Oxidation Remover

**droundtree** · 05-13-2022, 05:19 PM

I am about to start a shine-up project on my 8 year old Solitude and need some advice. First of all there seem to be a lot of de-oxidation products on the market. Anyone have advice on which one is best? Second, some of the decals have cracked so I was thinking of just removing the cracked ones. Anyone have experience with techniques for that? Finally, what roof maintenance product and procedure would you all recommend. All assistance is appreciated

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**livinthelife** · 05-13-2022, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by droundtree

I am about to start a shine-up project on my 8 year old Solitude and need some advice. First of all there seem to be a lot of de-oxidation products on the market. Anyone have advice on which one is best? Second, some of the decals have cracked so I was thinking of just removing the cracked ones. Anyone have experience with techniques for that? Finally, what roof maintenance product and procedure would you all recommend. All assistance is appreciated

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My husband has removed the top decal on the nose of our fifth wheel due to fading and damage. It took a long time. He used various products - alcohol, WD40, GooGone, soap & water. For scraping he used fingernails, plastic putty knife. He worked on it about 8 hours all together (one hour at a time, over a period of about a month). Patience is the key, you don't want to damage underneath the decal during the process. At the time the decal was 4 years old.

We heard later that a carefully used heat gun/hair dryer is pretty effective.

**jkwilson** · 05-13-2022, 06:06 PM

Remember that oxidation is not a coating. Oxidation is sun damage to the gel coat of the camper and any product that actually removes oxidation needs to be abrasive to grind off a layer of the surface. Then it needs to polish what is left so it looks good again. There is no magic wipe-on product to fix it, though some products can hide minor oxidation to a degree.

**Jerryr** · 05-13-2022, 06:19 PM

For decal removal I used these plastic razor blades and Rapid remover.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0818WBNVD
https://www.amazon.com/Remover-Spray.../dp/B01MSFD50H

Work slowly. It takes time.

I use the plastic razor blades to get dried on bugs off my windshield. I use them after wetting the windshield with car wash soap.

Another product I used after some low life kids painted graffiti all over my Reflection was https://www.homedepot.com/p/Krud-Kut...R226/205552884 that didn't harm the gelcoat

**Capt Bob** · 05-13-2022, 09:18 PM

The "chalking" you see is indeed the gelcoat aging. It now has a surface that defuses light rather than reflects it giving that dull appearance. "Wipe on" products fill in the pits in the gelcoat giving it a shiny appearance but it's often short lived so....

Use this product to first level the gelcoat.
https://www.amazon.com/Presta-Ultra-...697642922&th=1

Use this and your drill to remove the vinyl decals.
https://www.amazon.com/Adhesive-Remo...21021261&psc=1

Both are products I have used on my boats with good results.

**droundtree** · 05-14-2022, 12:27 AM

My plan is to use a buffer and remove the oxidation not just gloss over it. I’m just curious which product gets the best results. I know I am going to be expending some elbow grease!

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**Scott'n'Wendy** · 05-14-2022, 04:56 AM

PoliGlow works very well to restore the gloss. You buy it with a cleaner/prep and the poliglow
https://poliglow.com

**Dick Noble** · 05-14-2022, 08:15 AM

I have used Bar Keepers Friend to remove oxidation. You will need to use a good wax after.

**goducks14** · 05-14-2022, 09:26 AM

My previous SOB 5th wheel had that chocolate brown color front cap that so many brands used back in the early 2010's. I used Presta Gel Coat Compound and a cheap Harbor Freight RO polisher with 3 different pads. I followed that with some 3M Finesse it 2 IIRC. Then your wax/polish of choice. Came out looking gorgeous.
Only problem was after all that work the brown cap oxidation returned every 4-5 months. I gave up on the cap and had it painted a light creamy tan/white color to match the exterior of the 5th wheel.
Ironically a couple years after we bought our chocolate brown capped 5er, that same company along with others went to much lighter front caps.

**droundtree** · 05-14-2022, 05:42 PM

Yeah mine has the dark front cap and it was painted after some damage, and the paint is peeling near the top. I like your idea of repainting it light brown.

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