What we've been doing

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Some people have been wondering what we do during the winter. Well we fish as much as we can. Our holiday schedules are busier than most. Our jobs require long hours and many days straight during the holidays usually working 20-30 or more days without a day off. With shift changes sometimes two to three times a week. When we do have a day or two off it's running back home to Indiana where our families are both spread all over the state.

During the winter I like to have my reels serviced and I usually send them off, but sending 20-30 reels off every year for $20-$30 a pop and shipping and then not having my reels for weeks on end is no fun. Sarah has an art degree, but has never really used it in the Transportation Industry so we decided to turn a non-used room in our house into a place we could just chill out, listen to music, service reels, paint baits, and just relax. We are not much of TV people, or computer people while at home.

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[XxthejuicexX]

Man, that is a sweet set up you guys have there. Do you guys paint all your baits or just old beat up ones?

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We can do re-paints, but right now just buying blanks, eyes, hooks, and split rings and painting from scratch.

[XxthejuicexX]

Okay, Officially jealous! That is awesome.

[goreds.king]

That's an awesome way to spend days you can't make it out on the water (both cleaning and painting baits)!

Like I said in the other post...I've been researching places to send my reels off to be serviced. I can do a few things, but as far as top-to-bottom cleaning I don't trust myself. I don't have high end reels, but I want to take care of the equipment I have. If you are open to the business I would much rather send them to someone locally.

[Reel Tune]

It's been a lot of fun. It keeps us in the same room, we can just chat and work, while listening to music.

Brock, I've seen the best improvements from economy reels sub $150. I've been doing my own for a while, but not had all the tools I really needed to do it right. I finally broke down and got all the lubes, oils and tools to do it right. I can do basic cleaning, or complete tear downs re-lubes.

I'm also dabbling in Supertuning where I polish contact points with a compound and a jewelry polishing brush to a mirror finish. I'm cutting my own drag sets, so I don't have to order them.

I have about 10 different kinds of oils, 4 different gear greases, 3 different drag greases. I invested in an ultra sonic cleaner also so I can properly clean those places that you cannot get to with a brush or pick. I've been doing about 6 reels a week for the past few weeks mostly mid to higher end reels $100-$400 reels.

Like I stated earlier I'm seeing the greatest improvement in the reels that cost less, but no matter what the cost of a reel it will last much longer and serve you better if it's well cleaned at least once a year. Proper lubrication and regular cleaning will save money in the long run.

Just send me a PM if you're interested.

[Alphahawk]

Originally Posted by MidTNKayakAngler

It's been a lot of fun. It keeps us in the same room, we can just chat and work, while listening to music.

Brock, I've seen the best improvements from economy reels sub $150. I've been doing my own for a while, but not had all the tools I really needed to do it right. I finally broke down and got all the lubes, oils and tools to do it right. I can do basic cleaning, or complete tear downs re-lubes.

I'm also dabbling in Supertuning where I polish contact points with a compound and a jewelry polishing brush to a mirror finish. I'm cutting my own drag sets, so I don't have to order them.

I have about 10 different kinds of oils, 4 different gear greases, 3 different drag greases. I invested in an ultra sonic cleaner also so I can properly clean those places that you cannot get to with a brush or pick. I've been doing about 6 reels a week for the past few weeks mostly mid to higher end reels $100-$400 reels.

Like I stated earlier I'm seeing the greatest improvement in the reels that cost less, but no matter what the cost of a reel it will last much longer and serve you better if it's well cleaned at least once a year. Proper lubrication and regular cleaning will save money in the long run.

Just send me a PM if you're interested.

Nice setup and good way to stay busy when the weather keeps you in. I service some of my own and have thought about buying an ultra sound cleaner....for cleaning reels and other things around here. The older I get though the harder it is for me to see some of the small parts or springs in a spinning reel. Sending off an 4 year old Stradic that is beat up but is still as smooth as silk. The bail spring needs replacing and also needs a new end cap for the opposite side of handle. I have a buddy who sends all his Shimanos off for service to the Shimano Service Center in California and 3 times they have sent him new reels...or what appears to be new reels.....telling him they couldn't be fixed.....and at no cost to him! Maybe they will take pity on me too and do the same....LOL.


Regards

[Reel Tune]

Thanks Alpha

The Ultra Sonic cleaner does an amazing job, it's just time consuming. But if you want internals as clean as possible the Ultra Sonic cleaner is a must.

The feeling when a spring, E clip, or bearing retainer goes flying is gut wrenching

I've also been treated very well from Shimano in California. They make good equipment, have great customer service, and stand behind their product that's just hard to beat.