Spent yesterday winterizing, cleaning & prepping the Barth for 4 month's storage - always a sad affair for me It also concluded a 5-year completely unscientific and totally subjective study I've done regarding the best product to seal unpainted & polished aluminum.

Since 2003 I've applied 17 different products to various sections of the exterior. As I get older (read: more lazy), I wanted a product that would reduce/eliminate constant touch-up polishing made necessary through the normal oxidizing process of bare polished aluminum, especially protection from rain-borne contaminants that accelerate the oxidation and pitting of the surface.

By a long shot, the Grand Champion was GLARE. Upside: Easy to apply, long lasting, great protection from water spotting, minimum compromise of final surface luster, easy stripping when repolishing. Downside: The stuff is $$!

The manufacturer claims it works on virtually any hard surface - I have no reason to doubt this. (Gave some to owner of Beechcraft A-36 w/ new Imron paint job....He loved it & bought more.)

FMI: http://glare.com/ecart/proddet...%2Dglr%2D001%3A%3A01

Surprizing to me, I had to give Second Place to good-ole WD-40, rating it more effective than 15 other products designed to be a "sealer" only. Rubbed in with a micro-fiber, it did the job for the longest time. Downside: Tended to attract dust & road grime more than others, also compromised final luster of finish more than some.

So next Spring, I'll strip and polish once more, apply GLARE to the entire exterior, and hopefully my polishing equipment will then sit idle for a few years

Not a stockholder....Just a customer.....

Lee,

Did you ever try good ole fashioned car wax or Carnuba wax? I've never had to do such a large surface, but wax seems a good product unless it affects the luster too much.

Hi Corey,

Regular consumer grade waxes, including carnuba-based ones, gave a good transparent luster. I marked them down mainly because I routinely wash-down after every trip with some pretty aggressive detergents (I add some low pH kickers). Organic waxes just don't hold up long enough to justify the effort. Conversley, after almost 6 months parked outside, 4k miles and about a dozen washings, the Glare seems to be holding up well, with no noticeable degradation. I could probably leave it as-is now and still garner an occasional Ooh or Aah next season, but it's an ego-thing I guess

Besides, IMHO, your 'Bird's exterior just screams for an application of Glare Just keep in mind that it is not a rubbing compound or deoxidizer....it'll only put a long term seal over whatever is underneath. I'd say you should restore finish with whatever products you like and then go back and apply
Glare for a topcoat - an orbital buffer w/ terry cloth or micro fiber pads make it pretty easy.....

'Course, you've got about 3 acres more surface than I do, so talk is cheap

Sounds like you really thought it through.

I'll need to get some Glare and give it a try. There is nothing like a shiny finish and you are my mentor in that department!

If this (link) is the same stuff, the price is like ten dollars savings.
http://www.parkeryamaha.com/ho...ish12oz.aspx#reviews

quote:

If this is the same stuff

Good catch!.....According to posters on a Harley site, it is the same product, private labeled for Honda. That'll be my future source for sure!

Now you tell me! After I already ordered two bottles.

So this goes on just like a wax? I got to tell ya, I have wheeled my coach out 5 times now already, and I think it needs another once over after 4 months.

I REEEEEEAAAALY like the polished look a lot. I guess I am in the market for a new door. I swear mine is fiberglass.

Here's a result of using Semi-chrome poli on a painted surface. It's not recommended but my paint is getting to the point where nothing will hurt it so I gave it a shot. The big rectangle to the left of the door has been treated up the left side and across the top.


I finished that section and today I'll wax it. Should look OK for a while.

Danny

There was a product, I think they called it liquid
ebony, it was great for cleaning a dull paint surface on cars before waxing. A lot of body shops used it. It did require an electric buffer.
Don't know if it still around. A lot of used car lots also used it ,however they never followed up with the wax as the shine would last long enough to sell the car.
Just an idea.

Astro-Shield and Nu-Finish also work well for restoring finishes; the trick is to continue rubbing after applying (like a spit shine).

Lee,
Now that winter is over and its been almost 6 months since you first posted, just wondering if you have any more thoughts or input on the "Glare" sealer you used. I am looking at this product or Liquid Glass to do our Breakaway. I'm not looking for a "mirror" type finish, just looking to put a good protectant on the paint finish that I do not have to do every month or two. Also, how much would I need to do two coats on a 33' coach?
I never had to do anything to Barth I and it always looked good just by washing it. And maybe that is the same with Barth II? The Sikkins paint is incredible that they put on these coaches.

Hi Bruce,

I think my general recommendations are the same, i.e.:

1. Use whatever product/method/system you like to clean and prep the surface.....GLARE is not a cleaner - just a high gloss, long lasting sealer.

2. Whatever surface you end up with in #1, GLARE will just add gloss and seal the surface.

I used less than 1&1/2, 12oz bottles on a 24' bare metal unit, but I've got zero experience with painted surfaces, so your mileage may vary....

If ya try it, let me know what ya think.....

Enjoy Barth II this season!

I used two bottles on the 93 Regency and it shines! Just took a trip through rain and dirt and it washed clean and clear. I also used it on the windows as they suggest and it performed like Rain X. It looks like a keeper and I plan to continue ulsing it.