Procedure for Applying Plasticoat

Procedure for Applying Plasticoat
,"the plasticoat finish applied to the outer skin of every Airstream trailer and
-' motorhome has been specifically formulated by Airstream to provide maximum
, p.J:'Otection for the shiny aluminum surface while enhancing its rich luster. We
, nave found no other finish which can do this job. The reason is the high
- coefficient of expansion for aluminum~
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Any metal will expand or stretch w.hen heated and contract or shrink when
,cooled. the scientific measure of this stretching and shrinking is the metal's
coefficient of expansion. Aluminum has a high coefficient of expansion which
·-means that there is a lot of surface movement as the trailer heats up in the
- summer sun and then cools in the evening. 'For this reason aluminum is hard
",to' coat successfully. Most coating materials become too brittle when they
, set-up, and tend to crack due to aluminum's surface movement. Airstream's
-:<'j>lasticoat has the necessary flexibility and is the only material recommended
. for use when resurfacing an Airstream trailer. The correct procedures for applying
plasticoat are detailed below.
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Plasticoating a new replacement paneL
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All of the surfaces adjacent to the panel to be finished must be masked
for protection. The masking should be done with paper carefully taped
against all of the edge seams of the panel to be finished and extending
back at least 3' over the surfaces being protected. Never use newspaper
or any paper with a printed surface as masking material. We recommend
using clean brown Kraft wrapping paper for this purpose.
Wash the new panel thoroughly with lacquer thinner. Be sure to use clean
lacquer thinner and a clean soft cloth for this wash. Cloth diapers or
old cotton T-shirts are ideal for this purpose. It is also important to
use caution when washing around the edges of the panel so as not to
get excessive amounts of lacquer thinner on the masking paper. The thinner
can soak through the paper and damage the finish underneath.
Wipe the cleaned surface with a tack rag to remove any dust or loose
particles. Always wipe with the grain of the metal, never across the
grain. Tack rags may be purchased locally at any paint supply store.
'.4.
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Fill ·pressure pot spray canister with plasticoat solution and add a small
quantity of FEE (Fish Eye Eliminator). Use only 1/4 of the manufacturer's
recommended quantity of FEE.
;<·5.
Using 20-25 lbs. air pressure in the pot, and 85-90 lbs. atomizing pressure
at the spray nozzle, apply an even, medium wet flow cmit over the entire
panel. Use extreme care to avoid runs.
: 6.
Allow the flow coat to set up at least five minutes before applying finish
coat.
7.
Using same gun settings and plasticoat mixture, apply a final coat. This
coat should have a shiny wet appearance as it is applied, but once again
guard against, runs. Remove masking paper as soon as final coat has been
applied.
Spot Refinishing.
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Ii~IS··Possible to" spot
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repair
areas on the plasticoat surface
as long as there has. been no damage to the metal underneath. If there has
been physical damage to the aluminum surface, the entire panel must be replaced.
When making spot repairs the entire panel in which the damage occurs should
always be refinished. The recommended procedures for stripping and refinishing
panels are detailed below.
Any plasticoat finish which has been applied for six months or less can be
successfully removed using lacquer thinner only. These panels can then be
refinished according to the procedures outlined above for refinishing new panels.
For"" panels on which the original ·coating has been in place longer than 6 months,
it will be necessary to use the following procedure for refinishing.
1.
Mask off the damaged panel.
2.
Using a paint brush, apply a coat of FormulA "A" Klean Strip or Shields
87 paint remover to the entire surface of the panel to be repaired. CAUTION:
Always wear safety glasses and rubber gloves to protect the eyes and
hands when working with paint remover.
3.
When the old coating has been visibly loosened or lifted (approximately
5 minutes) the paint remover solution should be thoroughly cleaned off
with lacquer thinner using clean soft rags. Always wash in the direction
of the grain of the metal.
4.
Repeat this washing procedure one more time, using clean rags and fresh
thinner.
5.
Spray the cleaned surface with plasticoat by following steps 3 through
7 under "Plasticoating a New Panel".
See step 1 above.
Refinishing an entire trailer.
If the trailer is to be refinished, it should be done according to the following
procedures. Steps 1-4 below must be completed before there can be any pause
in the procedure such as for lunch or breaks, so plan your time accordingly.
1.
Initial Preparation
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
Remove air conditioner shroud.
Remove aU· plastic lenses, mask over light bases.
Mask name plates, decorative trim, etc.
Turn off LP gas supply, disconnect and remove bottles.
Mask plastic vent covers.
Remove license plate.
Mask water fill door.
Mask 110 volt outlet.
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Mask storag~ and seivice"compartme~t';ri~r'm~in door lockS.
Open door and completely mask off water heater and refrigerator
service areas. Close and latch service doors~
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Remove awningS, rockguards, hub' caps. .'.' .'
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2.
Prepare a solution of formula II AIi paint remover diluted 20% by volume
with lacquer thinner of Shields 87 full strengtli' ina pressure sprayer.
3.
Using 25-30 lbs. pot pressure and 50-60 lbs~' gun air pressure, spray the
paint remover mixture and water rinse the entire trailer surface in the
following sequence.
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A.
Starting at the center line of the lower front center panel under
the front window,. working curbside and back around the trailer,
spray 1/2 the front panel, segment 14 in the front end shell, the
entire lower side sheet, segment 4 in the rear end shell, and 1/2
the lower rear center panel.
B.
Immediately return to the front of the trailer and with a pressure
water gun, thoroughly rinse the areas sprayed in step II AII above.
While backing around the trailer, pressure spray the area being rinsed
in narrow vertical strokes using caution to prevent excess water
from splashing back onto the area not yet rinsed. This is important
because cold water splashed on the loosened plasticoat tends to harden
it and make it difficult to rinse off.
C.
Move in sequence to the same area on the roadside, up to the curbside
window sheet area, then to the' curbside then roadside top of the
trailer, repeating the procedures outlined in steps "A" and liB" above.
When rinsing with water it is important to continually wash back
over the areas already rinsed with clean water in order to remove
residue which may wash down.
4.
After trailer has been striped, the entire surface must be washed off using
clean lacquer thinner and clean soft cloths. Change the washing surface
of the cloth and/or the cloth itself frequently to prevent any build-up
of grit or contaminating material. Using clean lacquer thinner and cloths,
repeat. Always wash with the grain of the metal. If any patches of
plasticoat remain on the metal surface after this wash, they should be
removed by using stripper applied with a paint brush, then wash with lacquer
thinner.
'
5.
Using an air hose, remove all moisture from segment seams, around window
frames, etc.
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Using a solution of lacquer retarder with a few drops of FEE added in
a separate spray gun, first spray a fine retarder mist on the area directly
over the main door. Coat this area with plasticoat.
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',8.
"
Using plasticoat containing 1/4 the manufacturer's recommended volume
of FEE (Fish Eye Eliminator), spray the entire surface with a light, medium
wet tack coat. Use 20-25 lbs. of pressure in the pressure pot sprayer
with 85-90 lbs. of gun air pressure. The recommended procedure is to
start at· the top above the main door. Working forward and down, coat
the front curbside quarter. Open' the main door but do not coat at this
time. Move around and coat the front roadside quarter. Move around,
coating the rear end shell then forward, coating along the curbside of
the trailer to the. open main,d~~~ Coat the main door..):~> "
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After applying the initiaf tack coat, use this same procedure to apply
a second thicker finish coat. This coat should have a shiny wet appearance
after application.
CARE OF PLASTICOAT
Since the mid-sixties Airstream has used a protective coating on trailers and
motorhomes that is designed to protect the finish of the exterior aluminum.
It is chemically formulated to meet the stringent requirements of the EPA and
various climatic conditions encountered throughout the country.
On new trailers or motorhomes it is recommended they be washed and waxed
upon delivery to you to prevent damage to the coating which may be caused
from dust or foreign matter, dirty water stains, and bug stains which may
accumulate during your travels. Thereafter the unit should be washed as needed
to keep it clean, and waxed every six months or more often especially in coastal
areas where the finish is exposed to salt air or in polluted industrial areas.
Washing and waxing must be done in the cool of the day, not unlike the reqUirements
for automobile washing and waXing. The coating, known as plasticoat, has the
ability to expand and contract within the large range of aluminum I s higher
thermal coefficiency of expansion. By design it is more pliable and flexible
than automotive acrylic finishes.
It is recommended that the unit be washed with warm water and mild soap.
It must then be thoroughly dried and cleaned before waXing. The wax you
use should be a nearly pure wax: that is, the wax should contain as few chemicals
or abrasive cleaners as possible. It should be a wax which requires only very
light rubbing for application. Under no circumstances should mechanical buffing
be used.
Plasticoat is designed to cure over a long period of time. Life expectancy
varies from location to location and also depends upon the amount of maintenance
applied. Ingredients of the plasticoat material that keep it flexible have a
tendency to evaporate over the life span of the coating. This evaporation
will be retarded by keeping a good cover of wax on your coating, as well as
making subsequent cleaning much easier.
There is no painting process today that has an indefinite life. Plasticoat is
no exception to this rule. If the plasticoat loses its flexibility it will tend
to crack and peel, and the resulting aluminum exposure is SUbject to oxidation.
If cracking, peeling or weathering do occur, temporary repairs may be made
by applying "Clear RV Acrylic ll available in aerosol containers through the Wally
Byam Store at your Airstream dealer. It's important that you protect the aluminum
from oxidation to keep its original appearance.