After seeing everyone's restored reels, I tried one for myself.
I purchased the most tarnished reel on eBay that I could fine.
Here it is Before:
And After
Is there any way I can get into the little nooks and crannys to clean better? Please tell. Do I soak in White Vin for a while or can ammonia be used? I sprayed everything off with WD40 afterwords.
nooks and crannys...toothbrush...use your Dad's, not yours. Stay away from ammonia...there must be a mile of thread on that subject on the restoration page.
Judging from the tarnish shading, you obviously did not take the reel completely apart?
Maybe you are just practicing, and that's a good start.
Consider taking this reel completely apart (there is not much to it) -- it is much easier to clean each part properly.
Vinegar recipe, ultrasonic cleaner with each part isolated in plastic to prevent scratching, toothbrush w/simple green or degreaser for nooks, 4/0 steel wool, simichrome, then Miracle Cloth. Do the screw slots, etc. Make sure you use the right screwdriver size & gunsmithing hollow-ground screwdrivers are best to not goober up a slot. Take your time.
A couple of hints I've used over the years -- if the posts will remove from both ends with a screw -- use a plastic sleeve over one end and attach to a drill press or portable drill -- or thread a stud into the end and attach that to the chuck of the drill -- at low speed, use 4/0 steel wool & Simichrome with a polishing cloth -- then switch ends to complete.
As for the spool -- use a plastic sleeve also & attach to a drill press to run at low speed -- use 4/0 + Simichrome -- polish carefully until you are satisfied.
In my opinion, the difference between an OK job vs. exceptional is about 500% in value.
For an example, check out the September/2008 Reel News article by John Elder & Brian on the cleaning/restoration of the 14/0 Kovalovsky.
I took the reel completly apart. There's not much to the reel. The Right sideplate comes off and the spool. The frame is rivited... Really hard to get into tight spots.
Bronco wrote:A couple of hints I've used over the years -- if the posts will remove from both ends with a screw -- use a plastic sleeve over one end and attach to a drill press or portable drill -- or thread a stud into the end and attach that to the chuck of the drill -- at low speed, use 4/0 steel wool & Simichrome with a polishing cloth -- then switch ends to complete.
Good idea, never thought about a drill... Thanks alot.
It's hard to get good pic's of the reel. Pictures don't do justice of what I did to this one. Can anyone show me some before and after pic's of there brass reels...Thanks.
for nooks and crannys I like a toothbrush and undilluted dawn dish detergent. Of course I agree with the above. Disassembly makes for fewer nooks and crannys. If you're leary about putting back together, leave the right side plate and it's internals all intact and just separate the sides, spool, seat, and frame posts and take the handle off.
