Best Way to Smooth Lip of Aluminum Spool?

[MACflyer]

Have an old spinning reel, Daiwa Silver Series, and the aluminum spool has some minor nicks and scratches. Nothing too serious. Looks like they could be polished out with a lot of rubbing, but wondering if there's a better way. Searched, but didn't see any info in old posts, but if there's a post, please let me know. Thanks, Rick

[quang tran]

Some spool that are not anodized can easy polish,reduce scratch by using cordless drill with an extra spool shaft then use Mothers Mag,aluminum polish . the one that anodized aluminum can't do that

[JasonGotaProblem]

If the reel is used in fresh water the anodization coming off isn't an issue. If used in salt it's a big issue.

Some have mentioned in the past that if you sand it down just leave it a few months to let oxygen in the atmosphere re-cover it in aluminum oxide. Or supercharge the process by putting it in a more oxygen rich environment.

But the alternative is a useless spool. So by comparison these options aren't so bad.

[Midway Tommy]

Depending on the depth of the nicks, I've started with a fine mini file, moving on to a fine (320) foam sanding block and finally buffing with a green or white scotch pad, but I only fish fresh water, so that process works out OK. If the nicks or gouges are deep I've cleaned them first and filled them with JB Weld (with some added (hard)  clear regular epoxy) and then did the smoothing process. That process works pretty good if looks aren't an issue.

[MACflyer]

Looks like there's some type of clear coat on the spool. Is that the anodized coating? If it is, it seems softer than I expected.