Most durable Reo Finish?

[nerak]

Thanks Karen! I think mine may be a bit harder, though? It is Tumbled, not a Polished yet.

I bought a Polished off the classys that was a tumbled polished by the original owner. It is great! You might get a better look from a polishing wheel but you must be careful you don't get swirl marks! I am not confident enough to use a power tool on my REO!

 

[Ratman]

How about protecting it once its polished? Does the mothers protect it or the never dull? What would be a good protectant? I just bought my frist REO om the classies, a black grand with a purple door, and I want to strip the door and polish or go with a brushed look on it but do not want it to oxidize on me either.

Or would I be better off just trying to trade someone for the color door I want? Opinions?

 

[SammyT]

Purple doors are well sought after to my understanding. You could probably buy a tumbled door from rob.


-Sam

 

[Sterno]

ya a purple door might go fast in the classys

 

[nerak]

How about protecting it once its polished? Does the mothers protect it or the never dull? What would be a good protectant? I just bought my frist REO om the classies, a black grand with a purple door, and I want to strip the door and polish or go with a brushed look on it but do not want it to oxidize on me either.

Or would I be better off just trying to trade someone for the color door I want? Opinions?

A trade in the classy's might get you a color you want. Since Robert is making the purple again they are not in quite the demand they were. But someone might do a trade.

For a protectant I just use the Never Dull. It is great to bring out that high shine. Never had one oxidize on me.

 

[redeyedancer]

How about protecting it once its polished? Does the mothers protect it or the never dull? What would be a good protectant? I just bought my frist REO om the classies, a black grand with a purple door, and I want to strip the door and polish or go with a brushed look on it but do not want it to oxidize on me either.

Or would I be better off just trying to trade someone for the color door I want? Opinions?

I can help you with a tumbled door if you want to polish a door

 

[Ratman]

I really appreciate that Rob, I just can't afford another door right now. That's why I went with a used one off the classifieds instead of just ordering new from you. I am sure I will be ordering accessory doors from you in the future once I recover from this beginners spending spree.

I am a hacker DIYer and have had good results doing brushed look on motorcycle and ATV parts with a brass wire brush drill and dremel attachments and/or scotchbright pads, but afraid to do that with my REO. The polishing sounds like a fun project though. Been researching methods to refinish anodized. Who knows, I may just like the purple and stay with it till I can buy a 2nd door from you. I do not dislike the purple, just not my first choice, more like my 5th LoL

 

[redeyedancer]

I really appreciate that Rob, I just can't afford another door right now. That's why I went with a used one off the classifieds instead of just ordering new from you. I am sure I will be ordering accessory doors from you in the future once I recover from this beginners spending spree.

I am a hacker DIYer and have had good results doing brushed look on motorcycle and ATV parts with a brass wire brush drill and dremel attachments and/or scotchbright pads, but afraid to do that with my REO. The polishing sounds like a fun project though. Been researching methods to refinish anodized. Who knows, I may just like the purple and stay with it till I can buy a 2nd door from you. I do not dislike the purple, just not my first choice, more like my 5th LoL

I hear ya purple is not on my top ten list ether . I always have scratch and dent doors around the shop when your ready hit me up I will treat you right

 

[FeistyAlice]

Hi, all:

I have two Minis that are pretty beat up from repeated drops, accidental flings, a lot of interactions with sand, and several dips in the ocean. The insides still work great, but the outsides are a bit tattered.

As I ponder my next Reo purchase, I'm wondering if the textured, veined, or powdercoated finishes might show less abuse over time. The look of the tumbled finish doesn't appeal to me, unfortunately.

Thoughts?

Jay

The thing you must consider is the anodized finish is actually imbedded into the aluminum. The powder coat is applied and a tough finish but it is on top of the aluminum. I would stick with a anodized and go with the silver if you do not like the tumbled. The silver would show less damage from scratches because the aluminum would match.

Any finish you go with you know it is going to hold up good. But those accidents will happen and they cause any finish problems.

I totally agree with Nerak, Karen. We have at least one silver anodized in each style and all the older colors so lots to compare. The silver anodized finish is almost exactly the same color as the bare aluminum so even large gouges don't show up well unless you inspect them closely.

The problem with the tumbled is that if you want to retain consistent "look" you can't polish out single ding/scratch/gouge spots without putting a polish on the area that you are working on and then it doesn't match the rest of the finish. You can buff out scratches on the Polished but they are extremely prone to fingerprints and even minor scratches show.

As Nerak said, you can put covers on them. But nothing is as forgiving as the Silver anodized.

I'm using an anodized Silver Grand right now. It has a smushed top edge from a significant drop onto hard surface. I don't even notice it and had forgotten all about it when I pulled it out last night to use after being in storage for a while. I didn't see it till I drew it up close to my face to vape.

Feisty Alice

 

[FeistyAlice]

Very used and "abused" anodized Silver Mini.

 

[FeistyAlice]

 

[creekside]

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one whose Reo lives a challenging life. Thanks for all the pics!

Jay

 

[FeistyAlice]

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one whose Reo lives a challenging life. Thanks for all the pics!

Jay

Metal REOs are built like tanks!!!!!!!!!!!! And there are many, many, many REOs that live challenging lives. After DH put a few dings on several of our other colored REOs I got him the Silver Mini for away from home (in and out of car with full hands and lots of concrete) and weekly air travel although he still carries his Curly Oak VVW for weekly air travel. Although it has had its fair share of drops/slings it is still pristine. (Curly Oak is one of the toughest Wood REOs and is very forgiving. One of my "swimmers" is a Curly Oak Woodvil) We had a talk and he's agreed to leave the VVW at home and start carrying his Silver Mini again. Although he promises it will never happen again he did leave a REO in a rental car way back. It was a very early Black Mini and is even more valuable to we "collectors." He uses the same car rental place every week, out of town. He called several times to see if it had been turned in but no luck. When he went down the next week they had it at the counter for him. VERY Lucky!!!!

I'm getting him a Silver VV Grand when we have the funds. He's going to love the side button and it will be more replaceable than an original VVW. He can still use VVW at home and carry it to our spa. (We are home of the "swimming" REOs but he hasn't let his VVW take the plunge. I'm the worst offender about that, permissive Mom here, so my VVW doesn't go to the spa or pool.) I'll eventually get a Silver VV Grand for me but I need to sell off some of the grand kids first.

Feisty Alice

 

[creekside]

Just thought I'd update everybody who was so kind as to advise me. I bough the silver anodized and am happy with it. With a stainless ERA RBA and a stainless Super-T whistle-tip, it looks nice.

However, my concern about dropping the VVG was unfounded. I've discovered that the size of the device makes it easier to hang onto; also, maybe I'm subconsciously more careful with it since I know it has some electronics in it.

So one day I'll get a back-up in a color, but the silver anodized is just perfect anyway.

On a side note, with the ERA RBA, I'm happy that I can use the stainless whistle-tip without burning my lips. Previously, I was only using delrin tips because the metal ones just got too hot.

Thanks, all!

 

[sjoat]

My silver anodized is almost exactly the same silver as a macbook pro

what drip tip / atty is that?

 

[adeline]

what drip tip / atty is that?

Looks like a canon drip tip over a 306 atty.