Loss of shine on cab-over finish

[golfknut]

The finish on the front of our cab-over has lost its shine over the past several years. I would like to try and restore it and was wondering what is a good product to use.

I see Mequiars has a "Flagship Premium Cleaner Wax" that says it removers light oxidation but they also have a "Mirror Glaze HD Oxidation Remover" product that says it removes moderate oxidation. I guess I don't know what level of oxidation I have but I would think it would be toward the light side.

Would it be best to start with the cleaner wax and see if that does the job before going to the heavier duty product?

[OFDPOS]

DaHose wrote:
A DA is a dual action sander.

This is an orbital polisher

HF also sells a 10 inch model.

Jose

Polisher NOT sander 😉

That would be like saying HF also sells an orbital sander

By using an orbital "polisher" welcome to Swirl Marks and Halo's !

[DaHose]

A DA is a dual action sander.

This is an orbital polisher

HF also sells a 10 inch model.

Jose

[OFDPOS]

Dual Action

If you have the time and want to learn how to do it right, watch and learn from Mike Phillips , this guy knows what he's talking about...
He has several videos and a few books .
autogeek.net

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arn_kVH3BVc

[the_trippers]

What's a DA?

[OFDPOS]

You can do it by hand, but its going to be alot of work !
You can get away with a cheap orbital buffer, but say hello to Halo's and Swirl Marks ..
I highly recommend investing in a decent DA polisher , you can cut your time down tremendously , buy some extra pads, cleaners etc and do your vehicles as well !
As for getting chemicals (polishers , cleaners, waxes) etc I have bought alot from autogeek.net type in autogeek.net look it over it is very very informative.
You can read and learn everything you ever wanted to know about detailing..
It has a forum like here and has "how to video's" etc
Mike Phillips is one of the best ! And he shows you the proper ways to use the product/equipment in his video's !

[tsetsaf]

This is the best kit. Also easier with a cheap orbital buffer NOT a DA. Need to keep a light touch and temps down... very easy to burn through. Meguiars kit

[golfknut]

It is the fiberglass.
I do not have a polisher so it will be by hand.

[OFDPOS]

Are you referring to the gel-coat/ fiberglass ?
If so do you have a DA Polisher to work with or are you going at it by hand ?

Always start off with product that is NOT so abrasive , you can always go more abrasive. Hard to fix when you use too abrasive IE alot more work to polish it out to a shine.

I bought a 2005 FW 5000 that was neglected bad and had alot of oxidation all over including the chassis paint too.
I used Meguiar's Marine*RV Oxidation Remover #49 comes in a Blue Bottle. I found it at the local NAPA auto parts store.
It is a heavy duty cleaner but mine needed it.

You can start out with the first one you mentioned in your post.
If that doesn't cut it then I'd highly recommend the #49 .

You could use this with a DA Polisher just make a few passes instead of like I had to do which was about 5 passes per section.
Then followed up with Meguiar's Ultimate Wax with Pure Synthetic Polymer

At CW I bought a bottle of RV Gel-Coat Cleaner Wax that a sales guy there recommended and with by hand hardly touched the oxidation !

For the paint on the chassis I used Meguiar's Mirror Glaze Ultra-Cut Compound #105 to get the water spots etc off then finished up with Meguiar's Mirror Glaze Ultra Finishing Polish #205 and then a couple coats of Meguiars Ultimate Wax with Pure Synthetic Polymer.

My 5000 is only 25ft so it took me a good 4 days to do the whole rig, I took my time and did what I could each day till the it got to warm to work.
If I was indoors or under a cover could have done it in 2 -3 days

What I did first was clean the roof as best I could and treated it with Thetford roof cleaner /conditioner. (Won't get the black streaks, well not as bad as before)
Then washed the whole rig using Dawn dish soap never letting it dry ,did a small section at a time then hosed it off. I didn't want it to streak the decals.
Using the Dawn soap , it stripped all the old wax (if there was any) off and now I had a fresh base to work on.

Its alot of hard work, but sure looks nice when your done.