Reel Repair by Alan Tani

General Maintenance Tips => Ordering Reel Parts => Topic started by: alantani on December 04, 2010, 08:06:19 PM

Title: blue rags
Post by: alantani on December 04, 2010, 08:06:19 PM
Quote
Where do you get those blue towels I always see in your tutorials? I've tried using the red shop towels like you use for cars and all I get from them is a lot of fuzz.

the blue ones have alot of fuzz, too.  you just don't see it in any of the photos.  so there is a guy in san francisco that owns a huge wholesale auto parts operation.  he called me up out of the blue years ago and said that he loved how i was always trying to help people.  then he said he had these boxes of shop rags and asked if i would like a box.  sure!  when he dropped them off, he would not accept a dime!  i ended up fixing a couple of fishing reels for him and we called it even.  he called up 6 months later and asked if i needed anymore.  still, he would not let me pay for them.  and he's been dropping off a case every 6 months since.  he says he gets them for free but i know if has to cost him something.   :-\  i always offer to pay but he always says no.  guess he's just happy to see them in all the photos.  

the box says "real rags" and i did a google search and came up empty.  so that's the story behind the rags......  alan
Title: Re: blue rags
Post by: Caranx on January 15, 2012, 05:32:58 AM
Hi Alan,

If you were wondering what the rags were originally used for, I think they are surgical rags.
I use them just for cleaning my reels too. I only have a few so I wash them after every use. (very durable) I've had them for over 15 years.

A friend of mine that gave me the rags delivers laundry and thats where he said they came from.
They are sterilized when you get them.

Stu

Smokin' Drag's Casting Club

Title: Re: blue rags
Post by: alantani on January 15, 2012, 05:54:20 AM
if i tried to wash them, my wife would have my hide! ;D
Title: Re: blue rags
Post by: qcguy4198 on January 15, 2012, 11:18:58 AM
Blue surgical towels( "drapes" actually...used in the operating room to cover the portions of the patient NOT being cut on.) NO lint or fuzz...VERY durable. I'm fortunate to have an in-house nurse who also doubles as "Crew" on the offshore boat. She brought a bag of them home several years ago...and I've only gone through a few as they're hard to wear out.
Alan....you might try throwing your used ones in the dishwasher next time you have a coupla reels to clean...!!! ::) ;D ;D
Title: Re: blue rags
Post by: Nessie Hunter on January 15, 2012, 07:56:10 PM
Quote from: qcguy4198 on January 15, 2012, 11:18:58 AM
Alan....you might try throwing your used ones in the dishwasher next time you have a coupla reels to clean...!!! ::) ;D ;D

;D            ;D                 ;D
Title: Re: blue rags
Post by: Alto Mare on January 15, 2012, 10:41:01 PM
Quote from: alantani on January 15, 2012, 05:54:20 AM
if i tried to wash them, my wife would have my hide! ;D
And then it would be all over for us too. Do us a favor and keep them dirty ;)
I used to was my dropcloths at the laundromat :-\.
Title: Re: blue rags
Post by: Ken_D on January 16, 2012, 08:29:07 AM
I've got a couple of these things...so far, no lint from the paper products sold up this way. New, about 5.00.
Used, at a jumble sale: 2 for a buck.
(http://img0.foodservicewarehouse.com/Prd/130SQ/BrowneHalco_221S.jpg)