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Almost naked

Now that I have your attention, here is where we are stopping for the winter trip. This is the look we'll go with for now.The rest comes off easy, with no staining of the gel coat.
You haven't lived till you polish some 22.5's. Real happy with it, even though the decals don't make sense. I am chicken to go completely naked, because if I don't like it, I would have a lot more work to do prepping for the new design (seen in pic).
I trimmed the middle section of the old ribbon up to the same level as the front  and rear sections. Seems to look better to me.
This is not for the faint of heart, and my arthritis is kicking in my fingers. I quit counting hours at about 250!
Wish the sun was out, this baby shines.
Cheers
Chris
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

Re: Almost naked

Reply #1
Looks great I like it simple and clean looking ^.^d
Andy & Eileen
MONTROSE COLORADO
1992 U300  40' 6V92 TA
2016 4 Runner
1998 Jeep Grand cherokee

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee) Build # 4135 Skp# 122921

Re: Almost naked

Reply #2
Now that I have your attention, here is where we are stopping for the winter trip. This is the look we'll go with for now.The rest comes off easy, with no staining of the gel coat.
You haven't lived till you polish some 22.5's. Real happy with it, even though the decals don't make sense. I am chicken to go completely naked, because if I don't like it, I would have a lot more work to do prepping for the new design (seen in pic).
I trimmed the middle section of the old ribbon up to the same level as the front  and rear sections. Seems to look better to me.
This is not for the faint of heart, and my arthritis is kicking in my fingers.
Wish the sun was out, this baby shines.
Cheers
Chris
Hans & Marjet
1995 U300 "Ben" (#4719)
3176B Cat,4060HD,Jake
SKP#139131
Motorcade#17579
2006 Honda Element (towed)

Re: Almost naked

Reply #3
"Naked and Afraid"  :)
Looks great Chris..!
Hans & Marjet
1995 U300 "Ben" (#4719)
3176B Cat,4060HD,Jake
SKP#139131
Motorcade#17579
2006 Honda Element (towed)

Re: Almost naked

Reply #4
"Naked and Afraid"  :)
Looks great Chris..!

LOL.... ;D
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

Re: Almost naked

Reply #5
Looks great I like it simple and clean looking ^.^d
Thanks.... :))
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348


Re: Almost naked

Reply #7
Looks great!  And it also looks like you have a really nice shop in which to work.  I have shop envy!
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Almost naked

Reply #8
Looks great!  And it also looks like you have a really nice shop in which to work.  I have shop envy!
Thanks
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

Re: Almost naked

Reply #9
You have 250 hours into removing decals?  Or does that include buffing/polishing the gel coat as well?  Care to share your methodology for either/both?
2000 U320 4010

Re: Almost naked

Reply #10
The wheels look great - what did you use on them?
2000 U320 mid entry  #5688
2006 Jeep Liberty


USMCR retired
SDFD retired
FEMA US&R TF8

Re: Almost naked

Reply #11
The wheels look great - what did you use on them?

Thanks. First washed them with soap and water. Then 0000 steel wool lightly with Mothers aluminum polish. Then Mothers polishing ball on a drill. lastly, finish clean/polish with towel.
They were already pretty good, but this woke them up. About 15-20 min. a wheel.
I do my race car the same way, but no mothers polishing ball. All hand with towels. It was really bad when I got it.
Cheers
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

Re: Almost naked

Reply #12
Took the 3 swirl decals off. Came off in 30 min. Both sides and back.

40 more hours wet sanding and buffing to remove ghosting.

Just need to do the bottom now, no staining there, should be quick.

Got a quote for new stripes as pictured coach, $2000.00- $2500.00

No removal, no buffing, just bringing coached prepped and ready for 3M tape of stripes only. Local vinyl wrap shop that did our last coach.

Chris
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

Re: Almost naked

Reply #13
Chris any idea of how much gel  you had to remove?
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Almost naked

Reply #14
Chris any idea of how much gel  you had to remove?

Started with 320 and or 400 dry paper on a DA,as there was some small razor blade cuts from prior trimming of edges.

From there worked up to wet 1000, 1200,2000,2500,and 3000 by hand. Then 3 levels of machine polishing.Zero wax.

I bet it was 1/6th to maybe 3/32" or more. Lots more was there. Didn't burn through any where. Man does it shine


Chris
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

Re: Almost naked

Reply #15
I have shop envy also.

Congratulations on an amazing accomplishment. She looks great!

I'm on a similar polish project. Got the arthritis, so I have to pace it.
Michael Hayley; Barry Brennan
2001 U320, 36', IFS, build #5909
Buster and Shelby, (Boxers)

Re: Almost naked

Reply #16
Started with 320 and or 400 dry paper on a DA,as there was some small razor blade cuts from prior trimming of edges.

From there worked up to wet 1000, 1200,2000,2500,and 3000 by hand. Then 3 levels of machine polishing.Zero wax.

I bet it was 1/6th to maybe 3/32" or more. Lots more was there. Didn't burn through any where. Man does it shine


Chris
I went from 1200 to rubbing compound then to Aqua Buff.

What did you do to your coach today VIII
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

 

Re: Almost naked

Reply #17

Thanks for the input bud,that would work in most places, on most coaches. But ours had super dark green stain's from the band, and dark green swirls.

The coach had been completely deep buffed at a FT rally, and was super shiny when we bought it

Bleach, sun, and muriatic acid wouldn't touch the stains. Had to DA deep to remove it.

 8)
Chris
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348