Brass vs. SS drag washers

[Three se7ens]

My larger reels only get stainless steel washers, some will also get titanium, but only when I get a hold of some.



Sal

Look forward to your feedback on titanium alloy if you haven't already posted it on here...That sounds like the ultimate for a reel seeing extensive use in the salt, going long periods of time before ever seeing service; even stainless will corrode given the right conditions..

Chad

If you are rusting out stainless drag washers, you dont need titanium washers, you need a lesson in maintenance 

The problem with typical stainless (304, 316, etc) is that its very soft, and not very strong.  I use hardened stainless shim for the washers in my drag kits because Sal has experienced thin washers deforming under heavy drag.  The flats and ears can get sheared right off.  May not be an issue with normal drags, but mine use 0.030" thick stainless washers, and Brian's kits use 0.020" thick I believe. 

Once you start talking about hardened grades of stainless where high strength matters as well as corrosion resistance, the price is actually pretty comparable to titanium.  Sometimes, its easier to get titanium than say 17-4 PH stainless, which has comparable strength. 

316 stainless is resistant to corrosion in a saltwater environment, but it can still corrode.  Titanium though, is completely inert in salt water. 

[Aiala]

I use whichever washers comes out of whatever reel I'm upgrading (mostly brass but some SS) and I've never encountered any problems, but of course I don't attempt to attain the Dragzilla numbers so popular hereabouts.    

~A~

[Bryan Young]

My drag washers are made from full hard stainless steel.  Penn washers are 0.020" or 0.5 mm thick while the Daiwa washers are thicker (Daiwa gears are much deeper than the Penn Senators, Jigmaster,...).  I find that they are a good balance between strength and affordability for my application and drag numbers due to shared loading of the washers.  for example, moving from a 3 stack to a 5 stack, 3 keyed washers now share the load of the previous 2 keyed washers.  Likewise, 2 eared washers share the load of the previously 1 eared washer.  In my set up, you have only one friction surface so it should be fine.  For Adam's washers, his design involves 2 friction surfaces per keyed washer because the carbon fiber washer is keyed in with the gear.  Therefore, his keyed metal washers takes twice the load as my single washer, and therefore, it makes sense that this washers are thicker. 

If you are running a stock set up, brass, bronze, plated or stainless will suit just fine with greased carbon fiber drags.  I have not seen a project with them thus far.

Hope this helps and not confuses.

[Maxed Out]

I use whichever washers comes out of whatever reel I'm upgrading (mostly brass but some SS) and I've never encountered any problems, but of course I don't attempt to attain the Dragzilla numbers so popular hereabouts.    

~A~

   LMAO.. Aiala, did you just call out Daron and Sal as the "dragzilla"  gang ??  I couldn't agree more !!  

[Aiala]

 LMAO... Aiala, did you just call out Daron and Sal as the "Dragzilla" gang?? I couldn't agree more!!     

Now, Ted, I am but a junior-varsity dilettante in the company of such titanic Reelmeisters as Alto Mare and Mr. Shark; I'm forever awestricken by the things they can do.   

Quite aside from which, if I ever tried to fish with their drag settings I'd be snatched over the side in an eyeblink.    

~A~

[Shark Hunter]

Hey, Hey, Hey!
Aiala,
You might call yourself a junior-varsity dilettante, but we are all equal here.
I only know what I do because the SalMaster has taught me.
I only try to achieve "Dragzilla" Numbers because I am fishing for a Leviathan.
I can only hope to achieve that goal before I get too old.