Iron Coating Durability?

[Bluesman57]

Does anyone have any experience with black coated irons? I'm looking at the Honma Beres Black, which look fantastic new.  But I'm concerned that the black surface will wear off, and of course,  unevenly, which would leave me with some pretty garish-looking two-toned irons sometime down the road.

The Honma web site states that the black finish is applied using Ion Plating, which itself is a form.of Physical.Vapor Deposit.  All I could find about these is on watch sites and metallurgy sites.  Way too much chemistry for me!  

So I'm counting on any real world experience that any of youse guys can share.  Tanks!

[cnosil]

34 minutes ago, Bluesman57 said:

Does anyone have any experience with black coated irons?  

But I'm concerned that the black surface will wear off, and of course,  unevenly, which would leave me with some pretty garish-looking two-toned irons sometime down the road.

Any coating on irons is going to wear; even chrome plating wears.  Some are fine with the worn look and others aren't.  The wear will come from the ball and the abrasiveness of the dirt on the courses you play.   

  I would suggest you search some of the used club sites (ebay, 2nd swing, global golf, etc) for used sets to see the potential wear and judge if it is something you would be okay with.

Here is one on ebay 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/134953401593?itmmeta=01HRJ50YCN64DH0VS64FBVANPW&hash=item1f6bd97cf9:g:LLcAAOSwf-1l3H3g&itmprp=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4J4KuZ1IYO72hvWdUahmcAFy3KyTti1mM05AICY5wxSoVEw0O5kCdteANw%2FGBoSD3blYGlZ2mPmtrqXT%2Bg%2BpVVTUOTDthXLkRYUruqwXU13WmGvMY0RDemngWdGJZPJQY20QuwkL9uajb9DNHb7%2BsaIcmBuj%2F4VFWT0K%2F1zPubi8XFc4lHV60Muh6398kL3YLyoFG1m4medKUsbnfyVJMvXUwkACJbAEmj1Kv%2BIgYKyGdM%2BAbksBzMeT87Zn72Ej%2FxHy8JX0E0BqmJ8wseJSWAniTgRUT0MkU5lNs2Z8AOLh|tkp%3ABFBMzOaDxcRj

[Bluesman57]

Great idea, thanks!  Those clubs look a bit gnarly, especially the wedges.

[GolfSpy_APH]

PVD finishes normally don't have a long long lasting finish. 

It is usually the DPD (I think that is what it is called) that is more ingrained in the metal vs a cover. 

Unfortunately no matter what all finishes fade to some extent. Cleaning and being absolutely picky about it all will help it last longer. 

[GolfSpy_BNG]

I’ve played plenty of irons over my years and for me Miura’s QPQ(QuenchPourQuench) had the best wear followed closely by the DLC(diamond like coating-Maltby DBM, Cobra FT). PVD will wear fairly quickly depending on soil type. 

[berkeleybob]

I’ve had a black utility iron from Sub 70 for a little while. I can post a picture tomorrow when it’s daylight. There’s too much reflection from regular indoor lighting to give an accurate image.

[berkeleybob]

I’ve had this club for a year, golfed more in the last six months than the first.  DLC coated black finish.

 

[GolfSpy_APH]

13 hours ago, GolfSpy_BNG said:

I’ve played plenty of irons over my years and for me Miura’s QPQ(QuenchPourQuench) had the best wear followed closely by the DLC(diamond like coating-Maltby DBM, Cobra FT). PVD will wear fairly quickly depending on soil type. 

Thank you! DBM was the one I was thinking of.

DPD is a shipping company here in Switzerland. 

[RTH1]

I had a set of Callaway Razr Black irons years ago, wear on the face was noticeable, but not excessive.

[Sonny Beach]

I had a set of Ping G710's I gamed them for a while, sold them to my son in law and he gamed them for over a year and they still look very good. I still have a set of Black Big Bertha's I keep around for my guests, they are fading slightly to grey on the soles. 

[Bluesman57]

Thanks for the great replies.  One brand that I'm looking at is the Honma Beres Black.  I found a used set Golf Partner USA on  https://golfpartnerusa.com/products/honma-iron-set-beres-black-stiffregular-3s-armrq-mx-7-pieces?variant=41131787518012

and zoomed in on a picture. The faces don't look too bad, but the sole of the A wedge looks positively sand blasted. 

 

Edited March 10 by Bluesman57
Typo

[Bluesman57]

On 3/10/2024 at 5:21 AM, berkeleybob said:

I’ve had this club for a year, golfed more in the last six months than the first.  DLC coated black finish.

 

Thank you for posting the pictures. That doesn't look bad at all.