Removing Strips and Trying to Repair Fiberglass Finish.

[Blue74]

Long time no post.

I found a great wheel (3M Stripe Off) to remove the stripes from my 15 year old Alfa Ideal; the sun of Arizona does a number on them. I do not plan on replacing them just having a white trailer, easier to wax. As you can see from the photo it looks like the gel coat under the strips has cracked and wanted to know how that has to be repaired.

The reason for removing the strips was to be able to try and remove the oxidation and bring back the white color, it is now something of beige color.

Paul

[Shadowcatche]

The goal is to do as little as you can get away with that will satisfy. This is by nature a some what destructive process, removing material. Start with somthing like Maguire's oxidation remover and do your homework.

[az bound]

If it is actually cracked the only fix is to sand and apply new gelcoat using a felt roller if you do not have a paint gun. As for removing the oxidation and restoring the finish, polishing compound and a random orbital polisher is the easiest.

[ralphie]

Cracks in gelcoat can be repaired with a gelcoat repair kit that you can purchase from marine suppliers. They generally come with several coloring agents that you can mix in to get an exact match to the color of your existing gelcoat.

[Blue74]

Update.

The stripes are gone I spent several days out a Quartzsite and after spending Sunday on the roof and resealing the seams and other openings I spent Monday and Tuesday removing strips. I left the very top ones because of the height and awnings and topper awnings being in the way. I used 3M Stripe Off wheels; it took 2 and worked very well. By using denatured alcohol and a razor scraper I was able to remove small pieces and stains when the stripes kind of melt when you take them off, the blue left the most color.

There is some cracking under the stripes that where in the sun most of the time. But some of it is the actual texturing from the fiberglass that does not show well with the oxidation. The wheel left a bit of yellowing from heat. I tried using the sandpaper included in a 3M headlight restore kit (500 girt) and it remover the yellowing and the oxidation.

So to get a white trailer back it looks like it will need to be sanded, with fine grit and then waxed at least. I have decided to do the area where I removed the stripes and try to find some one that can do the whole trailer and plan to have someone wax it twice a year to keep the finish.

Paul

Thinking of naming it Naked Alfa or Ghost Alfa but my favorite is Great White.