Custom Reel Painting

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jmudd
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Custom Reel Painting

Post by jmudd » Thu Sep 15, 2022 5:38 pm

It’s been years since I have had any reels painted. These days is there anyone still doing quality work stateside? I have a few old metaniums that I am giving a face lift and would love to have them painted.
[URL=http://s116.photobucket.com/user/jamudd/media/gambler_2.jpg.html][IMG]http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o24/jamudd/gambler_2.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

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Big-Donkey
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Re: Custom Reel Painting

Post by Big-Donkey » Sun Sep 18, 2022 7:18 pm

I used to do a fair amount of them. The amount of time it took far outweighed the price most people were charging. I hope you find someone but unfortunately, I havent seen any painted reels for sometime. All the best.
Does anyone from TT have access to pictures from the old site? I would enjoy seeing some of the old pics.

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Hogsticker2
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Re: Custom Reel Painting

Post by Hogsticker2 » Sun Sep 18, 2022 9:47 pm

Most of the guys that were painting threw in the towel. They were getting overwhelmed with requests while also working for a living. Your best bet is to try and find someone local, including Cerakote shops.

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Re: Custom Reel Painting

Post by Fishing4Fun » Sat Jul 22, 2023 8:58 pm

Big-Donkey wrote:
Sun Sep 18, 2022 7:18 pm
I used to do a fair amount of them. The amount of time it took far outweighed the price most people were charging. I hope you find someone but unfortunately, I havent seen any painted reels for sometime. All the best.
Does anyone from TT have access to pictures from the old site? I would enjoy seeing some of the old pics.
I still have about 7 custom paints left

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Hogsticker2
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Re: Custom Reel Painting

Post by Hogsticker2 » Sun Jul 23, 2023 9:45 pm

Fishing4Fun wrote:
Sat Jul 22, 2023 8:58 pm
Big-Donkey wrote:
Sun Sep 18, 2022 7:18 pm
I used to do a fair amount of them. The amount of time it took far outweighed the price most people were charging. I hope you find someone but unfortunately, I havent seen any painted reels for sometime. All the best.
Does anyone from TT have access to pictures from the old site? I would enjoy seeing some of the old pics.
I still have about 7 custom paints left
I sold 2 - down to 4

Slazmo
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Re: Custom Reel Painting

Post by Slazmo » Mon Jul 24, 2023 1:32 am

I wanted some reels painted black, went to automotive places, custom bike shops d even a gun smith that does cerakote...

All turned away. Short of doing it yourself seems to be the only case.

Wasn't there a bloke doing some on here recently State side?

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Hogsticker2
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Re: Custom Reel Painting

Post by Hogsticker2 » Mon Jul 24, 2023 9:02 pm

Slazmo wrote:
Mon Jul 24, 2023 1:32 am
I wanted some reels painted black, went to automotive places, custom bike shops d even a gun smith that does cerakote...

All turned away. Short of doing it yourself seems to be the only case.

Wasn't there a bloke doing some on here recently State side?
Why did they turn you away? I found a local company that would cerakote, but they wanted a fortune and would only use basic, bland colors.

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Re: Custom Reel Painting

Post by Slazmo » Mon Jul 24, 2023 10:52 pm

Wait for it "reels are too complex"... Guns are pretty straightforward and that's their core business.

I even tried a anodising specialist and they didn't want to touch a Calcutta because of the dissimilar reel foot and the rest of the bits that are attached to the side gear plate - they didn't know how the reaction would outcome.

And all I want is bland colours - dark dark grey and black - depressed batman colours...

Anyhow nothing has happened since, did one myself and that was a chore, and now with 2 hypo kids running around I could see myself working with paints and trying to get that done at home again.

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Re: Custom Reel Painting

Post by hmnginmn » Tue Jul 25, 2023 9:30 am

Hit up DecadeWorks, japan though
Long live the Jerkbait

cadman
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Re: Custom Reel Painting

Post by cadman » Thu Jul 27, 2023 5:13 am

So I air brushed some reels for some friends, and I can see why there aren't many guys doing this. It is very labor intensive. You have to break the reel down to its shell, clean thoroughly, lightly sand and then tape, paint and clearcoat. That is providing the reel is in good condition. I've seen reels that were badly chipped and some had chunks taken out of them. With that said it is almost impossible to make an old damaged reel look factory fresh. Where do you draw the line with a customer when you get badly damaged reels. Although I painted these reels for free to get some hands on practice, the hours outnumbered what I would charge. For those of you that had custom reels painted, let's say one color, what is the going rate to do a reel? I assume you guys sent the reel intact or did you just send skeleton parts? I am curious what people are or would pay to have a reel done.

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Bantam1
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Re: Custom Reel Painting

Post by Bantam1 » Thu Jul 27, 2023 7:45 am

I have painted three low profile reels. Two for friends and one for myself. It is time consuming because of all the tape work required and you have to take care to ensure part fitment of the pieces that attach to the frame. Typically a good quality clear coat will be thicker than the actual paint used. I use a two part clear similar to that used on cars. There was a learning curve for me and being I work for Shimano I understand fitment and have the long experience of working on our reels. I also have access to all the parts I could ever need. With that being said, I still hand to some some light sanding and a lot of fitting in the end on the low profile reels. When the reels with MM gears have a max tolerance of .0002" for alignment the side plate to frame fitment has to be precise. A little extra paint here or there can throw that off. If I were to charge for one I would not do it for less than $300 personally. My time is worth more to me than the money to do another one.

Cerakote has some newer color options that are brighter. I am unsure if they have any pearlescent colors. I can understand why a coater would not want to do this on the reels. Doing Cerakote on an anodized reel like a Calcutta or Conquest should be fairly simple. The application tends to be pretty thin and no clear coat is needed. It's baked on as well so the metal parts will easily handle the 300f bake for the hour or whatever it is. With plastic parts they bake around 180f if my memory is correct. One day I'll have one of my Trinidad reels done. It's not a priority at this time.

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Re: Custom Reel Painting

Post by cadman » Thu Jul 27, 2023 8:59 am

Bantam1 wrote:
Thu Jul 27, 2023 7:45 am
I have painted three low profile reels. Two for friends and one for myself. It is time consuming because of all the tape work required and you have to take care to ensure part fitment of the pieces that attach to the frame. Typically a good quality clear coat will be thicker than the actual paint used. I use a two part clear similar to that used on cars. There was a learning curve for me and being I work for Shimano I understand fitment and have the long experience of working on our reels. I also have access to all the parts I could ever need. With that being said, I still hand to some some light sanding and a lot of fitting in the end on the low profile reels. When the reels with MM gears have a max tolerance of .0002" for alignment the side plate to frame fitment has to be precise. A little extra paint here or there can throw that off. If I were to charge for one I would not do it for less than $300 personally. My time is worth more to me than the money to do another one.

Cerakote has some newer color options that are brighter. I am unsure if they have any pearlescent colors. I can understand why a coater would not want to do this on the reels. Doing Cerakote on an anodized reel like a Calcutta or Conquest should be fairly simple. The application tends to be pretty thin and no clear coat is needed. It's baked on as well so the metal parts will easily handle the 300f bake for the hour or whatever it is. With plastic parts they bake around 180f if my memory is correct. One day I'll have one of my Trinidad reels done. It's not a priority at this time.
Thanks for the info. I was on the low side with my thinking. However, I totally agree with you as far as fitment as you can't build up a lot of paint and clearcoat, otherwise parts don't fit. I also see why there are not a lot of guys doing this, because most people want a factory finish but don't want to pay what it takes to get to that point. Unless you have an heirloom reel that is going to be a shelf queen that you want re-painted, most guys just won't pay. Very good info.

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