Super User Jimzee Posted January 16, 2008 Super User Posted January 16, 2008 Okay, after seeing RedlineRobert's new addition into his Daiwa family I had to show what I did this past weekend to one of my old additions. The Ito on the right has never been fished and is brand new. The one on the left will have two years use on it in March. The bare aluminum gets spotted over the course of the year from fishing. This was really bugging me so here is the outcome after a lot of elbow grease. Close up of the new shine. Looks like a Shimano now. Another one Send me your Ito Redline, I'll make it shine. Quote
Super User Redlinerobert Posted January 16, 2008 Super User Posted January 16, 2008 Dude! That looks hot. I have some metal polish, may have to do the same thing. Quote
Super User burleytog Posted January 16, 2008 Super User Posted January 16, 2008 Close up of the new shine. Looks like a Shimano now. Why not just buy a Shimano? 8-) Quote
Super User Jimzee Posted January 16, 2008 Author Super User Posted January 16, 2008 Close up of the new shine. Looks like a Shimano now. Why not just buy a Shimano? 8-) Bite your tongue!! Quote
Super User burleytog Posted January 16, 2008 Super User Posted January 16, 2008 I'm going to have to bring my Army of Citicas to your hood this summer. Quote
Super User Jimzee Posted January 16, 2008 Author Super User Posted January 16, 2008 I'm going to have to bring my Army of Citicas to your hood this summer. Bring 'em on. That would make my day if you come up for a visit. I hardly ever have anyone to fish with, just the dog and the wife only if it's warm. My dog has a limited vocabulary of just 10 - 15 words so it gets a little boring. Quote
Super User burleytog Posted January 16, 2008 Super User Posted January 16, 2008 If my cat wasn't so jumpy, I'd take him out with me. I will come up there this summer as long as gas doesn't go out of sight. Quote
The_Natural Posted January 16, 2008 Posted January 16, 2008 No ito stamp, but Ize' spool and tuned rotor... No arguing what Mr. Ito does with his reels...but 7 out of 10 reels are silver metallic....the purple alphas have the best paint job of any reel on the market IMHO....regardless of price. Quote
Super User Jimzee Posted January 16, 2008 Author Super User Posted January 16, 2008 I have to agree on the Purple Alphas being the best paint job. I have a couple of those too, but mine don't have those beautiful red spools in them. Another thing, every time I take a picture of my Alphas it looks bronze, every picture I have seen of your's they always look purple. I wonder why that is? :-? Quote
ABC123 Posted January 16, 2008 Posted January 16, 2008 Nice....I'm itching to get the new TD-A handles so I can start "tuning" my cheap domestics. Catalog for the new reels sin't out yet, so they can't order me parts. > > > > Quote
mike bat Posted January 16, 2008 Posted January 16, 2008 JIMZEE why do you do this ???? everytime im on here eighter you or Robert have some new sweet reels .... you guys are workin for that monkee arent ya LOL ;D Quote
Super User Raul Posted January 16, 2008 Super User Posted January 16, 2008 . Close up of the new shine. Looks like a Shimano now. I don't understand ? Nice job Jimzee, not even out of the box that reel looks so good. Now tell us Alphas Itö owners the process. What kind of metal polisher u used ? You applied it with what ? How long did it take you to achieve the mirror finish ? Buffed it up with what ? Speak man, we nosy people need to know ! Quote
Super User Jimzee Posted January 16, 2008 Author Super User Posted January 16, 2008 First I completely disassembled the reel. Much easier to work with that way. Here is what I used: Mothers aluminum polish with a small microfiber cloth. Dremel tool with buffing wheel. I applied the metal polish with the microfiber cloth all over the outside of each aluminum part. I rubbed each part until a black haze appeared on the aluminum. I then used the Dremel tool on low speed to remove the polish. Make sure you use your Dremel on low speed or you'll be dealing with swirl marks on your reel. Keep repeating this process until you get the desired shine you want. This process took me a little over five hours but I am very picky with my reels. You may want to wear a dust mask when removing the metal polish with the Dremel. I suppose you could apply the polish with the Dremel, I just didn't want it throwed all over the reel. I would also be a little concerned with swirl marks if too much pressure is applied on the Dremel tool. Remember, use low speed. Quote
Super User Raul Posted January 16, 2008 Super User Posted January 16, 2008 Thanks man ! Now it looks I need to go and purchase a Dremel :-? ...... but cost of a Dremel is insignificant when compared to having my Alphas shining like a mirror. Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted January 16, 2008 Super User Posted January 16, 2008 ...but I am very picky with my reels. Really? ;D ;D ;D It's beautiful! 8-) Quote
LakeAnnaBasser Posted January 16, 2008 Posted January 16, 2008 I may not have an alpha but I do have a revo stx. That is an aluminum frame right. If I polish my revo like you stated I can get that sweet looking finish?? Quote
Super User Jimzee Posted January 16, 2008 Author Super User Posted January 16, 2008 Thanks man !Now it looks I need to go and purchase a Dremel :-? ...... but cost of a Dremel is insignificant when compared to having my Alphas shining like a mirror. Raul, get the small 7.5 volt version with the rechargeable battery. I have the larger version that you plug in but I always use the smaller version. It's way lighter and cost's a heck of a lot less. It will do anything you need it to do on reels. $80.00 versus $35.00 Just a thought. Quote
Super User Jimzee Posted January 16, 2008 Author Super User Posted January 16, 2008 I may not have an alpha but I do have a revo stx. That is an aluminum frame right. If I polish my revo like you stated I can get that sweet looking finish?? I think your Revo may be painted and not bare aluminum. I wouldn't suggest it. You can however apply a coat of good car wax that will give it some shine and protect the paint. This is what I do on all my painted reels and rods. Maybe The Natural will chime in and show the pic on his TD-Z that he polished up with wax. Talk about shine!! Quote
Super User Raul Posted January 16, 2008 Super User Posted January 16, 2008 Math class 101 guyz: At current prices $300 dollars for an Alphas Itö + 35 dollars Dremel + 10 bones polish & dremel accesories + 60 bones Alphas aftermarket spool + 45 small parts kit Total = $450 for a shiny Alphas Itö with killer looks Not bad, you can get a Steez for the same price. ;D Quote
LakeAnnaBasser Posted January 16, 2008 Posted January 16, 2008 Math class 101 guyz:At current prices $300 dollars for an Alphas Itö + 35 dollars Dremel + 10 bones polish & dremel accesories + 60 bones Alphas aftermarket spool + 45 small parts kit Total = $450 for a shiny Alphas Itö with killer looks Not bad, you can get a Steez for the same price. ;D Where do you get that reel for $300. I want to start getting some JDM reels. I realized that outside of fishing collecting reels is another hobby of mine. Quote
bait__Monkey Posted January 16, 2008 Posted January 16, 2008 hey u gys! tanks! dis is da bestest tread i read in awile. we git sumor reels an fix um up, yes? Quote
The_Natural Posted January 16, 2008 Posted January 16, 2008 Math class 101 guyz:At current prices $300 dollars for an Alphas Itö + 35 dollars Dremel + 10 bones polish & dremel accessories + 60 bones Alphas aftermarket spool + 45 small parts kit Total = $450 for a shiny Alphas Itö with killer looks Not bad, you can get a Steez for the same price. ;D Yeah, but you can't fix your hair using the side of your reel 8-). That could come in handy after a long run ;D. About the polishing...I did polish out my TD-Z's to a high gloss, but they were a matte finish. Aren't the Revo's finished with a lacquer? You can polish out any reel that is a matte finish, but it obviously won't help a reel that is already glossy. Beware that you can polish off the writing on the reel as well, such as the 'Team Daiwa' logo and TDZ insignia. I used a lightly abrasive/fine cut car polish (megiuar's professional series swirl remover 2.0). Quote
Super User Jimzee Posted January 16, 2008 Author Super User Posted January 16, 2008 People, that is a matte finished reel with no shine at all. Now look at it. I tried polishing my TD-Z with Meguiar's nxt Tech Wax and could not get that shine. Have to get some of that swirl remover. Thanks for the pics Natural. Quote
The_Natural Posted January 16, 2008 Posted January 16, 2008 People, that is a matte finished reel with no shine at all. Now look at it. I tried polishing my TD-Z with Meguiar's nxt Tech Wax and could not get that shine. Have to get some of that swirl remover. Thanks for the pics Natural. Yeah...NXT is a great synthetic wax, but it has little to no abrasives. You need a polish. Just go to AutoZone or Oreilly's and pick up some polish and a couple of microfibers. I did one with a dremel tool and it was working great, and then I slipped and marred the crap out of my reel >. I did the rest by hand...and it was quite time consuming! I think if you aren't fishing, why not play with your fishing stuff?! Quote
Super User islandbass Posted January 16, 2008 Super User Posted January 16, 2008 First I completely disassembled the reel. Much easier to work with that way.Here is what I used: Mothers aluminum polish with a small microfiber cloth. Dremel tool with buffing wheel. I applied the metal polish with the microfiber cloth all over the outside of each aluminum part. I rubbed each part until a black haze appeared on the aluminum. I then used the Dremel tool on low speed to remove the polish. Make sure you use your Dremel on low speed or you'll be dealing with swirl marks on your reel. Keep repeating this process until you get the desired shine you want. This process took me a little over five hours but I am very picky with my reels. You may want to wear a dust mask when removing the metal polish with the Dremel. I suppose you could apply the polish with the Dremel, I just didn't want it throwed all over the reel. I would also be a little concerned with swirl marks if too much pressure is applied on the Dremel tool. Remember, use low speed. What RPM Setting did you use? One's notion of Low speed could be different from someone elses. Thanks! I don't have any daiwa casting reels of that caliber yet, but holy smokes you and others here really know how to rile up the bait monkey. ;D Quote
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