Mini2nut

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Updated with polished Cybertruck rendering by @GBall

Tesla Cybertruck Polished Mirror Finish.png




Polishing stainless steel to a mirror like finish takes some effort, even more so than aluminum because it's a harder metal. A small Airstream travel trailer will take roughly 200 hours of labor. Anyone plan on going this route instead of a custom wrap?



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Mini2nut

Mini2nut

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I'm sure more than one person is going to do it. Someone soon will have a polished stainless steel CT towing a polished stainless steel Airstream travel trailer. That will turn some heads?
 
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Dr Barnacle Luffy

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I think it would be like camo. Almost make the truck disappear. But wonder about reflecting sunlight into other drivers eyes? Reflecting light would surely give your position away...
 
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I occasionally see a polished stainless steel gasoline/diesel tanker being pulled by a semi on the road.
 

OneLapper

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Polishing an Airstream would be more work than the CT.

3mm stainless steel wont warp much, if at all, while cutting and polishing, unlike the Airstream.

I'd sand with 400 grit, then again with 600, then "cut & color" with Airway pads, rouge, and a 6000 rpm variable speed buffer. I'll bet a pro could do the CT in 40 to 50 hours.
 

Edisonsucks

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I will probably wrap a portion of the CT to customize it specifically for me.
Besides, when it’s next to 5-10 others in a parking lot I will know which one is mine.
:cool:
Same. With it being a pretty easy design most people could probably do it themselves.
 

mrbulk

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I'm no wrap expert (although I did apply a band-aid on my shin just the other week) but thinking a completely flat-paneled surface like the CT, which would likely require almost no stretching or pulling or form-fitting of vinyl over oddly shaped and curved surfaces, might simplify wrap jobs by a lot? And therefore maybe reduce the usually high cost?
 

ReddykwRun

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The surface of soft aluminum and 303 stainless steel are entirely different. Soft metals polish up pretty easy were as hardened stainless steel may not show any luster no matter how much time you put into it. The surface grain is totally different, under a microscope, it is not really that smooth, lots of micro furrows which may also be an issue with wraps preventing them from bonding with the surface. Compare putting a piece of tape on smooth glass vs. on an unpainted concrete surface. Personally I like the maintenance-free skin, it appeals to me after years of having to baby aluminum skinned aircraft with stress cracks, dings, corrosion, painting, and such. Don't want to have to pamper it so I'll get it washed by some girls down the street at a sorority fundraiser.

 
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frankenbeans

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I'm no wrap expert (although I did apply a band-aid on my shin just the other week) but thinking a completely flat-paneled surface like the CT, which would likely require almost no stretching or pulling or form-fitting of vinyl over oddly shaped and curved surfaces, might simplify wrap jobs by a lot? And therefore maybe reduce the usually high cost?
Exactly this. These will be the quickest, easiest wrap jobs ever. But I intend to keep mine bare-naked no maintenance steel.
 

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