I am hoping someone can help here. I want to paint a graphite reelseat with some automotive paint I have found locally. I am looking for info regarding prepping the reelseat for paint, and then information on clearcoating the painted seat. What products work well for this?? Any tips/tricks to getting this to work. Also, can you paint the nut on the seat hood?

Thanks for any help anyone can offer,
Scott Sheets

Sand all surfaces carefully to remove any burrs or imperfections from the manufacturing process, some auto paints require the use of a primer and that can be a problem, if your paint does not require the use of a primer coat for best results, apply the auto paint to the reel seat.............you need to use several THIN and carefully applied coats for best coverage. Hopefully the auto paint you chose does not require heat curing. I would clear coat with a quality automotive grade clear if available or a clear polyurethane spray if not.

You can paint the nut but it is a pain.

Personally the only success I had with painting reel seats required the used of a good hobby grade airbrush and carefully thinned and strained quality airbrush paints....STILL had problems in the threaded area though with the paint scraping off in the high areas or where the nuts scraped from a less than perfect fit.

Does that make sense?

Derek L. McMaster
Rohnert Park, CA

Born to Fish, FORCED to Work

You may want to consider adhesion promoter. It comes in a spray can and should be available with the automotive spray paints.

Bill in WV

I noticed on the ones Mudhole sells, the nuts and hoods are not painted.

J.B.Hunt
Bowling Green, KY

Do a search for Putter he has done many reelseats (Marbilizing)
Good Wraps Bob

I have actually had pretty good results with Krylon for plastics and a good urethane clear. Both come in spray cans and are pretty easy to use.

Joe Douglas

To avoid scratching the finish and having fit issues, you generally have to sand down the threads a little. The paint and clear coat will build the diameter back up to fit. Sand the seat with fine grit paper till it's fairly smooth. A base coat and adhesion primer is a good idea.

Thanks everyone, I am going try out these suggestions when I get a chance. My wife and I just welcomed two beautiful little girls tuesday night, so my building is on hold at the moment.