[VAC] Re: Polishing - .05 inches of Alclad ?

[Charlie/Betty Burke <burke@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Airstream's parts books do not specifically define the metal used on the
60's coaches. However, for the 69-93 coaches the metal is defined as
.040 thick for the sheet below the belt line and .050 for the side and
roof sheets above the belt line. There is no definition of sourcing but
the metal used prior to mid 1982 is described as "bright metal" and
folks into polishing have had good results with it. In mid 82 to 1994
the metal was described as "dull" metal. It had a more visible grain.
Early experiments with polishing were not promising. I have had folks in
a good position to know say that when Beatrice owned Airstream in the
early 70's they experimented with getting the metal from different
sources because the formed metal changed color so much from the flat
sheet.

Charlie