Knowing that this may sound corny to some — however, every reel I work on is not just a job to get through as fast as possible — it is a pleasure as well as a labor of love.
It is not done until it is right — and that means, would I be fully satisfied fishing it myself?
Are all systems, screws, friction points, new parts, old polished parts, nuts, and functions — checked, and double checked again before bagging and sending back to the owner?
There is a certain amount of accomplishment as well as pride in a job well done. This keeps me going.
Just got back from 4 days in Lake Tahoe with my wife. Before leaving, I completed 18 DQ reels Monday through Thursday.
5 were new builds, 13 were restorations on reels likely not cracked open in 30 years —
Paint, polish, parts, modern lubes, and fine tuning — all come into play..
Some were so bad from salt-fusing and rust — that parts needed to be cut off before restoration was even possible.
All patients came through with flying colors.
Backlog is down below 100 now — starting a new week.
Best,
Fred
Quote from: foakes on May 28, 2019, 06:07:08 PM
Backlog is down below 100 now — starting a new week.
You're a machine Fred. I doubt I could live long enough to complete a backlog of 100. Thanks for all you do! 8)
Great work, Fred. Looks like the 330N will be or was a challenge. I thought I'd seen some distorted ratchet clickers. ???
Quote from: festus on May 28, 2019, 06:56:38 PM
Great work, Fred. Looks like the 330N will be or was a challenge. I thought I'd seen some distorted ratchet clickers. ???
That was me, Chester —
This reel, and a couple of the others were used in salt — then not serviced or cleaned afterwards. Just allowed to rust and fuse/weld into non-moveable parts.
I needed to cut off the spool sleeve, drag knob, clicker, and then found out the spool shaft was bent, rusted to the inside of the sleeve and release button. All I could save was the spool, itself. Everything else in the assembly needed to be replaced.
Works better than new now — but it was a 6 hour job, not counting new paint.
I think they were reels that the owner's wife bought for him from yard or second hand store sources.
Anyway, some jobs are easier than others — some a little tougher...no big deal. Just take them as they come. Someday, I might run across a DQ that cannot be saved — so far, out of a few thousand — still batting 1000. To be honest, without my parts inventory — this would not be the case.
Best,
Fred
Quote from: foakes on May 28, 2019, 08:38:13 PM
Quote from: festus on May 28, 2019, 06:56:38 PM
Great work, Fred. Looks like the 330N will be or was a challenge. I thought I'd seen some distorted ratchet clickers. ???
That was me, Chester —
This reel, and a couple of the others were used in salt — then not serviced or cleaned afterwards. Just allowed to rust and fuse/weld into non-moveable parts.
I needed to cut off the spool sleeve, drag knob, clicker, and then found out the spool shaft was bent, rusted to the inside of the sleeve and release button. All I could save was the spool, itself. Everything else in the assembly needed to be replaced.
Works better than new now — but it was a 6 hour job, not counting new paint.
I think they were reels that the owner's wife bought for him from yard or second hand store sources.
Anyway, some jobs are easier than others — some a little tougher...no big deal. Just take them as they come. Someday, I might run across a DQ that cannot be saved — so far, out of a few thousand — still batting 1000. To be honest, without my parts inventory — this would not be the case.
Best,
Fred
It sure helps to have plenty of spare parts. I've accumulated a fair amount in the past year and a half. A while back I couldn't get the rolled pin from the handle out of a D-A-M Quick, I don't remember if it was a 330, 331, or a Finessa. What did I do? Just took a hacksaw and cut the drive axle in two. ;D Got everything out and cleaned and parts replaced from other reels. Still haven't gotten that stubborn rolled pin out, however. ::)
There's nothing wrong with pride in workmanship, whether it's building a wood toolbox, building the best burger in town, or, building (rebuilding) a reel right.
Frank