Posted 2009-12-03 7:49 PM (#113913 - in reply to #113910) Subject: RE: waxing trailer.
Elite Veteran
Posts: 662
Location: Vanzant, Missouri
Mag & Aluminum Polish or PowerMetal aluminum polish would be the most appropriate product to use. I use the Mothers brand of aluminum polish.No need for waxing. Also have a good buffer. Mine looked brand new after it was done. This was 2yrs ago and it just now needs to be done again..
Posted 2009-12-03 9:08 PM (#113916 - in reply to #113910) Subject: RE: waxing trailer.
Expert
Posts: 2614
It's actually polishing the extruded and any other unpainted aluminum sections of your trailer rather than waxing.Waxing is for the painted areas.The aluminum polishes will rub off black,and,you'll go through a ton of rags getting it off.I'd use a buffer,and,toss the bonnets when you're finished.you won't have to do it often,as was mentioned,it will last a long time which it should,for the job you'll put in doing it!
Posted 2009-12-04 7:39 AM (#113924 - in reply to #113910) Subject: RE: waxing trailer.
Regular
Posts: 69
Location: TEXAS
for polishes the best I have found is english custom polishing truckers polish. It makes a big differnce in long term shine when the polish does not have any acid in it. I found that the alot of polishes have acid in then. That is one reason you get a nicer finish faster, but it does not last as long.
Theese guys know soo much about getting stuff shined up there are also links on there site for polishing tips also.
One paint I really like the porter cable orbital buffer and usually use 3M, evercoat, or adams. I get the pads for that buffer from adams also. That buffer is also real easy to use, with much less risk of damaging a finish like you can do with a rotory buffer.
Posted 2009-12-04 8:39 AM (#113927 - in reply to #113910) Subject: RE: waxing trailer.
Elite Veteran
Posts: 681
Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
Thanks all.. My trailer still looks brand new, but since it's sitting in my driveway.. too wet to put back at the barn without rutting everything up, I thought I'd polish/wax/ whatever it to keep it nice and let me play with it a little more..... This salt air is Hell on everything...Just finished putting a gridwall panel in it and hanging baskets on it.. I like it a lot...Now I can arrange and rearange to my heart's content..Probably one more panel and some more baskets would be just right....I'll try to remember to post pictures.. I wish I had thought to take a before picture to post for comparison.... Now what to do with the 8 corral panels I have stuffed into my rear tack compartment along with my buckets and hay/feed.. Any ideas? I'd thought to mount them on the nose in an upright (vertical) position, but wondered if it'd be too much wind drag.. i don't think my fender is wide enough to hold them all on the curbside and if I split them half and half to the right and left fenders, they would interfere with my dropping my head windows.. I wish they collapsed.....of course a 3 horse slant with a front escape door would have been nice, too..That 3rd stall would have been great for storage..I don't have the power to pull it and couldn't justify a new vehicle (and paying 2 notes) just to pull a bigger trailer than I truly needed.
buffer I do not know the exact wieght but would bet less than 10lbs. My wife has no complaints running it. And like said above the orbital buffer are very forgiving and easy to use.
Adams products are bar none the best. I use the 3m and evercoat when I have alot to do since they can be less. But adams is great, and the only thing that goes on my trucks.
Posted 2009-12-08 11:26 AM (#114073 - in reply to #113910) Subject: RE: waxing trailer.
Regular
Posts: 69
Location: TEXAS
on an aluminum trailer I would acid wash first if it is real bad then polish, that would knock a substantial amount of crud off.
My TW trailer takes about a quart of wax to do. Polish does go further though. I helped a buddy with his polished aluminum Hart 5 horse with dressing room and I think I remember going through 2 quarts, and we acid washed it first. It looked brand new when we were done.
Posted 2009-12-11 6:40 PM (#114165 - in reply to #113910) Subject: RE: waxing trailer.
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 402
Location: Lockport, Illinois
A quart is 32 ounces. A litre is 1000 ml. or equal to four 250 ml bottles or 33.8 ounces. So at $15.00 a 250 ml bottle, a quart would approximately cost $60.00.
Look under the "cleaning and polishing", then click on "metal polishing". For some reason the whole link doesn't work.
I like the 3M and Meguires combination cleaners, deoxidizer and polishes.
Anyone with a wood working random orbit sander, can purchase velcro backed buffing pads. Even though these sanders have a high rpm, the length of each orbit is short, which eliminates most of the heat build up found in conventional circular polishers. They are less aggressive and because of their light weight and size, very easy to use.
buffer I do not know the exact wieght but would bet less than 10lbs. My wife has no complaints running it. And like said above the orbital buffer are very forgiving and easy to use.
Adams products are bar none the best. I use the 3m and evercoat when I have alot to do since they can be less. But adams is great, and the only thing that goes on my trucks.