Barber RV

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BarberBarberRVSince 2010, HofArc has renovated more than 50 Airstreams for dozens of clients. We specialize in custom interior designs and upgrading components. Our team is focused on installing new systems, along with modern appliances,and materials, plus expert metalwork and polishing.

But there’s one part of the process we don’t handle — the running system. This is also known as the mechanical system, which includes the tires, axles, bearings, brakes, shocks, chassis, hitch, and hitch jack.

RVlogosFor the mechanical work we refer our clients to the Barber RV service team in Ventura. Barber has been in RV service business for so long that they have encountered almost every problem, modification or service that can be done to any recreational vehicle. We depend on their technicians to give your Airstream the very best in service.

BaysTo be sure, they are not your average RV company because they have a passion for the RV lifestyle, and many of them are RV owners themselves. They’re also a great group of people, headed up by a couple of real pros.

Service Manager Justin Smith and Service Advisor Gene Madsen are the type of guys you can trust because we do. Our renovation clients have appreciated their skil and experience to get their vintage Airstream road-ready — quickly, safely and reliably.

HofArc Holiday Celebration

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Montage1

The holiday season at HofArc is all about family and friends. It’s a chance to pause and show how much we appreciate each other.

This month, we celebrated with a delicious dinner at Cádiz Restaurant Lounge. This casual, yet elegant, spot is one of the up-and-coming stars on Santa Barbara’s State St. It’s unanimous, Cádiz gets a big thumbs up from HofArc, and if you give them a try we think you’ll agree. If you’re looking for an amazing culinary and top shelf evening out — this is the place.

Max&ChristineAbout 30 of our team members and their guests joined in a delightful evening that was opened up by HofArc’s owners Matthew and Wally Hofmann. “We are so grateful for the personal care and quality you each put your work,” said Wally. “Your fine craftsmanship is only exceeded by the value of your friendship… we are so blessed to share each day at work with you.”

Then we all got down to the business we know best: having a great time. How fun? Well, as they say in Las Vegas, “What happens at Cádiz, stays at Cádiz.” Suffice to say, we did have a perfect evening thanks to a the amazing team that owners Messina, Dante and Michael DeRose have assembled.PeterJesusAdam We especially like the way that Cádiz is a family — just like HofArc.

Whether your evening calls for a party of 30 (as ours), or a delicious dinner for two, you’ll be treated to a cornucopia of seafood, pizzas, pastas, and creative entrees. Or, you may simply want to enjoy a seasonal cocktail and scrumptious Italian small plates. Either way, at Cádiz you’ll be treated to Southern Seaside fare and first rate service in the heart of historic downtown Santa Barbara.

Johana&CollinThere’s a reason their food tastes so good — it’s all fresh and local. Several times a week, their Head Chef Alex Bollinger, Consultant Chef John Pettitt and their staff shop the local Farmer’s Market for fresh produce. Almost daily they visit the Santa Barbara Harbor for fresh seafood such as crab, lobster, and sea bass.

Did we mention the drinks? Ah, yes, the drinks. You may not find a better frosty beverage in town thanks to bartender Scotty. Servers Dudley and Sean, supported by Antoine, and hostess Alex, provided a great experience all around.

After the party, most of us walked off the meal and drinks with stops at several of State Street’s finest clubs — starting off with The James Joyce for some swing music ‘n’ dancing, and ended up at… now, wouldn’t you like to know!

Thanks for a fabulous time, Cádiz! Congrats, to the entire HofArc Team!

Cádiz, 509 State St., (805) 770-2760

The Helpful Place

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Ace-yard

HofArc believes it’s important to keep our business local. We believe it’s vital to our local economy and our planet’s resources to use as few miles as possible when shipping and delivering products. One local vendor we visit several times a day is the Santa Barbara Home Improvement Center.

Ace-frontAlthough it’s an Ace Hardware Store most locals still know it by its original name – the Home Improvement Center – founded in 1967 by Kenneth Simpson Jr.

Since 1983, his son Gary Simpson has continued the legacy of hard working staff who provide personalized cust omer service and retain that small hometown feel that Santa Barbarans have come to expect and enjoy for more than 45 years.

As they say, time is money, and as a busy small business we appreciate it when we don’t have to go on an expedition to get hardware advice. The Home Improvement Center excels are the Lewis & Clark of hardware, paint and lumber.

Ace-paintOver the years, the Home Improvement Center has grown and changed with the times to meet their customer’s needs. In today’s electronic age, they still answer the phone with a live person and are quick to provide ample in-store and check-out ample staff. As with any good hardware store, they have an amazing selection of home and small business building materials in a very compact space. We like the way we get online receipts emailed to us with every transaction, because this allows us to provide digital receipt links on all of our clients’ invoices.

As a local Ace Hardware Store, it is part of the largest retailer owned co-operative in the world, yet is still independently owned which allows them to provide the kind of customer service that most chain stores simply cannot. The co-operative also provides them with the buying power and product selection of a much larger organization, which means a great selection of products at very competitive pricing.

Thank you for being a good neighbor! You definitely live up to your ad slogan as being, The Helpful Place.

The Happy Stripper

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RemovAll 220 Removed from North America Shelves

For many years, vintage Airstream owners relied on RemovAll 220, a peroxid-activated paint stripper, to remove the plasticoat (aka clear coat) from their trailers before polishing. It was the go-to exterior paint stripper since it was effective, yet environmentally-friendly. The product has been removed from North American distribution, so people are asking us, “What else will work?”

All of these strippers remove multiple layers of most paints from any the Airstream’s aluminum exterior surface with a single application. Whether you choose one of these or another, just be sure it’s a stripper that’s safe for the environment, which means it’s water-based, zero VOC and 100% biodegradable.

Frankly, you probably won’t be able to find a stripper remover available to consumers that contains toxic methylene chloride in North America any longer, which is a good thing. The residual runoff ends up in our water supply and we don’t need that one bit. But we’re not exactly sure why RemovAll 220 is no longer available in North America because we the label states that it’s a biodegradable stripper and we haven’t found evidence that it contained methylene chloride.

Fortunately, there are other methylene chloride-free options available. Here are three strippers that have worked well for us, along with suggestions where you can get it.

Eldorado PR-5044Eldorado-2

PPG Aerospace makes a paint stripper based on the same principles as RemovAll. It is called Eldorado PR-5044, which is a peroxide-activated paint and primer remover. It’s It is the only product Boeing uses to strip their aircraft. It works well because it is designed for removal of polyurethane and epoxy paint systems in the aerospace industry. PR-5044 is environmentally preferred and worker-friendly. It does contain petroleum distillates, so it does produce fumes. You will need to read all safety information before using. However, it is not a hazardous material and is much easier to use and safer than traditional aircraft strippers. Get it at:
Vintage Trailer Supply

Peel Away 7

PeelAway

Peel Away 7 is another environmentally-safe paint remover that has been specifically formulated to remove high strength chemically resistant coatings such as epoxies, urethanes, chlorinated rubber, elastomeric, aluminum, vinyl, mastics industrial applications such as automobile paints and marine coatings. There is no methylene chloride, caustic or any other flammable solvent in the product. Peel Away 7 has been used on large industrial applications to remove epoxy and urethane coats from metal and masonry surfaces including marine and aerospace. Get it at:
Grainger
Wayfair

Smart Strip

Another earth-friendly stripper that doesn’t contain methylene chloride is Smart Strip Advanced Paint Remover. SmartStripThis product is made without caustic methylene chloride. It’s a water-based remover that has no odor and is non-flammable. This paint stripper is available at our local Santa Barbara Sherwin-Williams paint store, best of all the stripping performance is effective. Get it at:
Zoro Tools

For more information about stripper safety precautions and handling go to the OSHA website. Please remember to follow all manufacturer’s instructions, warnings, and use strippers and use all strippers and solvents wisely and at your own risk.

Happy stripping!