 

To0 many folks think the Airstream aluminum is a maintenance free finish 
which it  definitely  is not.The anodized finish such as Avion once had 
was pretty close to it and I can't for  the life of me understand why A/S 
doesn't shift to that.  Current finishes are not bright and shining like 
they once were because of the different aluminum used and since Avion is 
no longer being made the A/S could change and would not be noticable.  To 
bad their isn't an option. I often wonder what the current airstreams 
exteriors are going to look like 40 years from now?

Roy Lashway
'78 Argosy,'56 Bubble
WBCCI 1610     VAC
rlashway@zianet.com
web site: www.zianet.com/rlashway