Looking to paint just the front cover on a reel.  The piece that wraps around the line guide and pawl.  They are usually plastic and can be taken completely off.

What kind of paint would you guys recommend?  It will be done in just the typical flat black matte color to match the reel.  Plan on using spray paint and making this a quick job, nothing too crazy.  

Rustoleum.

Rustoleum for plastic?  

Yes.  buy the can that says for plastic, wood and metal.

You want help? Or here just to insult people?

Perhaps you'd have preferred we sent you on a goose chase for airliner enamel.

Keep it simple, get a rattle can that's good for plastic.

The latter. Nothing is simple on this forum.  I was wanting opinions.

I would like to see an entire reel painted with Rustoleum. Wasn't/isn't there a well respected reel painter out there named Calfish? I wonder if he uses Rustoleum. I know that there are people in Japan that offer reel painting services. Ya think that they are using Rustoleum?

From my research, the prep work is just as important as what paint you choose. 

I've read of people using auto paints on their reels with good results. 

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

You want help? Or here just to insult people?

Perhaps you'd have preferred we sent you on a goose chase for airliner enamel.

Keep it simple, get a rattle can that's good for plastic.

were the post edited?. im not understanding how anyone was insulted.

1 hour ago, John G said:

I would like to see an entire reel painted with Rustoleum. Wasn't/isn't there a well respected reel painter out there named Calfish? I wonder if he uses Rustoleum. I know that there are people in Japan that offer reel painting services. Ya think that they are using Rustoleum?

All the top reel painters use a automotive grade base and clear. Prep work is the most important thing. If your prep stinks then the finish of the paint will stink too. I painted a Steez using auto paint that was put into a rattle can. It's held up very well for 2yrs now. I just recently stripped it down to have it done a chameleon color. 

Top pic is 12-13 right after reassembly. 

Bottom pic is 4-15 after a year of use.

I like that finish on that Powell rod for sure.  It's unique 

15 hours ago, John G said:

I would like to see an entire reel painted with Rustoleum. Wasn't/isn't there a well respected reel painter out there named Calfish? I wonder if he uses Rustoleum. I know that there are people in Japan that offer reel painting services. Ya think that they are using Rustoleum?

He's talking about one little plastic part, not the frame. How much is automotive grade lacquer and a device to deliver the paint?

14 hours ago, jbrew73 said:

were the post edited?.

Yes.

3 hours ago, J Francho said:

He's talking about one little plastic part, not the frame. How much is automotive grade lacquer and a device to deliver the paint?

 

After I posted my comments, I went back and re read his comments. He mentioned "a quick job and nothing to crazy". It was then that I realized, not only was Rustoleum an option, many other rattle can paints would be too and I realized then that my smart a$@ post was out of line and I do apologize for it. 

J Francho, maybe I took your post the wrong way too. I apologize myself.  

another option is to have your reel painted by a professional air brush artist ...

Oh I'm just doing the front cover in matte black just wasn't sure if you would use a primer. I wanna do it only once and the right way so it don't chip easy. 

Black primer, then a couple coats of satin clear.

Don't mean to steal the topic, but any ideas on how I could go about painting the side plates on my Aby C4?

Same way you'd paint any metal. Sand it clean, prime, paint, clear coat. It'll be hard to match the factory color. Getting the color code from ABU and have a body shop shoot it might be the best if you're doing a refurb.

You should check the clearance between the level components that slide over the level wind shroud. Paint adds thickness that may bind the parts. 

Tom

I painted one of my reels, it was a LOT harder than I anticipated.  The finish product was garbage, but if I were to do it again I think I could pull off a decent end result.  I would do a couple things differently 1. I would use automotive grade paint/clear coat (rattle can paint might be okay for your application) 2. I would have taken better care of taking it apart/putting it back together, since it didn't work properly after I put it all back together.  But, it was an old $50 reel from DSG so I wasn't too sad over messing it up.