Alan's Workbench
If I Was Going to Make a Reel . . .
Apr. 3 2009, 3:40 PM
Apr. 3 2009, 3:40 PM
… what would it be like? Hmm, now that would be interesting. I would want a set of three reels. The first would be my 30-pound-class reel, holding 300 yards of 50-pound spectra and a 50-yard topshot of 30-pound-test mono or fluoro, capable of delivering an easy 15 pounds of drag. The second would be a 40-pound-class reel, holding 300 yards of 65-pound spectra and a 50-yard topshot of 40-pound test mono or fluoro, capable of delivering an easy 20 pounds of drag. The third would be a 50-pound-class reel, holding 300 yards of 80-pound spectra and a 50-yard topshot of 50-pound mono or fluoro, delivering 25 pound of drag. Yes, these would be very small reels!
I’m fine with a star drag design. I would like the spool to be “boxed out,” meaning that the spool would be as wide as it is tall. Tolerances between the spool and frame have to be tight enough to not allow the spectra to be “eaten” in between. Anodized aircraft-grade aluminum is fine for the topless frame, side plates, and spool. A bronze main gear is quiet but maybe a little soft. A stainless steel main gear is noisy but much sturdier. Let’s go with an oversized stainless steel main gear, pinion gear, and drive shaft, all hardened. I would like all stainless steel guts, clicker assembly included. Softer 304 stainless is fine. We really only need two bearings, one on each side of the spool. Standard ABEC 5 bearings will work, but let’s leave them open and lubed with one of the new dry Teflon lubes. I’d like a stack of three or five greased carbon fiber drag washers inside the main gear and one underneath. The anti-reverse system should have double spring-loaded dogs and a single anti-reverse roller bearing (just for looks). The handle arm should be stainless steel with a monster offset machined delron handle grip. A stamped stainless steel reel seat with four screws and a delron rod clamp with a stainless steel bolt kit will finish it off.
A 6:1 gear ratio for a 30-pound reel may be a bit fast for many, but there definitely are advantages, so 6:1 it is. The 40-pound reel can be 5:1 and the 50-pound reel can be 4:1. Let’s have a right side plate that is held by three to four screws. Pop the side plate, and you should have easy access to the pair of spool bearings. Now you can easily lube the bearings after every fishing trip. No more excuses for not maintaining your reel. Don’t forget grease on all the screws and on all the non-exposed metal surfaces. This would mean “zero maintenance” for the entire right side plate and frame. Unless I have forgotten something, you now have a truly spectra-worthy reel. Now I just have to find someone to build them for me!
A 6:1 gear ratio for a 30-pound reel may be a bit fast for many, but there definitely are advantages, so 6:1 it is. The 40-pound reel can be 5:1 and the 50-pound reel can be 4:1. Let’s have a right side plate that is held by three to four screws. Pop the side plate, and you should have easy access to the pair of spool bearings. Now you can easily lube the bearings after every fishing trip. No more excuses for not maintaining your reel. Don’t forget grease on all the screws and on all the non-exposed metal surfaces. This would mean “zero maintenance” for the entire right side plate and frame. Unless I have forgotten something, you now have a truly spectra-worthy reel. Now I just have to find someone to build them for me!
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