Materials & Process

6061-T6 aluminium, 304/316 stainless steel, 5-axis CNC.

Two materials, chosen for saltwater

Almost every failure in a cheap saltwater reel traces back to the wrong alloy or a shortcut in finishing. KATYUSHA reels are built from two materials only, both used where they actually belong.

6061-T6 aluminium - the body, spool and side covers

6061-T6 is a precipitation-hardened aluminium-magnesium-silicon alloy. We use it because it machines cleanly, takes anodising consistently, and gives a strength-to-weight ratio that keeps a 500-size jigging reel usable all day without making it feel disposable.

Corrosion behaviour: the natural oxide layer is reinforced by hard anodising, which also resists the dings that come from bouncing off gunwales.
Fatigue resistance: T6 temper gives a yield strength of about 276 MPa (ultimate around 310 MPa) - enough for a frame that flexes under 20 kg+ of drag without taking a set.
Machinability: predictable chip formation on 5-axis work means we can hold tight tolerances on bearing bores without hand-fitting.

304 / 316 stainless steel - shafts, bearings, drag washers, springs

Anything that sees load, friction or standing water is stainless. 316 is used where chloride attack is worst - pinion shafts, screws and drag surfaces on offshore models.

316 marine grade for parts that live in salt spray and are never fully rinsed.
304 for internal components that stay dry inside a sealed body.
Drag washers are carbon fibre on the offshore models and greased felt on selected light models with a published max drag per model.

Specification summary

Body / spool alloy: 6061-T6 aluminium
Anodising: Hard anodised, colour anodising available
Shaft / internal steel: 304 stainless; 316 for offshore models
Bearings: Sealed stainless bearings - the count is stated on each model page
Drag material: Carbon fibre, or greased felt on selected models
Critical tolerance: Held to the drawing tolerance agreed at first-article approval
Max drag (model dependent): Model-dependent - the rated drag is printed on each product page and verified before packing
Water resistance: Sealed body on sealed models, water-tested before packing

Process, in order

Step	What happens	Control
1. Billet prep	Saw, face and rough the aluminium blank	Material certificate on incoming stock
2. CNC machining	5-axis milling of body, spool, covers; CNC turning of shaft and spool bore	First-article inspection, in-process gauging
3. Deburr	Hand and vibratory deburring	Visual + feeler check on sealing surfaces
4. Anodise / passivate	Hard anodising of aluminium, passivation of stainless	Coating thickness specified on the part drawing
5. Assembly	Drag stack, bearings, handle, line guide	Lubrication spec, torque spec
6. Test	Drag force, free-spool, water ingress	Pass criteria set by the model rated drag and seal test
7. Pack	Retail box or OEM packaging	AQL sampling plan agreed per order

Back to factory Ask for a spec sheet

FAQ

Which aluminium alloy do KATYUSHA reels use?

6061-T6 aluminium for full-metal bodies, spools and side covers, finished with hard anodising.

Which parts are stainless steel and which grade?

Shafts, bearings, drag washers and springs are stainless. 316 marine grade is used on offshore models where chloride attack is worst; 304 is used for internal parts that stay inside a sealed body.

What machining tolerances can you hold?

Tolerances are held to the drawing for each part, with first-article inspection on every CNC setup, with first-article inspection on every CNC setup.

Are the reels sealed against saltwater?

Sealed models are specified as such and are water-tested before packing. The rating and test criteria for a given model are stated on its product page.