Re-Painting/Finishing a reel?

[LowCountry]

Hey Y'all,

Got an old fishing reel that was having its old paint/finish flake off. I soaked it and wire wheeled all the finish off and now I have a nice shiny reel.

What can I do to re-finish it to protect it from saltwater?

CJ

[ReelClean]

If it is an aluminium alloy then there is a treatment called alodine that is used on aircraft alloys prior to painting, followed by a coating of chromate undercoat before finish coat.
Some reading here: http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CBwQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FChromate_conversion_coating&ei=yvKsU9OaA8aHkwWV1ICgDA&usg=AFQjCNHbOVjcd7B3Qb78kbcDJVp62lcAqw&bvm=bv.69837884,d.dGI.
Serious stuff, but it is the best finish you can do.  Maybe a visit to an airport paint shop nearby?

[MFB]

Powder coating works well, a fine sandblast will help it stick too.

Rgds

Mark