Re: Question re: Railboard Finishes
March Hare wrote:
For those who have Railboards, how resistant are the standard anodized finishes to scratching and scuffing?
I ask because I often deal with products with aluminum anodized finishes in my work and, while they are very hard, they are certainly not scratch-proof. Further, once scratched or dinged, it is hard to repair the finish to "like new" again. In the architectural world, there are typically two anodized coating systems: Class I which has an anodic coating of 0.7 mils (0.7 one-thousandths of an inch) and Class II which has an anodic coating of 0.4 mils. Typically Class I is suitable for exterior exposures and Class II for interior / low-abuse applications.
The other reason I ask is because Stick Enterprises mentions that the optional plasma finishes are super hard, which I interpret as meaning they would give you better protection vs. the inevitable dings and scratches as compared to the standard anodized. Part of my calculus is trying to figure out if it is worth the extra $ 300 to get the plasma coating not only because they look cool, but also because they may offer better protection.
Thanks.
My experience with the anodized coating is where Captain Strings is: this coating is extremely thick. Emmett would have to give you how deep a layer it is, but I suspect it's far past the Class I or II that you describe for consumer electronics.
I would look at the plasma coatings as pretty much aesthetic, more than any "extra" protection. As for hardness, it would be adding more extremely hard and durable coatings onto an already hard and durable coating. I think Emmett and SE (Stick Enterprises) were just pointing out that they're not putting a
soft plasma coating onto the hard anodized material, but it's another durable layer in itself.
But the Railboard has been a battle tank of durability for me in my 828 days of hard use with it. Not a scratch or mark on it.
If I were to get a 12-string, I'm strongly leaning towards the Railboard with the gold plasma finish, but just for the bling of it.