Rod & Reel Cleaning

Yes, I wash my gear with fresh water after every use, occasionally I will give them a light soap spray. Some of the reels are showing green corrosion or a white build up around the screws and metal. One rod is showing al little rust on the eyes.

Before I put all my salt water gear to "bed" for 9 months , what should I use/do? I put every thing outside Sunday night - to get rained on (my outside water/hoses etc. is still off for winter), we ended up with 5 inches of snow! It's supposed to rain this am , I'll bring everything in after that . Is there something special I should be using for cleaning ? I normally wipe everything down with Armor All when all done. thx jjm

I’m interested to hear since my gear ‘sleeps’ for extended periods of time as well. I do leave all my saltwater gear in GS though so whatever else I would do would have to be done at the end of my trip so I probably couldn’t go overboard with time.

Tough break on the snow! Our 32 degrees this morning now doesn’t seem too bad! 86 tomorrow they say. Spring just can’t seem to make up its mind!

Wow! Snow is a far cry from intermittent 80s down here.

I like you idea of Armorall.
There are products called SALT-AWAY and SALT-X that should remove the green and white buildups from the outside of your reels.

After rinsing, I like to place my reels in the sun, or a warm, dry place where the water quickly evaporates.
IF I have time, I will wipe it off with a clean, dry rag or paper towels.

Once the reels are dry, I lubricate (3-IN_ONE works in place of reel oil) the essential maintenance spots in anticipation of storage:
1. Line Roller
2. Bail springs and joints
3. Handle knob and joints
4. Any ports to access ball bearings (remove dust cover opposite handle and lube)
5. Remove the spool, clean with a oily rag or paper towel
6. Disassemble, clean and replace the drag components
7. Spray and wipe off outside of reel with REEL MAGIC (but Armor All should work)

Hope this helps!

Starbrite makes a product called Salt Off and I use it every time I come home from fishing.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/s...NMnYH&usqp=CAE

After rinsing with freshwater and allowing to dry, I spray the reel and guides lightly with WD-40. I've got reels 30+ years old that look almost new. I completely disassemble and clean/grease reels about every other year. I don't "try" to WD the guide wrappings as I think the WD gradually degrades the coating over the years.

Well, just my 2 cents, I have found a product, called just 336. Any time I put something away for storage, from my guns to reels, to my outboard motor, I spray with 336, it prevents corrosion and also keeps moisture away. Of course that is after a cleaning with salt off for the dishing reels.

I've never had to do anything to my gear and use it almost daily in the salt water. Most of my stuff is several years old too. If I thought it needed it I might rinse it with fresh water.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LevelWind

Well, just my 2 cents, I have found a product, called just 336. Any time I put something away for storage, from my guns to reels, to my outboard motor, I spray with 336, it prevents corrosion and also keeps moisture away. Of course that is after a cleaning with salt off for the dishing reels.

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CRC makes that ...
https://www.crcindustries.com/produc...-11-wt-oz.html

Quote:

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DESCRIPTION

A versatile petroleum based compound that forms a clear, thin film that lubricates and protects against wear and corrosion. Multi-purpose product lubricates, protects, displaces moisture, and cleans.


APPLICATIONS


Tubing, castings, gears, weld rod, wire, fixtures, dies, jigs, shim stock, chucks, drill rod, heat treated parts, machined surfaces, finished welds, aluminum extrusions, air actuated tools, conveyors, frozen joints, locks, hoists, etc.

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Thanks everyone I''ll track down the Salt Off . WD-40 has it's place but not on reels/rods or guns for me , I refer to it as liquid honey!
Thunder and lightning here this am , everything is getting a positive rinse, coming in this afternoon I'll go from there . thx jjm

Interesting thread! I may have to try the 336. What problem do you have with WD-40? I must admit I used it on my outboards and it would discolor the gray yamaha paint over time.which I didn't like. I've never had an issue with reels, but I use a very light mist except for targeted areas. Always willing to upgrade to a better product as long as it doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I buy WD in gallon jugs lol.

Folks say WD40 is a more like a solvent and less like a long-term lubricant and supposedly can attract moisture (odd, since WD stands for water displacement and it was for electronic contacts) or get gummy over time. It can attack certain plastics but I don't know what plastics are in my gear so I don't have a way to use that information.

WD 40 certainly seems to work short term or in a pinch. Like a Swiss army knife it does a lot in a pinch but won't replace a tool box of specialized task-specific items.

My every-trip gear care routine starts in the shower -- low pressure freshwater rinses (no pressure spray hoses and no underwater soaking) followed by air drying. Same-day washing is a pain but seems to fight that gradual saltwater etching. I even drop all the rigs/lures I used that day into the sink, dry overnight and repack them the next morning. Reel oils or greases like Penn's go inside on deep cleaning, but not daily.

I have found 336 to be a very good product for storage, such as guns going in the safe or reels in the reel cabinet. No residue left excpet a light film that seems like a dry lubricant. As spoken before WD40 is made to remove water, not as a lubricant

Contact me here or at reelfix@myyahoo.com. I’ll do a thorough cleaning, inside and out, and grease and oil them. Then they’ll be ready for next year.