Buying aluminum spools

[bja105]

I like fishing with old conventional Penn reels. I use a 140, 155, 160, 350, and 500. For surf casting, the light weight spools are favored because they have less momentum. It's easier to get them started spinning, and they slow easier, fewer backlashes.
I want to add magnets to one of these reels. I need an aluminum spool for that. Aluminum spools are expensive new or on auction sites, more than I paid for any of my complete reels. I am now looking for a complete reel with an aluminum spool. At auctions and flea markets I haven't found any complete reels with aluminum spools, yet. There are a lot of these reels cheap on ebay, but I can't tell if they are plastic or aluminum. Is there a rule to tell from pictures if the spool is aluminum? Am I correct that the spool shoulders are round on plastic, and angular on aluminum? Is that enough of a rule to take a risk? Are there certain colors that only come in aluminum?

[Swami805]

Aluminum spools are usually a dull black color, almost flat black. I wouldn't use the edge as a guide, Penn spools have a square edge but Newell spools are rounded. There are colored aluminum spools too but not as common. If it eBay message the seller and ask
Here's a Penn and Newell aluminum spool

[JasonGotaProblem]

I've never seen a plastic spool with a post. That doesn't mean it's not aluminum if it doesn't have one (Newell spools, for example, don't have them).

Also loosely related: magnets work on brass spools too. It just needs to be conductive but not magnetic.

[OhReely]

Mystic Reel Parts

Conventional reels
Mystic has parts lists for most Penn reels. In the parts lists the spool is usually if not always item 29. More often than not there is a picture of the spool, sometimes from different angles. Just as important there is a box for selecting the reel model. If the spool you are looking at is used in other models then the spool from any of the other models should work in the model you are researching, i.e. 155 spool can be used in 200 and 350;160 spool can be used in 150. There may or may not be "notes" on the page about fitment of spools, gears, washers, bearings, etc. Sometimes you'll find new alum spools still in stock. So the point is often you can find a reel with a suitable spool even though it's not the same model reel. I would not use a substitute plastic spool unless it is specifically listed for that model.

From what I've seen the plastic spools in older Penn reels have a square hole all the way through the arbor for tying off the line. Alum spools have a post in the arbor or a knurled section in the center of the arbor for attaching the line.

Don't discount SS spools if you can't find aluminum. Not as light as alum but lighter than brass or bronze.

[Vintage Offshore Tackle]

I have a good selection of aluminum spools at reasonable prices, both Penn and Newell, for all of the models that you listed except the 350. All are tested to spin true.

Please PM me with the quantities that you can use and your zip code and I will put together a delivered price.

Thank you,
Randy

[oldmanjoe]

      I would look to see if a thin fender washer can be glued to the plastic spool .
 Similar to what Ocean city did .

[OhReely]

I forgot to mention Vintage Offshore Tackle.

Randy has provided me with a reel, some spools and Newell reel kits. He will send pictures before you buy. I've been very pleased with his products and prices.

[OhReely]

If you're going to glue metal to the inside of a plastic spool why not use heavy duty aluminum foil.

[bja105]

Thanks guys.  The photos help.
I don't know about gluing a washer. I don't trust myself to get it perfectly concentric.

[Vintage Offshore Tackle]

I forgot to mention Vintage Offshore Tackle.

Randy has provided me with a reel, some spools and Newell reel kits. He will send pictures before you buy. I've been very pleased with his products and prices.

Thank you!