Isopropyl Alcohol For Reel Cleaning

[iceintheveins]

Is Isopropyl alcohol okay and effective to use for cleaning reels, gears/bearings ect? I have had good results with acetone, which is an oxidant of Isopropyl. 

[Josh Smith]

I use a q-tip with denatured alcohol to degrease localized stuff.

For more general cleaning, hot water, Dawn detergent, and an old toothbrush work best for me.

I have been known to use gun degreaser on old reels if they were caked, but I have no idea if the stuff will hurt graphite/carbon fiber/whatever. The stuff I use is safe for metals and plastics.

Hot water and Dawn just works best for me, though, for routine cleaning.

Josh

[Preytorien]

I use a q-tip with denatured alcohol to degrease localized stuff.

For more general cleaning, hot water, Dawn detergent, and an old toothbrush work best for me.

I have been known to use gun degreaser on old reels if they were caked, but I have no idea if the stuff will hurt graphite/carbon fiber/whatever. The stuff I use is safe for metals and plastics.

Hot water and Dawn just works best for me, though, for routine cleaning.

Josh

 

This....

 

I've tried countless degreasing methods and I find myself coming back to "washing the dishes"

 

I'm also a very serious cyclist (dare I admit maybe more than a fisherman), and when we clean our drivetrains with hundreds of miles of grit, grease, and oil on them, we forego the fancy stuff and use good ole' Dawn detergent....besides, it smells good!

[.ghoti.]

Simple Green, is very effective, cheap, smells pleasant, and is biodegradable. Perfect Solution is great for more stubborn, old grease, but has a much harsher odor.

[5fishlimit]

Isopropyl in 70%, or 99% concentration is an effective solvent with the only drawback being the odor.  It's used in cleaning certain computer parts, and widely used in the medical field to clean & sterilize various instruments and surfaces.  I would be careful about using it around "soft" materials like the knobs of your handle as it can cause some breakdown of the material - it commonly happens to stethescope tubing when cleaned with an alcohol prep pad.

 

I personally use Simple Green and an old toothbrush as it is more tolerable to my sense of smell.  I don't care for the smell of isopropyl alcohol.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Denatured alcohol is not especially effective on heavy grease n oil. Perfect solution and hot water are the way to go

[J Francho]

Perfect Solution does a better job.  Alcohol works okay, especially for previously cleaned bearings that aren't super dirty. 

[BobP]

I like soap and water with a toothbrush but if I'm in a hurry, dropping the parts in a jar of naphtha works quickly without damaging plastics.  I wouldn't put acetone on any plastic part of a reel - it's just too active a solvent.

[FSUMF333]

I've been using the Ardent Reel Clean. It works great for degreasing.

[J Francho]

Ardent Reel Cleaner - 2 oz. - $6.99 @ BPS

Perfect Solution - 32 oz. - $4.98 @ Lowes

 

Never mind that PS works about 10x faster than the Ardent stuff.

 

[Munkin]

http://www.lakeforktacklerepair.com/tips.htm

 

Get this reel maintenance video and you are set (I am not associated with them in any way but promote because it works).

 

I use to send my reels out to be cleaned and it was hit or miss as to the quality of cleaning. One guy I sent them to must of just sprayed WD-40 inside and returned them? They were actually worse than when I sent them in. Now I just clean them myself when needed that way I know they are done right.

 

Allen

[J Francho]

http://www.lakeforktacklerepair.com/tips.htm

 

Get this reel maintenance video and you are set (I am not associated with them in any way but promote because it works).

 

I use to send my reels out to be cleaned and it was hit or miss as to the quality of cleaning. One guy I sent them to must of just sprayed WD-40 inside and returned them? They were actually worse than when I sent them in. Now I just clean them myself when needed that way I know they are done right.

 

Allen

 

Connie and Killer are nice people.  Their video is a good starting place, but it's Shimano-centric.

 

WD-40?  Oh god....I'm sorry, man.  That's not the norm amongst the reel techs I know.

[Munkin]

Connie and Killer are nice people.  Their video is a good starting place, but it's Shimano-centric.

 

WD-40?  Oh god....I'm sorry, man.  That's not the norm amongst the reel techs I know.

 

Haven't owned a Shimano baitcaster since about 1992? all mine are Quantum and the system still works. You are right that they specialize in Shimano reels though. Now if they woul just make a video for spinning reels.

 

The WD-40 guy charged me $117 to do 5 reels and for some reason went out of business?

 

Allen

[J Francho]

Can't.  They are so varied and specific, even down to size models within the same model name.

[smalljaw67]

Can't.  They are so varied and specific, even down to size models within the same model name.

 

I think he is saying that the overall system works for any reel, the difference is the parts but if you follow the video it will get most people through it even if they aren't using a Shimano reel.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Connie and Killer are nice people.  Their video is a good starting place, but it's Shimano-centric.

 

WD-40?  Oh god....I'm sorry, man.  That's not the norm amongst the reel techs I know.

Thank you!

[J Francho]

Now if they woul just make a video for spinning reels.

 

 

 

I think he is saying that the overall system works for any reel, the difference is the parts but if you follow the video it will get most people through it even if they aren't using a Shimano reel.

 

I was referring to spinning reels.