Question: polishing brass gears

[Matthooper]

I’ve never considered polishing the brass gears but since my next project is a reel with a side plate that un screws for easy access I’m considering also polishing the internal parts. Is this okay or should the just be well cleaned and lubed?

[Midway Tommy D]

I focus on spinning reels, but I soak all internal metal parts in lacquer thinner for a good & thorough cleaning and then brush, burnish and/or polish them prior to reinstallation. I want them to be as close to new condition as I can get them before I put the reel back together, even if it's just going to sit on a shelf.

[Matthooper]

Any polish recommendations?

[kyreels]

The ORCA Reel Restoration handbook is strongly recommended for anyone newly undertaking restoration work. It is available here https://www.orcaonline.org/orca-store/o ... ing-reels/

Some of the polishes recommended in the book are
Mothers Mag and Aluminum Polish
GLO Metal Polish
Nevr-Dull magic wadding polish
Brasso
Simichrome
Flitz polish
Wenol polish
Miracle Cloth
Twinkle paste
Hope’s brass polish

[Paul Roberts]

I suppose the utility of polishing internals depends on what you are wanting to do with the given reel. On the direct-drive (DD) casting reels I like to work on, and will fish with, I polish all metal to metal contact areas that might affect casting performance. I clean down to metal with mineral spirits, and/or Dawn dish soap, then polish with 0000 steel wool both by hand and, for bushing surfaces, on a toothpick or bamboo skewer off a power drill. I then buff with a power rotary tool and Flitz to get a mirror shine. Then appropriate synthetic lubes (grease on gear teeth and light oils elsewhere). A DD reel relies on, or suffers, a lot of metal to metal contact in casting. I do my best to minimize friction. The one thing I've yet to do is to lap the gear teeth, using a polishing compound and time on a slow rotating power tool. I suppose I could see this on a spanking new set of gears, but not sure how helpful this might be on an old worn-in set of gears.