rubber coated vs stainless steel plates in terms of corrosion (rust) resistance

[gymno98]

Hello, I want to buy weight plates and since I'm going to workout outdoors or in a garage (with high humidity) I think about getting either rubber coated weight plates or stainless steel weight plates.
The price is not important in this comparison.

What is more resistant to corrosion (especially rust)? What is the better option in that regard?

[Greybird2]

Do they make stainless steel plates?

[Deep-Voiced-One]

Do they make stainless steel plates?

They do, Watson makes them...

https://watsongym.co.uk/product/pro-...weight-plates/

Expensive investment for weight plates, but some folks like real nice things and as always this "IS" the equipment forum! (On a side note, they appear to lack lip on them when gripping to change them out from afar).

[DarthCholo]

just worry about rust at your touchpoints and the plates are one of them. So get rubber coated plates, and a stainless steel shaft barbell(I recommend splurging for fully stainless barbell). Everything else, let it rust.

Outside in the elements rubber will also deteriorate quickly. If it's going to be outside, i'd probably suggest some kind of protection from water and sun if you can figure that out.

[gym62richard]

They do, Watson makes them...

https://watsongym.co.uk/product/pro-...weight-plates/

Expensive investment for weight plates, but some folks like real nice things and as always this "IS" the equipment forum! (On a side note, they appear to lack lip on them when gripping to change them

out from afar).

I have the Watson Stainless Steel dumbbells, I've had them for about 5 years, they're only used indoors, pretty humid conditions, I have Regupol Rubber Flooring and don't tend to drop my db's.

Up to now they look as good as the day they were delivered, no signs of discolouration or deterioration on the SS surfaces.

DVO is correct the Stainless surface offers little grip, without a decent lip or grip handles I suspect larger plates would be difficult to pick up off the floor.

[ezra76]

I guess if you have that kind of money. My regular cast iron plates and regular bar have been outside since 2012 and nothing wrong but a little surface rust. I could prime and paint them with commercial dtm if I wanted, might do that in the spring.

[gymno98]

They do, Watson makes them...

Expensive investment for weight plates, but some folks like real nice things and as always this "IS" the equipment forum! (On a side note, they appear to lack lip on them when gripping to change them out from afar).

In my country (Poland) I have a way cheaper alternative at 1,90$ per kg for stainless steel plates so it's not that expensive. Handles can also be built in in the plates but wouldn't that make the plate more prone to break when dropping it?

[gymno98]

I have the Watson Stainless Steel dumbbells, I've had them for about 5 years, they're only used indoors, pretty humid conditions, I have Regupol Rubber Flooring and don't tend to drop my db's.

Up to now they look as good as the day they were delivered, no signs of discolouration or deterioration on the SS surfaces.

DVO is correct the Stainless surface offers little grip, without a decent lip or grip handles I suspect larger plates would be difficult to pick up off the floor.

I could get the guy that makes the stainless steel plates to make handles too (like you know built in handles in the plate) but I guess that would make the plate more prone to break when being dropped, would it? Or is there no downside to that?

I really don't mind picking up plates with two hands.

[Duplicitous]

I could get the guy that makes the stainless steel plates to make handles too (like you know built in handles in the plate) but I guess that would make the plate more prone to break when being dropped, would it? Or is there no downside to that?

I really don't mind picking up plates with two hands.

All else being equal, solid plates are stronger than revolver or grip plates. However, if you buy quality grip/revolver plates and are not doing Oly lifts, I think it's unlikely you'll break them.

[gym62richard]

In my country (Poland) I have a way cheaper alternative at 1,90$ per kg for stainless steel plates so it's not that expensive. Handles can also be built in in the plates but wouldn't that make the plate more prone to break when dropping it?

Am I reading this correctly?, $1.90 per kg, for Stainless Steel plates?, the cheapest cast iron plates I could find in Europe cost way more than that.

It would be interesting to know how much per kg a bilet of Stainless Steel costs in Poland, it's certainly expensive in the UK, add on the machining costs, there's a reason why SS products are so expensive

[gymno98]

Am I reading this correctly?, $1.90 per kg, for Stainless Steel plates?, the cheapest cast iron plates I could find in Europe cost way more than that.

It would be interesting to know how much per kg a bilet of Stainless Steel costs in Poland, it's certainly expensive in the UK, add on the machining costs, there's a reason why SS products are so expensive

The price per kg in Poland for stainless steel is 1,25$ and I got my steel (not stainless) plates for the same price 1,25$ per kg.

So in your opinion and experience stainless steel plates are superior to rubber coated plates in terms of rust resistance?

[radrd]

The price per kg in Poland for stainless steel is 1,25$ and I got my steel (not stainless) plates for the same price 1,25$ per kg.

So in your opinion and experience stainless steel plates are superior to rubber coated plates in terms of rust resistance?

Stainless will be better for rust resistance.

[gym62richard]

The price per kg in Poland for stainless steel is 1,25$ and I got my steel (not stainless) plates for the same price 1,25$ per kg.

So in your opinion and experience stainless steel plates are superior to rubber coated plates in terms of rust resistance?

Marine grade Stainless steel as the name suggests is used in some of the harshest conditions, it has to stand up to the combined effect of water, wind and salt, so protecting weight plates from corrosion shouldn't be a problem.

Your Polish manufacturer could increase the cost of his plates by a factor of 3 and still come in at half the price of Watson's SS plates, they work out at over $13 per kg..

[Corbets]

I’m not qualified to answer the OPs question, but I will chime in to say that every piece of Watson equipment I’ve gotten (got a new calf raise step for Christmas from them), I’ve loved. Without reservation.

If I could go back and change anything about my gym, I’d have spent a bit more money and gotten all Watson kit wherever there was the option.

So if you go that route, you won’t be disappointed.

[gym62richard]

I’m not qualified to answer the OPs question, but I will chime in to say that every piece of Watson equipment I’ve gotten (got a new calf raise step for Christmas from them), I’ve loved. Without reservation.

If I could go back and change anything about my gym, I’d have spent a bit more money and gotten all Watson kit wherever there was the option.

So if you go that route, you won’t be disappointed.

Watson produces some great equipment, but like all other equipment companies they'd don't always get it right, their dumbbells are right up there with the best and the Animal line has some excellent pieces.

I recently bought 2 Watson single sided weight trees, the build quality and finish are second to none, this is also the case with all of their steel fabricating and powder coating, but the padding/upholstery on some of my Watson machines isn't the best, having said this I haven't looked at any of their recent machines in person.

[gymno98]

Marine grade Stainless steel as the name suggests is used in some of the harshest conditions, it has to stand up to the combined effect of water, wind and salt, so protecting weight plates from corrosion shouldn't be a problem.

Your Polish manufacturer could increase the cost of his plates by a factor of 3 and still come in at half the price of Watson's SS plates, they work out at over $13 per kg..

Thanks, so I will buy them this month. I guess I won't tell him to increase the price though haha.

[Sboarder1964]

Outside in the elements rubber will also deteriorate quickly.

Eh... what? My car tires have been holding up just fine. Rubber is like plastic and any other hydrocarbon polymers; they'll still be around long after we are gone.

[ampire]

Eh... what? My car tires have been holding up just fine. Rubber is like plastic and any other hydrocarbon polymers; they'll still be around long after we are gone.

Eventually rubber on weights cracks and starts to flake and peel off. Seen this on older Ivanko prostyle rubber dumbbells at an old YMCA I used to train at. Might be a decade or two but it happens. Possibly accelerated by cleaning products. If you have them in sunlight or very dry climates that might also accelerate it. Moisture can also develop underneath the rubber and rust forms lifting the rubber coating.

I've also seen dry rot on tires that aren't very old. Had that issue with Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S, shame to buy a tire that expensive and have it rot in just a few years.

If given the choice between rubber coated and stainless, I'd pick stainless every time. I'd also pick cast iron, and just spray paint it as needed. I prefer products that have minimal things to go wrong. Can always just wire brush off rust and spray paint a basic cast iron plate to get it looking fresh again.

Urethane is nice but if it does fail, then you have it peeling off or chunking, though modern commercial grade urethane weights last a really long time and look quite good. Example being Iron Grip.