Hi Ryan,
As far as the reel prep is concerned I'd get it bead blasted and then spray paint it using a good etch primer prior to the colour coat afterwards.
"DO NOT" Powder Coat the reel or any part of the mower. This topic of discussion has come up time and time again. As you would be doing the colour prior to reel grinding this makes powder coating unsuitable as you would be breaking the powder coating sealed finish thus allowing moisture to penetrate under the remaining coating which creates a rust issue underneath. Powder Coating is merely a cheaper production option for manufacturers opposed to painting and really isn't suitable for an item that will suffer surface abrasions and sealed surface compromises. If you look at a lot of the Kermit Green Rovers that were made at the Eagle Farm plant in Brisbane you'll see that the surface is all blistered and eventually the green coating will come off in sheets revealing a totally rusted steel surface.
I suggest as far as blasting is concerned that it would be best to put all the parts for blasting together and get them done as a single job lot, it's simply cheaper that way opposed to taking parts in as separate job lots which will only end up costing you much more in the long term.
Cheers,
BB.
