Paint or polish?

[user 423]

Which would be less work on an old, faded trailer like this? 

Prep and a DIY paint job (roller) or polish it?

 

[B and C]

If you are fixin' it up, I would think it would be worth a lot more polished instead of looking like a cheap tin one.

 

[kygreg]

Painting it is far, far easier than polishing.

 

[B and C]

Painting aluminum is not so easy: https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-paint-aluminum/
Polishing may be easier.

 

[highdesertranger]

is there an old layer of paint still on it? it kinda looks that way, if there is I would paint it. you will be sick of trying to polish it after a couple of days.

highdesertranger

 

[user 423]

There's still some paint but it's very faded.

Maybe a little bit of both?

 

[[email protected]]

Slow2day, I repainted my 28' Dutchmen Class A about 5 years ago and it still looks great. Mine had all of those hideous decals that I had to remove. My grandson (a house painter) used a gripper primer from Sherwin Williams and then their mid grade house paint. He used a hvlp paint sprayer that worked great. If you paint it use good primer and paint (not necessarily auto paint) and follow the preparation instructions to the letter. You will be glad you did. The picture is our 1993 motorhome just before we went to Quartzsite in February.

 

[user 423]

... used a gripper primer from Sherwin Williams and then their mid grade house paint.

Oil based,right?

 

[speedhighway46]

Polishing is A LOT of work. I would question the worth of your camper to invest the amount of effort required to polish, unless you are doing it solely for personal satisfaction. If your unit were a mid-60’s Airstream worth $40,000 after polishing, then maybe.

For painting, may I suggest Rustoleum Self-Etching primer; made specifically for painting aluminum. I use the gray primer and the finish coat really sticks after using this stuff.

 

[tx2sturgis]

You won't have to worry about fainting paint then and it will be pretty!

Yes, I hate it when my paint, faints.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Polishing would be a lot of work and require at least yearly maintenance to keep it looking good.

Painting anything requires a lot of surface prep if you want it to last and look good; figure > 10 hours of prep for an hour of painting.  Any shortcuts risk adhesion problems.

Follow paint manufacturers instructions exactly if you want it to last and look good.

Painting with a roller will give you an 'orange peel' finish, The longer the nap on the roller the greater the roughness.  Smoothest finish will be with a foam rubber roller.

Getting a good finish using a sprayer (can or gun) is all about technique.  You will need to practice a lot to get a nice result.

Roller will use a lot more paint.

Spraying will require more masking and covering.

Exterior house paint works ok.  Much cheaper than automotive paint and less clean-up.  You will need a primer that works with aluminum.

 

[tx2sturgis]

One word: Wrap.

Neon yellow-green with purple unicorns and chartreuse bubbles? Anyone?

:angel:

 

[[email protected]]

Oil based,right?

No it was a latex paint from Sherwin Williams. Nice finish, easy cleanup and it is tough.

 

[eDJ_]

Do you have access to electric service,  120 volt AC ?   Are you in any kind of hurry ? 
Does the thought of doing a section each day appeal to you so that you can 
polish the whole thing over a week's time ?

10 in random orbital polisher

If so this would be my suggestion.  Harbor Freight sells this polisher for $20 plus tax.



[img=300x375]https://shop.harborfreight.com/medi...525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/6/1/61898_W3.jpg[/img]

Shop around to find polishing compound for as cheap a price as you can find it.
Harbor Freight also sells replacement pads for this polisher too. You may want an extra pad or two.

A step ladder may be handy to have while doing this too. Then do a little each day so you don't 
burn out or make your muscles too sore.

I've seen people use cheap tooth paste for buffing out plexyglass
boat windshields too.  (when they have become clouded just like car
headlight lenses)

Generally when polishing paint you will want a slower tuning turning buffer.
Something like 1200 rpm.  This polisher states it can turn up to 3000 rpm.

I've seen people paint whole cars with spray paint cans.  Then wait a week or two
before polishing them out.  Generally painting them white or black so they can 
buy plenty of one dollar spray cans.

 

[user 423]

Thanks for all your answers folks.  I haven't bought that trailer in the pic but do run across some project trailers on Craigslist and wonder if taking a chance on one would be a good idea...LOL.

I know they can be a ton of work but some could turn out to be worth the effort. Maybe like this one:

 

[tx2sturgis]

Shiny!