Drag material question

[hafnor]

I have a small ld reel that has a aluminum drag plate and cork drag washers, i want carbon fibre washers but does it work with aluminum drag plate? Or do i have to make a new dragplate? Will use no more than 20pound drag on this reel.

Thanks in advance, best Thor

[Bryan Young]

20# of drag is quite high for any drag plate and esp. for aluminum being that its a soft material.  I'd get a SS or Ti one made if I were you.

Besides, greased carbon fiber will polish microns at a time on that aluminum drag plate.  Like compond on a car's finish.  eventually, you will hit bare metal.  Likewise, you will eventually not have a surface to grab on with an aluminum drag plate...but it may not be in your lifetime depending on how much the fish runs.

[hafnor]

Thanks for the answer bryan! does anybody make drag plates? it is for a studio ocean mark reel... so pretty rare...

[Cone]

this is just my opinion. If it was mine and I was going to have a new drag plate made, I would take pics and measurements, install the carbon fiber and fish it. It may last a long time or not, but whats to lose?  Bob

[hafnor]

was thinking the same thing. I do not want to go through the trouble since it is a pretty advance peace of machinery needed. I will test it.

[Robert Janssen]

FWIW Studio Ocean Mark offers carbon drag washers.

An interesting review with pictures can be found here:

http://www.fishing.net.nz/asp_forums/new-jigging-reels-from-studio-ocean-mark-japan_topic81620_page3.html

"The washers are roughly 1.8mm thick so they are robust and have plenty of room for wear. The different materials give very different feel to the reel when it is in operation, I would say that the OSM guys have not only chosen cork for its cost but mainly for its cushioning properties and its smoothness without the abrasion effect on the alloy coating of the drag plates. Carbon-tex is typically much harsher on the surface coatings (hence the reason JM use stainless discs) and the over all feel of carbon-tex can be rather rough cut under both light and heavy drag pressures. Remember there are always the pros and cons to consider when looking at purchasing a reel. You need to consider your expectations, purpose of use and the way you are likely to look after it before saying one option is better than the next. "

Also fwiw, I happen to know that the coefficient of friction for cork is much higher than for carbon fiber. That is to say, more drag with less pressure on the drag system.


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