Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Has anyone tried to strip and then re-anodize the side plates on one of these Ambassadeurs? I want to try and do a custom color on and old beat up reel.

I'm no good at posting links but a couple guys have tried DIY. Have a look around here

https://alantani.com/index.php/topic,17072.0.html
    There may be a few more on this site .  Also check u tube videos .
https://alantani.com/index.php/topic,12911.msg128284.html#msg128284

I thought this one was really good too.
https://alantani.com/index.php?topic=28230.0

Not for the faint of heart.  Mike is a wizard.

       

Quote from: oc1 on October 13, 2025, 05:54:25 AMI thought this one was really good too.
https://alantani.com/index.php?topic=28230.0

Not for the faint of heart.  Mike is a wizard.

Steve   That`s the one  I was looking for ,lots of good information .

If you are going to get into anodizing as a DIY activity, be prepared to spend a bunch  of time and go through a bunch of practice parts to get your process down.  Rea-anodizing is trickier and more work than anodizing the part for the first time.

The anodizing process converts the surface of the aluminum to aluminum oxide to depth up to 0.001 inches for type II with bright colored dyes. This layer  is very hard, but porous. The pores are then filled with a colored dye, and plugged up by a sealing process.

None of this is reversible.  Some folks think they have removed the anodizing with household cleaners, but they have probably mostly removed the dye, with much anodized metal remaining.

In order to re-anodize the part, any non-aluminum component needs to be removed, which might be difficult for the handle side ABU plates.  Next, the anodized layer needs to be entirely removed, either by abrasion or by chemicals. The part then needs to be re-polished and anodized again.  If any bit of the old anodized metal remains, it won't take the dye well and the finish can get blotchy, so bright and shiny color finishes (vs a matte black) are trickier.

And since you are taking this reel outdoors, you need to get the sealing process nailed, so that the color doesn't fade too quickly over time.  This is a whole 'nother learning curve that will take some time to find out if you are successful.

I looked into anodizing after seeing some folk in the community shop try it, and  decided that I was not willing to take the plunge.  Hats off to Mike for diving in. 

You can also look into powder coating, which can go over anodized aluminum.  There are some spectacular colors and finishes available. A proper powder coating will be extremely durable, but not as resistant to cosmetic scratches as anodized. This is a much  simpler DIY endeavor than anodizing, but still requires special equipment. The non-aluminum components can be masked over or plugged, as long as they can withstand about 10 minutes or so in a 400 degree oven. 

If you decide to send the parts out to professionals, powder coating will be cheaper than  re-anodizing 

-J

Check ReelCustoms. Matt does Abu's really well and I've seen some powder coating he's done which is fantastic. He mags as well and most any other upgrade you might want to do to an Abu and a lot of other reels. His magged Saltists are gunslingers. Great guy to talk to.

John

Quote from: thorhammer on October 18, 2025, 12:45:47 AMCheck ReelCustoms. Matt does Abu's really well and I've seen some powder coating he's done which is fantastic. He mags as well and most any other upgrade you might want to do to an Abu and a lot of other reels. His magged Saltists are gunslingers. Great guy to talk to.

John

Thanks. I'll give them a look.

I looked at reelcustoms.com.  The guy must have diverse interests.

I had a go @ anodizing, some plain alloy, I dont think I tryed to die it, the part your trying to anodize, has to be very clean, so you wash it & if it is clean enough you place distilled water on it, if there is any droplets on the part, then its not clean enough, for the process, I finished up washing it with a heavey duty hand cleaner, that was the best, after pooring distilled water on it, there was not a droplet of water staying on the part, and yes I did get a lot of very good advice, from MCH, Mike Currie, he is always very helpfull, cheers Don.