FUNDAMENTAL discussion of reel-types

Why not use SS #8 washers to avoid the rusting issue?

because the magnets won't stick to stainless steel very well so i use zinc washers so they stay in place

If you'll pardon my ignorance, how do the magnets work to control the speed of the spool if, as it looks in your photo, the washers and magnets are both on the side plate? I would have thought that either the magnets or the washers would be on the side plate and the other on the spool.
Along the same line, why does it matter what material the spool is made of- aluminum or plastic, since niether is attracted to the magnets?  I was just given a Penn jigmaster so this isn't idle curiousity, tho I roll that way too!

With Penn reels, the plastic spools are prone to failure...just putting mono on an old plastic spool is a risky proposition. If you put a bit of tension on the line, like you would with a good fish on, the compression causes the old plastic to collapse.I like Penn reels, but use an aftermarket spool like a Newell. Or any quality metal spool.

Best,

Paul

the magnets cause an eddy current which the aluminum or chromed brass spools react to. aluminum spools being lighter require a smaller eddy current and are easier to control. the chromed brass spools are much heavier and require a much larger eddy current to control the spool plus they don't have any flat surfaces so that makes the currents react differently thus making the spools harder to control.

the reason you don't put magnets or washers on the spool itself is because your then adding weight to 1 side of the spool thus unbalancing it plus the washers being attacted to the magnets would make it next to impossible to cast

  duh... Wasn't thinking of magnetics, just of the rust!

Shawn: I have an aluminum spool in my reel. Will I still need the half washers? If so, it doesn't look like it matters that they don't touch each other.  And it looks like you put the magnets on top of the half washers. 
  Maybe I ought to first go try casting my reel without the magnets, because I'm beginning to feel like I'm in over my head and being sucked down by an eddy current.

 ( And I once tried to reel myself upwind toward a PB that had snagged my mono trolling line.  All of a sudden I heard a loud POP and my reel was useless - it was a brass spool and side of the spool had popped off the swedge from the cylinder connecting the two sides.  I'd caught a small 'but and my line was floating high, but that's another story.)

P.S.: I just had to go near the eddy current:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddy_current
So, as I understand it, the eddy current is induced in the alum spool, and it is in opposition to the magnetic field, and lessens as the speed of the spool is reduced.
I feel better informed, if no wiser.

the object is to get the magnets as close to the spool as possible without actually touching it. that's what the washers are doing just getting the magnet as close as possible. some reels require 1 washer other reels like the squidders take a stack of 4 washers

O.K. thanks, now all I have to do is come up with some "rare earth magnets" - I suppose tackle shops or on the net.   Doesn't sound like I'll ruin my reel trying it, since they are just silconed in.

When you buy a modern bass reel with magnetic cast control and turn the dial,
it moves the magnet closer or further from the spool, affecting the strength of
the eddy current.

Tom, if you get really fancy, you'll mount your magnet(s) in some sort of tube
such that when you twist the tube the magnet moves in and out.

If you look around on ebay, you'll see guys that customize reels in this manner.

Best,
J

p.s., according to that wiki entry (thanks tom), the spool does have to be some
sort of conducting material, but not magnetic material for the eddy current effect
to work.  so I guess you could not do this with a newell reel which has a graphite
spool (well, the "p-" versions have aluminum spools).

when i setup a reel i loosen the spool control knob until there's about a hairs width of side to side play then i add magnets to keep the spool under control with the wind at my back. now when i'm at the beach i'm always casting into the wind so to adjust for the adverse conditions i tight down on the spool control knob just a little bit at a time till i get the right setting for that day. doing it this way keeps me from having to drill holes in the side plate for an adjustable spool control which doesn't help very much at the beach when you have a 30 mph head wind. plus some reels require multiple magnets which is more of a pain in the butt to build an adjustable spool control for.


not saying the way i do it is the only way but it is the best way i found for my use

also you can sometimes find neodymium magnets at radio shack or you can order them from breakaway tackle in corpus christi. you have to call the shop to order them because they're not listed on the website

Guys, I am really enjoying this discussion.
But I have to say...this is not "fundamental" reel info. This is straight-up Alan Tani sh!t! Very cool!
Thanks,
PK

Guys, I am really enjoying this discussion.
But I have to say...this is not "fundamental" reel info. This is straight-up Alan Tani sh!t! Very cool!
Thanks,
PK

    
Yeah, I was following the first page quite intently, but the second page has been way over my head.

Speaking of the master, I'm surprised he hasn't chimed in yet.

Michael

regarding the magnets in tubes on the side of the reels.

I was reading about these guys that cast on grass in the uk and europe, casting distance competitions.

I think they cast over 300 yards. they adjust the magnet while the weight is in flight.

or so I understand.

ya they do. breakaway tackle down here in texas hosts 2 tournaments a year and they have a couple guys casting over 800 feet. current record at the moment is 913 feet held by some dude in england i believe. i might be off i haven't seen any postings on it since it was reported 6 months or so ago