There are various types of surface treatments for barbell shafts, including chrome plating, zinc plating, black oxide, ceramic coating, and E-coat, each with different characteristics.
There is also steel that has not been surface treated and is simply made up, which is called "bare steel".
In recent years, barbells made of "stainless steel," an alloy steel that contains chromium, have also become popular.
I would like to explain the background to this diversification of barbell surface treatments and the characteristics of each.
[Increasing specifications required for barbells and more specialized uses]
The recent global rise of barbell sports and functional training, along with the increase in the training weights handled by lifters and athletes, has significantly changed the specifications required of barbells.
The specifications required of barbells, such as durability, strength, flexibility, and grip performance, are increasing every year.
Additionally, it has become common to choose professionally designed barbells for specific uses, requiring Olympic barbells with optimized characteristics and feel for specific applications.
It is impossible to cover all of these with a single type of surface treatment, and coupled with the increasing standards expected of barbells, there is now a demand for barbells with a variety of surface treatments that are suited to each situation.
[Chrome plating is no longer the "standard"]
In the past, chrome plating was the mainstream surface treatment for barbells, and even today, chrome plating is widely used for competitive weightlifting barbells.
However, it has long been known in the field of aeronautical engineering that chrome plating reduces the durability of steel, and research by various manufacturers has proven that this effect is also negatively impacting the durability of barbells.
The shortened metal lifespan caused by chrome plating becomes a more serious problem, especially in harsher environments in which the barbell is used.
In recent years, the number of chrome-plated barbells has decreased, and instead a variety of surface treatments optimized for barbell uses have been adopted.
*Note: The reduction in durability caused by chrome plating is an issue mainly in the shaft area, which is subject to stress. On the other hand, if chrome plating is used on the sleeve area, the reduction in strength is not an issue and it is still one of the better coatings.
[5-level rating for each surface treatment]
For typical surface treatments, bare steel, and stainless steel, four items - "corrosion resistance," "wear resistance," "friction," and "knurling" - are evaluated on a five-point scale.
Please note that the evaluation is based in part on my (the author's) subjective opinion, so please use it only as a reference.
Worst out of 5 rating ☆
Bad ☆☆
Average ☆☆☆
Good ☆☆☆☆
The best ☆☆☆☆☆
Glossary
- Corrosion resistance: Resistance to corrosion of the surface treatment, in other words, rust resistance. In Japan, the hot and humid environment makes metal prone to rust, so corrosion resistance is an important point when choosing a barbell.
- Abrasion resistance: Resistance of the surface treatment to abrasion. Surface treatments with low abrasion resistance will gradually expose the bare steel surface through use and aging, causing rust.
Frictional force: The frictional force of the surface treatment. A surface treatment with high frictional force provides anti-slip properties and a good grip feeling.
- Strength of the knurled edge. The knurled edge is strong on barbells made of untreated materials such as bare steel, but weak on barbells with thicker surface treatments such as metal plating. Knurls with strong edges are preferred by athletes because they are less slippery, but they also have the disadvantage of causing more damage to the skin.
[Hard chrome plating]
Corrosion resistance ☆☆☆
Abrasion resistance ☆☆☆☆
Friction force ☆☆
Knurling ☆☆☆
Steel shafts with hard chrome plating have a beautiful luster and are resistant to rust and wear. Chrome plating has been the trusted standard for barbell coatings for many years. It is still the mainstream, especially for competitive weightlifting bars. The thick coating provides high strength and abrasion resistance, but on the other hand, it weakens the knurled edges and is smooth to the touch, making it difficult to grip.
Additionally, while hard chrome plating is highly durable, cheaper household shafts may have less durable decorative chrome plating, which can rust and peel off after a short period of time.
[Zinc plating]
Corrosion resistance ☆☆☆
Abrasion resistance ☆☆☆
Friction force ☆☆☆
Knurling ☆☆☆
Zinc-plated barbells are available in bright zinc and black zinc. Among metal platings, zinc plating is superior to chrome plating in terms of corrosion resistance and friction, and provides a good grip.
However, it is inferior to chrome plating in terms of texture and abrasion resistance, and discoloration due to aging is inevitable. Like chrome plating, the plating is thick, so the knurled edges are also slightly weaker.
【stainless】
Corrosion resistance ☆☆☆☆☆
Abrasion resistance ☆☆☆
Friction force ☆☆☆
Knurled ☆☆☆☆☆
Stainless steel is an alloy of iron and chromium, and forms a thin oxide film on the surface, making it extremely rust-resistant. Therefore, stainless steel barbells can be considered the most rust-resistant barbells available today. Since the material itself is rust-resistant, there is no need for additional plating on the surface, and it features deep, sharp knurling just like bare steel.
Stainless steel Olympic barbells are often high-end products, and the high price is a drawback. Also, depending on the individual user, the knurling may be too strong and uncomfortable to use.
[Black oxide (black dyeing process)]
Corrosion resistance ☆☆
Abrasion resistance: ☆☆
Friction force ☆☆☆☆
Knurling ☆☆☆☆
Black oxide processing creates a coating on the steel surface through chemical conversion. The very thin black coating rusts more easily than chrome or zinc plating, is weaker in strength and is more susceptible to scratches, but the thin coating provides a feel and sharp knurling similar to bare steel. Like bare steel, it rusts when the oil is removed, so regular maintenance is required.
[Ceramic coating (Cerakote)]
Corrosion resistance ☆☆☆☆
Abrasion resistance ☆☆☆☆☆
Friction force ☆☆☆☆
Knurling ☆☆☆
Cerakote is a ceramic-based coating, most commonly known as "Cerakote." Cerakote is a ceramic coating developed by an American company, originally used on firearms, but has been used for a variety of purposes in recent years. This coating is far more corrosion-resistant and abrasion-resistant than metal plating such as chrome plating or zinc plating. In addition, it does not have the smoothness characteristic of metal plating, so it has strong friction and can be colored freely.
Although it is a relatively new surface treatment for barbells, its excellent properties have made it increasingly popular around the world in recent years. However, while it has many advantages, it also has the disadvantage that the coating on the parts that come into contact with hard objects such as metal or J-cups is more likely to peel off than metal plating (it is resistant to abrasion, but weak to chipping). Another disadvantage is that peeling of the coating is particularly noticeable on colorful barbells.
[E-coat]
Corrosion resistance ☆☆☆
Abrasion resistance ☆☆☆
Friction force ☆☆☆☆
Knurling ☆☆☆
E-coat is a coating that was developed in the automotive industry, and in recent years ROGUE has been actively using it for barbells and kettlebells. It is characterized by its excellent abrasion resistance, grip feeling, and cost performance.
[Bare steel (uncoated steel)]
Corrosion resistance ☆
Abrasion resistance ☆☆☆
Friction force ☆☆☆☆☆
Knurled ☆☆☆☆☆
Barbells that are made of raw steel without any plating or other treatment on the surface are called "raw steel" or "bare steel."
Raw steel has high friction and feels very good in the hand, giving you a great grip, and the lack of surface treatment results in deep, sharp knurling.
Since it is not coated, it has the disadvantage of being very susceptible to rust, and so requires frequent maintenance and application of oil. After long-term use and careful maintenance, the bare steel shaft will turn black and acquire a unique texture, like the iron frying pans used by experienced chefs.
Currently, all International Powerlifting Federation world championships use bare steel barbells.
There are a wide variety of surface treatments for barbells, and new products have been appearing one after another especially recently.
MBC POWER will constantly research the latest information and update this page accordingly.
Barbell Basics, Table of Contents, Glossary
1. Differences between various barbells
2. Recommended barbells by type
3. Surface treatment of barbells