Quote:
Originally Posted by DZ
So this season I added stainless washers based on advice from others.
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Dennis my apologies if I was one of the ones recommending stainless.
this is what happened to me this year.
I had grip studs paired with zinc coated washers and installed
with gorilla glue, last me 2.5 seasons before the washers corroded
and started falling off. Not all of them, but about 30-40%.
These washers were the cheapo Zinc coated variety you can get from lowes.
2.5 seasons is a good run.
This winter I started trout fishing ....and bought some 1300s to pair
with a vibram souled freestones. I paired these 1300s with a
stainless washer and fished them in the freshwater for 5 months. I
made the switch to stainless, as some guys suggested stainless.
Around May, I started a few outings with them in the salt, and then
fished them June and July.
The two dozen outings in the salt were enough to have the studs
oxidize to the point that they will not accept a 1/4 id washer. Pretty
much leaving the washer permanently f-ed....and litering washers
around the Northeast shore. Stainless steel washer experiment failed.
This is where it seems like the zinc coated are better. It was
explained to me that when two dis-similar metals are in contact it
can speed electrolysis. It was noted that the one material will tend
to oxidize faster than the other. Zinc is a less dominant material and
will oxidize faster....often referred to a sacrificial metal.
In the case of the stainless washer....the stud material is less
dominant and therefore oxidizes faster....in this case....much much
faster....and the actual stud casing material just dissolves.
I have always been a belt and suspenders kind of guy. With the felt
boots I use the gorilla glue....and the washers.
On those boots with the zinc washers....even with the washers
missing most of the studs have not been buried. A couple have, but
mostly they have not. I wonder if during the 3 seasons the felt has
compacted, is saturated with salt...making them more dense, or if
the gorilla glue has petrified the felt anchors so they cannot push
in...even without the support of the washer. Any or all may be
explanations. It does seem that the felt is a much harder material
than what it delivers brand new. My guess is compression and salt deposits.
Anyway, I hope it helps getting us all on a new path. Sometimes a
suggestion like stainless steel might seem logically correct
application for the surf, but in this case the weaker product actually
is a better choice.
Hybrid Mode
