New tools in the shop, Ambassadeur frame jigs

[tincanary]

These are super cool for re-aligning tweaked frames.  The one on top is for 4500-6500 models and the one below is for 1500-3500 sizes.  Put the pillar into the fixture, slide the frame on and guide the frame pillars into the holes.  This will square up the frame; then I use a 4 oz ball peen to re-crimp the rivets.  A misaligned frame is the biggest performance robber of the Ambassadeur.

A customer of mine made these for me.  He brought me some Ambassadeurs that were his late father's and wanted me to go through them.  Such a nice guy.  They took a year to get, but neither of us were in any hurry.  I've already corrected a few frames since last night and these jigs are exactly what I needed.  With Svangsta being closed, frames will be in short supply in the coming years.  Now I can fix them.

[JasonGotaProblem]

That's awesome. I want one now.

[ExcessiveAngler]

They are neat. I do believe I saw one of these in the Abu Garcia group on FB a while back. Problem with my tweaked frames, the foot is cocked to one side or the other. Don't think you can use a jig for that? Received more than a few reels with bent frames, from eBay purchases.

[tincanary]

They are neat. I do believe I saw one of these in the Abu Garcia group on FB a while back. Problem with my tweaked frames, the foot is cocked to one side or the other. Don't think you can use a jig for that? Received more than a few reels with bent frames, from eBay purchases.

I actually had one come through like that, turned out the bottom pillars where the foot attached were distorted.  Something large fell down and destroyed the reel.  I had a spare on hand so I let the customer have it gratis as part of my services, the rest of the components were fine.  I don't use larger than a 4500 size, no real need here in the Great Lakes unless I'm after big carp, musky, or sturgeon.  For everything up to king salmon, a 4500 is super versatile.