bent handle options

[milne]

Hi Guys,  hope this was the right section to post in.
I'm on another tear down and clean up, probably the worst condition one I've done so far.
Had to soak the spool in the end to get the line off, it had turned dark brown and looked fairly acetic, spool is worse for wear.
Anyhow, my question is,  the handle, this reel has done some milage, but I think I can save it.
Below is the Picture, you can see the kink in it and up by the counter weight.
It's a late 30's reel, so I'm picking German silver, I need to straighten it so it doesn't bind on the star drag.
Any tips or best methods to use,,  before I attempt something that may ruin it ??

Col

[54bullseye]

Use a vise with some small pieces of wood so not to damage finish. Sometimes you have to bend the piece past straight so when you relieve vise tension it stays straight. Just takes a little bit of ingenuity and patients. You can do it !!    John Taylor

[1badf350]

Yes do what John suggests with the wood. He also told me once to use some cut pieces of leather for work that may risk the finish. It was a great idea and worked well. I have straightened a handle or two using a vice, leather, and a few gentle taps with a rubber mallet or a regular hammer (cushioned again by the leather or wood). You must use alot of patience because you could snap the handle. You want to clamp it right at the start of the bent part where you want it to move.
By the way this is why the belt I wore for my wedding is cut up in my shop. LOL.

[sdlehr]

By the way this is why the belt I wore for my wedding is cut up in my shop. LOL.

How sentimental... not. I went to a shoe repair shop and forked over $5 for a scrap piece of leather!

[droppedit]

By the way this is why the belt I wore for my wedding is cut up in my shop. LOL.

Are you still married Chris?

[milne]

Thanks guys,
                  Wasn't sure if any heat was required first or what the best approach was.
          Got down to the workshop and played around with the vice, cut a couple of pieces of webbing and have aluminium pieces to
      slide into the vice as well.
   Didn't come up perfect, but alot straighter now. Still has a slight kink but it will be more than acceptable now
  considering the condition everything else was in. Had everything soaking overnight, including internals, was an absolute mess.
  But, as you might notice by the side plate I've included with the straightened handle,  will be worth it if I can make it half presentable.
   Fortunately, the rings soaked up brilliantly, wasn't expecting them to come out with such minimum chrome loss, Spool is a different story.
Will post up pick once cleaned up and re assembled.
Thanks for everyones advice.

Col

[Darin Crofton]

Nice work, Col!!!

[milne]

Thanks Darin,
                      I'm excited about this one, even with the condition I found it in.
              Hopefully she will be presentable.

Col

[milne]

Ok, got it all cleaned up, apart from the reel clamp ( maybe a lost cause)
    It has major alignment issues internally, it's a wee bit beyond my present skills, so I reassembled it all cleaned up
    and will be a job for another day.
  This 4/0 first generation, will sit nicely with my 2 others, 9 & 12,  still a few to go to complete that collection !!
 It probably didn't come out very sharp, but I'm lovin the grain in the handle..........
  She was definitely used,,,, what it was built for I suppose,  great patina....

Col