Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats rust issue

[Unmost]

I put those strings on about 8 months ago and the D string is showing traces of rust. I've seldom played this year and I use Dunlop string conditioner after every session. I thought they were my perfect strings, after a LOT of trials (let alone their price). I'm so disappointed.

Anybody has been facing this issue?

 

[FFEJY]

Anybody has been facing this issue?

Only after I eat a tasty basket of BBQ ribs.

 

[GIBrat51]

As I recall, quite a few folks here had the same problem when the Cobalt (now "Slinky") Flats were first introduced. I was under the impression that Ernie Ball had resolved this issue some time ago, but... apparently not. I have a set of the things, that I'm thinking of replacing a set of dying D'Addario Chromes with. So, I personally haven't had this problem with them. Yet...

 

[Unmost]

As I recall, quite a few folks here had the same problem when the Cobalt (now "Slinky") Flats were first introduced. I was under the impression that Ernie Ball had resolved this issue some time ago, but... apparently not. I have a set of the things, that I'm thinking of replacing a set of dying D'Addario Chromes with. So, I personally haven't had this problem with them. Yet...

I've played Chromes for a while but I really don't want to go back. Cobalt flats sound so good and are much more flexible. I want flats that sound like rounds and Cobalts are as close as you can get. I wasn't aware of the name change, good to know.

 

[SteveCS]

I put those strings on about 8 months ago and the D string is showing traces of rust. I've seldom played this year and I use Dunlop string conditioner after every session. I thought they were my perfect strings, after a LOT of trials (let alone their price). I'm so disappointed.

Anybody has been facing this issue?

View attachment 4653869
View attachment 4653851

I had imagined that so far mine have been good, although I've not tried to look that closely - you images are almost at the molecular level!! Prompted by your close-ups I had a closer look, and over the bridge there is a bit of corrosion in the first ½" or so of the speaking length on the E and A.

Just to add, these have been on since late 2020, so about 16 months:

Away from the bridge they are really clean and free from corrosion all the way along the speaking length:

 

[iiipopes]

Cobalt rusts. Period. Nickel usually does not, or at least resists rust. Of course, stainless steel is exactly that: stainless. "Alloy 52," having more iron in the alloy, rusts. Period. These are facts of life.

 

[michael_t]

Cobalt rusts. Period. Nickel usually does not, or at least resists rust. Of course, stainless steel is exactly that: stainless. "Alloy 52," having more iron in the alloy, rusts. Period. These are facts of life.

I guess I've been fortunate not to have had any rust issues with my Pressurewounds in the 7 yrs I've been using them. Nickel is winning over the iron, it seems...

Here's a thread from 2 yrs ago regarding the rust issue they were having with Cobalt:

Cobalts = RUST

 

[iiipopes]

I guess I've been fortunate not to have had any rust issues with my Pressurewounds in the 7 yrs I've been using them. Nickel is winning over the iron, it seems...

Some years ago I had a set of Progressives on a bass I had not played in a couple of years. When I pulled it out the strings were almost brown with rust. Played regularly, natural oils in the skin can actually help deter rust from forming, just like oiling good carbon steel tools.

 

[themarshall]

Cobalt rusts. Period. Nickel usually does not, or at least resists rust. Of course, stainless steel is exactly that: stainless. "Alloy 52," having more iron in the alloy, rusts. Period. These are facts of life.

They might be generalizations regarding bass strings, but they are far from facts. Rust= Iron Oxide, Fe2O3. Other metals and alloys form other oxides that may or may not be what we consider corrosion. In fact, stainless resists rust because the chromium added reacts with the air and forms a protective layer, i.e. it oxidizes. Those reddish blobs in the OPs pics are iron oxide, not cobalt oxide, which is dark grey-green.

 

[iiipopes]

They might be generalizations regarding bass strings, but they are far from facts. Rust= Iron Oxide, Fe2O3. Other metals and alloys form other oxides that may or may not be what we consider corrosion. In fact, stainless resists rust because the chromium added reacts with the air and forms a protective layer, i.e. it oxidizes. Those reddish blobs in the OPs pics are iron oxide, not cobalt oxide, which is dark grey-green.

Fine. Argue semantics. Call it rust, call it corrosion, call it oxidation, call it what you will. I stand by my post:
Cobalt deteriorates in whatever manner you want to call it.
Nickel is resistant
Stainless steel is exactly that
"Alloy 52," with its higher iron content RUSTS.
I was trying to be general and not waste bandwidth being overly technical.
None of us want a metallurgy class here on the forum.

 

[themarshall]

Fine. Argue semantics. Call it rust, call it corrosion, call it oxidation, call it what you will. I stand by my post:
Cobalt deteriorates in whatever manner you want to call it.
Nickel is resistant
Stainless steel is exactly that
"Alloy 52," with its higher iron content RUSTS.
I was trying to be general and not waste bandwidth being overly technical.
None of us want a metallurgy class here on the forum.

Fair enough. But unqualified generalizations can cause confusion. “Cobalt rusts. Period.” Nope. “Cobalt bass strings rust. Period.” Appears so, yes. If everyone else already understood that subtext, then I’m sorry for being a pedantic arse.

 

[Zooberwerx]

As mentioned, some of the more severe examples smack strongly of out-gassing based on rate / color / consistency of corrosion. Might not be such a good idea to store instruments in their cases as the polyurethane foam is highly suspect. Philips Respironics has experienced a world of woe as they used the same (...for sound abatement) in any number of sleep apnea and life support devices requiring massive world-wide recalls. How many recall the Chinese drywall debacle? In that instance, the culprit was hydrogen sulfide which corroded wiring, HVAC components, etc. Stop and think a minute when encountering “manufactured with globally sourced components”.

Riis

 

[Unmost]

So be it. I'm fed up looking for the right strings...

 

[Zooberwerx]

So be it. I'm fed up looking for the right strings...

Here ya go...vapor corrosion inhibitors (VCI's) available from...get this..."The Rust Store".

VCI

Riis

 

[HaphAsSard]

Fair enough. But unqualified generalizations can cause confusion. “Cobalt rusts. Period.” Nope. “Cobalt bass strings rust. Period.” Appears so, yes. If everyone else already understood that subtext, then I’m sorry for being a pedantic arse.

You weren't, and it is nice to get some proper metallurgy for a change. Thank you.

(Period. )

 

[Unmost]

None of us want a metallurgy class here on the forum.

I do.

 

[Yahboy]

I play Cobalt flat, and i use this to keep it shine !

Professional High Quality Acrylic Nails Manicure Pedicure Buffing Buffer Block - Pink 6ct - Walmart.com

 

[Zooberwerx]

I play Cobalt flat, and i use this to keep it shine !

Professional High Quality Acrylic Nails Manicure Pedicure Buffing Buffer Block - Pink 6ct - Walmart.com

Does these compress so they fit under the string?

Riis

 

[Yahboy]

Does these compress so they fit under the string?

Riis

If you wanna clean the dirt under the string, i suggest cut the nail buffer to slim piece to fit under the string.

I only meet dirt sign on top of Cobalt flat string surface and this nail buffer work well. I always put a piece of A4 paper (as protective) under the string before buffing.

My advise is DONT wait until the dirt sign transform to RUST !

 

[spencejm]

Cobalt Flats rust for me. Many have suggested it’s a body chemistry thing since some have the problem and others don’t. They sounded great but were nasty in just a few weeks.

Joe