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Introducing 'Minty' - the latest caravan project
Here's the latest caravan renovation - took about 3 months worth of weekends and was great fun to do. Enjoy!
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Craft and Hobbies
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Painting
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Renovation
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Repairing
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Re: Introducing 'Minty' - the latest caravan project
Hello @twocutekelpies
It's amazing how beautifuly polished those parts are. In theory, the polish will stay for at least a couple of weeks unattended. If it's regularly maintained the polish will stay indefinitely. It's only when you run it through dirt, mud and water and don't clean it up will it start to lose its shine. You'll notice it starts to get hazy and then cloudy, those are your indicators that it's time for a quick shine.
If you're willing to invest in your parts you could have it electroplated. There is the option of using Rust-Oleum 298g 2X Ultra Cover Gloss Clear Spray Paint. However, the drawback to using a paint sealer is that it will eventually chip and tarnish. It will be difficult to remove the coating and repolish the aluminium. Using specialist waxes and sealers will protect the aluminium, but you'll still need to buff it to get that shine.
I'm sure @MitchellMc will add more information if he has a different sealing plan in mind.
If you need further assistance, please let us know.
Eric
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Re: Introducing 'Minty' - the latest caravan project
Polished aluminium is a bit of a labour of love @twocutekelpies. To keep it gleaming, it needs regular maintenance. You'd always want to use a sealing product to maintain the shine for as long as possible. I'll be using something like carnauba wax on these parts. However, I do like the idea of a hard clear coat product, and on a window frame which will be exposed to weather, that might be an option. I'm also a fan of what you've done with painting the frames. That's a great solution.
These particular bicycle parts were clear coated by the manufacturer. I've removed that clear coat and repolished, knowing that without the clear they will tarnish quickly. As a temp solution before applying a wax-based polish, I've got the aluminium parts coated in WD-40 to prevent air from getting to their surface and beginning the tarnishing process.
Mitchell
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Re: Introducing 'Minty' - the latest caravan project
This is awesome! can we see the before photos?
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Re: Introducing 'Minty' - the latest caravan project
Hi,
Minty looks great - we have a Millard too "Otto" which we're tackling at the moment. Just curious to the length of Minty - looks similar to ours and never thought of that type of layout. Thanks
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Re: Introducing 'Minty' - the latest caravan project
Hi @DanTomBell,
Thank you for your post and welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.
Allow me to tag @Peggers, so they are notified of your question. I'm sure they'll get back to you shortly with the information you are after.
In the meantime, you might like to check out our Top 10 caravan renovations for some inspiration.
Jacob

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