Interior Skin Removal and Clean Up
Details
An airstream shell is simply constructed. There is an exterior aluminum skin — the shiny bit that gives them their distinctive appearance, ribs that give the shell structure (also aluminium), and then interior aluminium skins that form the interior walls. In the void between the interior and exterior skins of an airstream of this age is fiberglass batting to provide some insulation.
Since the shell is coming off, the insulation is being drastically improved, and the interior skins are in pretty dreadful shape, there's a full disassembly required: removing the interior skins, removing the old insulation, then cleaning up the interior face of the exterior skins.
Removing the interior skins is simple. You just drill out the rivets. The key is to realize that you don't need to drill out every rivet. You can remove a few panels at a time in the ceiling for example by drilling out just the perimeter. I feel sorry for anyone who didn't realize this and has needlessly drilled out a few hundred too many rivets. From there you just roll them up, use bungee cords or tie downs to act as a strap to keep them coiled, then carry them out of the window or door.
The insulation part of the job is pretty unpleasant. There's rat shit and god knows what else in there. Needless to say you want a respirator, to cover your skin from head to toe, and big thick gauntlets.
With that part done, I discovered that Airstream used a sort of tarry goo to hold that insulation in place. Removing it is a massive, time consuming job. Even with help (thank you Meg!) it is taking a while.
I've found the following process most efficient:
- Spray the goop with tar remover an hour or two before starting the job — it softens it up a bit.
- Attack it with a heatgun and scrape it off with a plastic razor blade, or various other tools — a dremel with a wire wheel, an artist's palette knife, whatever works.
- Clean the residue off with acetone.
It's an ugly job and the only way out is through. The good news is it's meditative in its own way, and your progress is immediately obvious. Seeing that gleaming aluminium when you're done puts a smile on your face.
