Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Conventional and Bait Casting Reel Rebuild Tutorials and Questions => Ambassadeur Tutorials and Questions => Topic started by: JasonGotaProblem on May 03, 2025, 01:10:11 PM

Title: Polishing ambassadeur sideplates
Post by: JasonGotaProblem on May 03, 2025, 01:10:11 PM
Has anyone here stripped and polished the aluminum side plates to a mirror shine? I'm thinking about giving it a shot.

Are they anodized or painted?
Title: Re: Polishing ambassadeur sideplates
Post by: oldmanjoe on May 03, 2025, 06:40:18 PM
  Anodized I believe , if you do polish it you have to clear it .   
Title: Re: Polishing ambassadeur sideplates
Post by: thrasher on May 03, 2025, 09:15:25 PM
Should look like a Shakespear Service or a Pflueger Rocket but in aluminum. I hope it's not a clean 2500, although it would look amazing

Title: Re: Polishing ambassadeur sideplates
Post by: JasonGotaProblem on May 03, 2025, 09:50:48 PM
Quote from: thrasher on May 03, 2025, 09:15:25 PMI hope it's not a clean 2500, although it would look amazing


It is. But I'd practice on something else first. ...I have a few spares   8)
Title: Re: Polishing ambassadeur sideplates
Post by: thrasher on May 03, 2025, 11:11:34 PM
Have you gotten a bench grinder with a polishing wheel yet? Makes polishing easy, side plates would be a breeze. I have one with a fine wire wheel and a polishing/buffing wheel attached to a board that I can pull out and clamp to my bench, very handy.

Anyways, take pics and have fun!!
Title: Re: Polishing ambassadeur sideplates
Post by: oc1 on May 04, 2025, 04:59:11 AM
How has that Spinfisher that you stripped and polished held up over the years.
Title: Re: Polishing ambassadeur sideplates
Post by: boon on May 04, 2025, 09:51:42 AM
I hope it's for a shelfy, they corrode badly enough with the anodizing in place!
Title: Re: Polishing ambassadeur sideplates
Post by: jgp12000 on May 04, 2025, 11:24:02 AM
If I owned a 2500c,I would not do that,I would just polish it with a microfiber rag & be content.Maybe mothers mag polish only.Just take it fishing, dont screw it up in my opinion :fish Too valuable of a reel too risk,those are hard to come by much less Afford.Lucas reel oil will make it sparkle.
Title: Re: Polishing ambassadeur sideplates
Post by: Keta on May 04, 2025, 12:30:53 PM
Quote from: boon on May 04, 2025, 09:51:42 AMI hope it's for a shelfy, they corrode badly enough with the anodizing in place!

Yup.
Title: Re: Polishing ambassadeur sideplates
Post by: JasonGotaProblem on May 04, 2025, 02:39:40 PM
Quote from: oc1 on May 04, 2025, 04:59:11 AMHow has that Spinfisher that you stripped and polished held up over the years.
surprisingly well with no upkeep. Got a bit milky looking over the years but still quite shiny and can still kinda see reflection. I've only fished it a few times though. I may polish it back up and try to sell it to finance more time on the water with other things.

I have some protectaclear that I bought years ago for it, but I'd have to strip absolutely all grease and oil to do that. Not that big of a deal, but it's nowhere near the top of my very long list right now.