Titanium Reels?

[Benjo]

Why aren't there titanium reels? After reading the other threads about how some of you like to wrap your line around anything round, I started to think about how much cooler it would be if I could get an Abel Super series or a Tibor that was more ported and weighed significantly less presumably through titanium. Is the stuff too difficult to machine? The actual metal in such a small item can't represent that great a portion of a reels selling price so I figure it must be something else besides the high cost of titanium.

[DavidsonDuke]

I heard Cabelas just came out with a whole new line of Titanium reels.

[Bill V]

No, it was Wal-mart and they are selling them at cost!!!

[D. Micus]

I understand that the abel disco paint doesn't adhere to the titanium....

and if the actual metal doesn't represent the cost what does? must be the cork drag...no, cork isn't very expensive. the wooden handle! no, that's not very expensive...gee, why do those reels cost so much????

[This message has been edited by D. Micus (edited 26 April 2005).]

[LadyFisher]

danbo? No information on where those are made, Russia?

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LadyFisher, Publisher of
FAOL

[Hans Weilenmann]

Deanna,

Leen Huisman reels, from the Low Countries (The Netherlands)

Ari 't Hart, another Lowlander, also produced some titanium reels in the past.

Cheers,
Hans W


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=== You have a friend in Low Places ===
http://www.danica.com/flytier

As is said in the bicyle industry, "you can have it (i) strong, (ii) light, and (iii) cheap. Pick two."

I wouldn't think Ti would offer much advantage over Al in a reel application. Perhaps certain parts of the reel, but not the entire thing.

JBB

[flyfisherjoe]

Titanium has advantages and disadvantages as a material for fly reel construction.

One advantage, especially in saltwater reels, is it is impervious to corrosion. It doesn't need to be anodized but can be and with some interesting color variation. It is, however much harder to do and much more expensive.

Aluminum is lower in material cost and lower in machining cost.

Titanium is heavier than aluminum but, depending on the design, titanium can be machined thinner than aluminum to offset the weight factor. It is stronger than aluminum.

So, if you want to make a reel out of Titanium the main advantage, I see, would be in the corrosion resistance. You would be paying a higher price to make it and anodized aluminum is good enough when it comes to resisting corrosion.

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Joe

[Scruff]

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

a 2 1/2" diameter x 12" long piece
of 6061 aluminum would cost about $ 35.00

a 2 1/2" diameter x 12" long piece
of 6AL-4V titanium would cost about $ 425.00

Plus it is more difficult to machine titanium which would add higher labor cost.

[This message has been edited by Scruff (edited 26 April 2005).]

[flymaker2]

The reel feet on my Hayden Fly Reels are machined out of Ti. Mr. Terry Hayden hand makes those reels, and uses the titanium to shave a little weight and to do what others can't afford to do in a production run I guess. He told me he may make a trout reel someday and utilize a Ti spindle on it-FYI.

Rich.

[This message has been edited by flymaker2 (edited 26 April 2005).]