I got a dremel and want to tune/polish my Abu 5500C3! Can I strip the sideplates

[pointbob]

Hi all

I just got a dremel and want to tune/polish my Abu 5500C3! Can I strip the sideplates of all the decals and make the metal look less factory?


I'm creative but I also like clean looks. I love the reels but the older 5500c3 I have is just too busy looking for me...

Is there a downside to stripping away the metal a bit to give it different appearance? Any tips? I don't fish salt..mainly fresh....


thanks

[JasonGotaProblem]

Considering it on my scratchy 5000c. It's just aluminum right? It'll re-oxidize is all. Ive done it with a penn 750ss and 8500ss. Comes out pretty cool.

Just wrap a few layers of tape around the knurled portion of the dremel Chuck. One slip of the hand will rapidly undo hours of polishing.

[oc1]

The label will peel right off.  Clean up the glue with a solvent.  If you take a dremel to the anodized finish it will be removed and you wil be left with raw aluminum.  It will be shiny for about an hour before it starts to tarnish and discolor.  If you remove the anodizing it will have to be replaced with another type of finish for protection.

[JasonGotaProblem]

That's a bit of an exaggeration, though technically entirely true. It does begin to re-oxidize the second you start sanding, but it's not that bad. I havent polished mine in a year and its seen a lot of salt. I'll take a pic today.

[foakes]

The #1 tip from the custom car, wheel, and motorcycle guys is —

Make sure the surface of the aluminum is stripped & cleaned extremely well — and there are no oils or even fingerprints.

After stripping, I use a warm water bath in the Ultrasonic cleaner with HD Dawn dish soap.

Next is another US cleaner bath with just fresh, purified water — no Chlorine in the water.

Then allow to dry completely in a warm room.

Then apply a coat of protectant, or two.

I use Everbrite since it is also Salt Water resistant and is used on aluminum wheels, and other raw aluminum surfaces.

It is expensive — $40 a pint — but a pint covers 125 SF — and can be applied with a foam brush, foam applicator, or sprayed on.  I just use a foam brush — because there is less mess and waste.

Plenty of other easier or less expensive methods — but this works for me — and holds up very well to seal the shine and stop the oxidation process that starts as soon as the aluminum is stripped bare.

Best, Fred

[Keta]

That's a bit of an exaggeration, though technically entirely true. It does begin to re-oxidize the second you start sanding, but it's not that bad. I havent polished mine in a year and its seen a lot of salt. I'll take a pic today.

Raw aluminum does start reacting to oxygen as soon as it is exposed to it, it is just not noticable.

[Wompus Cat]

After you get all shiny just slap a good thick coat of Bacon Grease on it and make sure you had a good Breakfast before you go out to use it or  you might have more than boat rash on it ,.......just sayin 

[pointbob]

Thanks a lot for the info; love this community.

[thorhammer]

Bob, pull the side plate labels off, and the plastic thumbrest POS, and you will find the reel decidedly less busy right there. If you want to go further, suggest you call Matt at Reelkustom. He does some amazing things with metal, reasonably priced. No way would I strip a vintage Abu in that shape just to have a non-factory look. PLENTY of beater ones around with rash and missing labels but structurally sound to play on. You can also find plenty of after-market handles, spools, drags, spool tensioning caps etc in different finishes to customize your rig. Also try Simon Shimonura and Akios.

Our Abu guy, also named Bob, knws all these and more. He'll be around directly.

[Dominick]

Aluminum can be buffed to a high shine if that is what you are looking for.  Dominick

[pointbob]

Aluminum can be buffed to a high shine if that is what you are looking for.  Dominick

Thank you...that's sort of something I'd like to try.

I had not considered the aspect of it being unprotected....that opens up the need to paint it/coat it with something...

1) what would the cheapest clear coating solution to that be?
2) could i add some colors (ie. dollar store hobby paints) to the protection coating to create some one of a kind effects...like a dull orange/copper or even green..

[oldmanjoe]

  This may help .
   

[Dominick]

There is no need to put on a coating once the aluminum is buffed to a high shine.  Take a look at the polished aluminum rails on a boat.  They shine like chrome and they have no coating.  Dominick

[Wompus Cat]

There is no need to put on a coating once the aluminum is buffed to a high shine.  Take a look at the polished aluminum rails on a boat.  They shine like chrome and they have no coating.  Dominick

There are different Grades(compositions) of Aluminum .Rails and Gunnels on a Boat are quite different than the Thin ARSE covers on the Newer ABU's.
ABU makes High polished reels in that series and the Plain jane coated ones like he has . I would leave it Be and Hop ,Supe Up ,Modify a Penn 112,112H,113-114- Jigmaster ,etc .
But Yep you can polish it out with a LOT of Time and Patience. Good Luck with it !

[JasonGotaProblem]

Time and patience are half the fun. You don't do this because it's a good idea in the eyes of your wife or accountant. You do it because it's fun.

As promised one year later, a bit dusty from the garage in the name of intellectual honesty. It would look a lot better with legit just a wipe down with a damp cloth.