Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Conventional and Bait Casting Reel Rebuild Tutorials and Questions => Penn Tutorials and Questions => Topic started by: Whit on May 16, 2018, 09:23:13 PM

Title: Painting a reel with Alumahyde
Post by: Whit on May 16, 2018, 09:23:13 PM
Anyone had luck painting reels with the Alumahyde from Brownells? 
Looks like it would be a bit tougher than your standard spray paint, especially on saltwater reels. 
I have a number of big old Mitchells and Penns to bring back to life.  Any feedback appreciated!

Whit
Title: Re: Painting a reel with Alumahyde
Post by: George6308 on May 17, 2018, 12:19:51 AM
Use it all the time. Just finished two Penn 710's , one in semigloss black, the other in flat black. Semi-gloss matches the factory black.
Easy to use. Scuff up the original paint or remove paint completely. It does not need a primer. Follow  the instructions on the can. Purchase the extra nozzles including the one to blow out the feeder tube as they clog.
Brownell's also carries the white  paint to restore the Mitchell lettering.

Title: Re: Painting a reel with Alumahyde
Post by: kmstorm64 on August 07, 2018, 05:25:12 PM
Thanks for the post on this, I have two cans at home waiting to be used up.
Title: Re: Painting a reel with Alumahyde
Post by: Marcq on August 08, 2018, 12:09:40 AM
Quote from: Whit on May 16, 2018, 09:23:13 PM
Anyone had luck painting reels with the Alumahyde from Brownells? 
Looks like it would be a bit tougher than your standard spray paint, especially on saltwater reels. 
I have a number of big old Mitchells and Penns to bring back to life.  Any feedback appreciated!

Whit

Even the standard spray paint can do the job if you leave it fully cured

Marc..
Title: Re: Painting a reel with Alumahyde
Post by: Midway Tommy on August 08, 2018, 06:40:54 AM
Quote from: George6308 on May 17, 2018, 12:19:51 AM
Use it all the time. Just finished two Penn 710's , one in semigloss black, the other in flat black. Semi-gloss matches the factory black.
Easy to use. Scuff up the original paint or remove paint completely. It does not need a primer. Follow  the instructions on the can. Purchase the extra nozzles including the one to blow out the feeder tube as they clog.
Brownell's also carries the white  paint to restore the Mitchell lettering.



If one looks closely at an original Mitchell reel, the engraving is not painted. They are simply engraved and what looks like white is the bright silver of the aluminum. One of the best ways to restore the etching is to use a sharp machinist's scribe to clean out the engraving.   
Title: Re: Painting a reel with Alumahyde
Post by: thorhammer on August 08, 2018, 12:09:35 PM
Anyone have pics on the alumahyde?
Title: Re: Painting a reel with Alumahyde
Post by: George6308 on August 08, 2018, 01:55:22 PM
Here are three Penn's painted with Aluma-Hyde II: 704 in gloss black and a 710 Greenie refinished in flat black and regeared with 712 gears.
Title: Re: Painting a reel with Alumahyde
Post by: George6308 on August 08, 2018, 01:59:05 PM
710Z refinished in gloss black.
Title: Re: Painting a reel with Alumahyde
Post by: George6308 on August 08, 2018, 02:02:40 PM
Family photo. The Alumin-Hyde holds up very well when exposed to salt water.
Title: Re: Painting a reel with Alumahyde
Post by: thorhammer on August 08, 2018, 02:55:36 PM
I'm sold. Like errybody else I have a box of Mitchells and Spinfishers needing a facelift but working fine.
Title: Re: Painting a reel with Alumahyde
Post by: xjchad on August 08, 2018, 02:57:42 PM
It sure looks nice!
How durable is it?
Title: Re: Painting a reel with Alumahyde
Post by: George6308 on August 08, 2018, 03:18:19 PM
Very durable. I have my son's 710 broken down for a touch up  repaint. I gave him the reel when he was a teenager he's now 46. It was finished with Aluma-Hyde maybe 25 years ago when the factory finish peeled off. It has been fished very hard but only sustained minor corrosion on the edge of the rotor cup under the finish. Light sanding of the spots to the bare aluminum, touch up coat, and it will be ready for 25 plus more years. Only miss use can kill the older Penn's.
The black finish you see is the original Alumin-Hyde. The 1/4-20 bolts hold the parts so they can be painted in one pass.
Title: Re: Painting a reel with Alumahyde
Post by: steelfish on August 08, 2018, 05:19:33 PM
seems legit

I have some reels that could use some aluma-hyde II
Title: Re: Painting a reel with Alumahyde
Post by: George6308 on August 14, 2018, 08:59:32 PM
Here is a Penn 10-49 star that was refinished with Aluma-Hyde. To avoid scratches a Penn 60-712 washer will be used between the handle and the face of the star.
Title: Re: Painting a reel with Alumahyde
Post by: Navidad Nutcase on August 15, 2018, 04:43:33 AM
I have an old Penn 80 international that someone did a terrible blue paint job on. It's peeling off. If I used paint and varnish stripper to get rid of the rest of the blue, would it hurt the aluminum under this blue paint ? most but not all the original gold under it is gone already.

Then I can have a snazzy black Alumin- hyde international. ;D
thanks for any input.
Greg
Title: Re: Painting a reel with Alumahyde
Post by: George6308 on August 15, 2018, 09:36:20 AM
Try aircraft paint remover it should remove the blue paint. Aluma-Hyde was produced by Brownells as a way to refinish aluminum shotgun receivers. It is an epoxy coating that bonds to aluminum. Just follow the instructions it takes 10 days to fully cure.
It does come in colors but the only semi gloss is black.
Title: Re: Painting a reel with Alumahyde
Post by: Navidad Nutcase on August 15, 2018, 02:49:52 PM
thanks for the advise. Do you also know of anything that will remove whats left of the original gold finish ? I don't want to soak the parts in anything because the inside of the reel is still in descent shape.
Title: Re: Painting a reel with Alumahyde
Post by: George6308 on August 15, 2018, 03:51:29 PM
The gold anodizing does not have to be removed in order for the Alumin-Hyde to adhere to the part being refinished. A light sanding with 400 or 600 grit paper on the areas where the bare Aluminium shows to remove any corrosion left over.
Follow Brownells instructions for a second coat if you desire.
Title: Re: Painting a reel with Alumahyde
Post by: Navidad Nutcase on August 16, 2018, 01:13:31 AM
thank you again. I will post the final ''facelift'' - sometime after Oct. 1.... GONE FISHIN' !