What type of adhesive should be used for the badges?
Use whatever Fred recommends. He has done many. I think he might use 3M Automotive Emblem Adhesive or Gorilla Glue (non-foaming)...but wait for his recommendation. I've used Shoe-Goo but I have no idea how long it will last.
-Mike
For newells I use silicon seal. As long as the 2 pins are intact it works fine, haven't had one come off yet. Not sure what newell used but they do fall off from time to time.
Mike is right, I use both of those adhesives —
Clear Gorilla glue, and also 3M Automotive Emblem adhesive.
I used Tac-Glue for a good many years — but if not really careful — there was some very dangerous stuff for ingredients.
DAM would use some sort of flexible rubber type adhesive on the fish emblems — and they would occasionally come off.
On their round metal (zinc coated brass, I think) brand/model emblems — they used something stronger that seldom ever failed.
Many of the modern adhesives advertise a solid set in a couple of minutes. However, while that may be true — even with modern glues — there is no substitute for a firm clamping process for at least 30 - 60 minutes, generally overnight since the reel won't ship until the next day anyway. I guess I am old fashioned, being a woodworker for nearly 60 years.
Some reel companies are notorious for glued emblems falling off — some really stay on forever. Alcedo, SouthBend, and a few others are common examples of missing emblems. Penn spinners to a lesser extent — just once in a while.
I was looking for a better adhesive when I thought of the 3M Automotive Emblem Adhesive. I figured if the emblems would stay on through rain, snow, hot sun, and car washes — it would work on reels.
As for the plastic, graphite, or Tupperware reels out of Asia — they have been using decals, stickers, or shiny foils.
It is not a problem with those — since it is always a race whether the foil sticker will fail first — or the reel.
Best, Fred