Hy Folks, has anybody experiences in the abrasion resistance of black chrome coated single foot guides? I ask because some producers promise that the black chrome coating should be more durable than others. In fact I heard about from practical experiences that the coating in the ear of the guide might teared of from daily use. Is anybody able to confirm that?

Thanks for your answers ahead.

Regards, Frank

Frank,
Durability of Black Chrome COATED Single foot Wire Fly Guides - What I can tell you from selling these guides for many years is that the Bamboo guys buy them "Traditional Style" To build cane rods. We sell more because the builders or MFG's like them for there cosmetic " Stealth" look/color scheme. I know ours hold up better in terms of wear on the Color /Coating than other "Brands". It is no secret that we Double Coat all of our Black Frame (DBC = Double Black Chrome) guides for bettrer protection againt wear and corrosion. (ASTM-B117 Tested, See pg 22 of Batson Ent. - Rainshadow/Forecast 2006/2007106 pg color -in stock- product catalog). Will they hold up as well as say our New X series (SS316) XSFGP - No,only because there is no Coating/Plating on this series,but with the same corrosion resistance. But if you are set on black then IMHO you can't go wrong on the Batson/Forecast product..(BLSFGP). I would like to see a better Quality/Affordable one like it if it exists.
IMHO it depends on the situation, application & environment of the guides use in the final fishing tools life.
If you have any other questions in regards our product line please feel free to contact us.
Bill Batson
CEO
Batson Enterprises
Rainshadow/Forecast/ALPS product lines
www.batsonenterprises.com
batson@batsonenterprises.com
877-875-2381

G'day Frank,
Must agree with Bill on one very important point, if you don't look after the guides (rod) nothing will last.
Whatever you decide to do, good quality guides are just that. You get what you pay for and that is why you build or rebuild your own rod.
Wash the rod after each use and good gear will last a very long time.
When we sell a rod we supply a little maintenance sheet , which boils down to keep the rod clean at all times.
Good Luck
Paul.

I fish therefore I am.
www.hookeduprods.com

The PAC BAY black guides do wear on the ear or inside of the guide, where as the Tich and TiGold do not wear at all even when using braided spider wire. As for this Black Chrome coating, I have not used them as I have found a sure thing and why risk another disappointment and retie. If Bob says Baton Blk Chrome guides hold up , thats good enough for me, although I do like to get a step up form any Chrome plated guide due to the FACT that Chrome results on the Vickers Hardness scale are below that of standard Alu Oxide ceramic guides, and other coatings have a higher rating. BUT to be realiastic, and not smear all hard Chrome coated guides with the same broad stroke, Bob is talking about a Double Blk chrome plating and I am not sure how that effects wear as I have not seen a Vickers hardness tests on this specific product. As for darker stealthy color/theme/scheme possibilities I like the proven Tich coating possibilites as they are close enough in appearance yet undoubtably durable

Hi there:
When chrome plating it's normal to nickle plate or do a nickle flash first then plate the chrome and is some times called double chrome plated. On some metals it's copper, nickle then chrome and can be called thriple chrome plated. The nickle plating is what gives that silver look to chrome plating and the chrome its hardness. To do a black chrome plating the nickle is reacted to make a black coating and is then chrome plated. Black chrome plating is not as hard as chrome plating. But TiC PVC is very hard when compared to chrome plating and can be made in gold, gun smoke or black. When comparing guides one needs to know if its a chrome plating or a PVC. I do know that the H&H guides with the black diamond like coating are super hard and don't wear much because of its PVC. Some Mfg. do use black chrome plating on there black guides. So one needs to find out!

Are the black frame more resistant to salt water when not thoroughly rinsed with fresh water. I am wondering if the black surface is on top of a copper flash like some of the other coatings that tend to turn green due to copper oxidation of the underlying coat. I have never noticed any black frames go green.

Bill B. The move to 316 was a good one. Any coating applied will detract from its inherent corrosion or resistance to part failure - keep it like it is no coating/no coverup. Ask your fab shop if it is being passivated or peened at any step in the process.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/11/2007 05:21PM by Bill Stevens.

Hi guys, I had some gun parts plated with a black chrome finish like the process used for airplane engine parts. This is a extremely hard gloss translucent black color that is weather resistant. i would love to have some guide frames done with this process. The ones I bought as double black chrome looked like a powder coat paint job when doing the guide foot prep work. I guess I was expecting the same finish as my gun parts. Regards, Jerry