# What does "Hardcoat" mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Yo-Yo\ **Created:** [October 22, 2018, 5:38pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/what-does-hardcoat-mean/294123 "2018-10-22T17:38:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![AaronW](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/aaronw/32/49251_2.png) [@AaronW](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/AaronW)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 8:16pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/what-does-hardcoat-mean/294123/21 "2018-10-22T20:16:02Z")
> [@LinksLegionaire](#): > > Read: anodization Yeah, I was replying to someone that said it’s “paint”. Wish it automatically quotes replies. ---
**Author:** ![LinksLegionaire](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/linkslegionaire/32/886_2.png) [@LinksLegionaire](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/LinksLegionaire)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 8:18pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/what-does-hardcoat-mean/294123/22 "2018-10-22T20:18:33Z")
> [@AaronW](#): > > Yeah, I was replying to someone that said it’s “paint”. Wish it automatically quotes replies. Oh I’m well aware, I was just reaffirming your comment :wink: The only hardcoated yoyo I’ve ever owned was a Viszilla. I regret trading it away. ---
**Author:** ![Rosenberg](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/rosenberg/32/20465_2.png) [@Rosenberg](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Rosenberg)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 8:33pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/what-does-hardcoat-mean/294123/23 "2018-10-22T20:33:59Z")
No it’s still an anodizing process but the difference is the chemical that’s in the bath. I wanna say that it’s almost like an oxide of some sort. But yeah “hardcoat” color is really just a a form-follows-function deal. It was originally a military product so aesthetics weren’t a primary consideration ---
**Author:** ![Dust](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/dust/32/83340_2.png) [@Dust](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Dust)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 11:46pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/what-does-hardcoat-mean/294123/24 "2018-10-22T23:46:26Z")
> [@Rosenberg](#): > > an anodizing process but the difference is the chemical that’s in the bath. I wanna say that it’s almost like an oxide of some sort. But yeah “hardcoat” color is really just a a form-follows-function deal. It was originally a military product so aesthetics weren’t a primary consideration Exactly this. The hardcoat yoyo I have is the: 2488 AMS Hardcoat Tundra [https://www.instagram.com/p/BI5QYPnD\_iG/?taken-by=invaderdust](https://www.instagram.com/p/BI5QYPnD_iG/?taken-by=invaderdust) The color isnt exactly chosen as it “grows” from the material. Usually grey-dark grey. It is also usually used on titanium parts that, for instance, need lube, but cannot have lube. Aerospace, medical, military all use this AMS Hardcoat that is like a teflon. It acts as a dry lube for reducing friction and increasing durability and longevity. It is also labor intensive to create and prep as a white powder/residue happens after the process that needs to be prepped and cleaned. And from what i hear, its not a simple wipe off. [You can read more of it here](http://anodizetitanium.com/titanium-anodizing-tips-and-tricks/ams-2488-titanium-anodizing/) I do not know if the Hardcoat on aluminum is the same, so I cannot say, but Ive always had a thing for Titanium, and i remember looking into this question a few years back. ---
**Author:** ![AaronW](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/aaronw/32/49251_2.png) [@AaronW](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/AaronW)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 2:10pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/what-does-hardcoat-mean/294123/25 "2018-10-23T14:10:35Z")
> [@Dust](#): > > The color isnt exactly chosen as it “grows” from the material You **can** choose the color of hardcoat anodizing. I have yoyos that are hardcoat and they are green, blue, black, pink. Have seen red also. There are different specs of Hardcoat, at least 20-30. AMS2488 is the spec of hardcoat that Jeff used, which is one of the specs used for titanium hardcoat. ---
**Author:** ![Rosenberg](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/rosenberg/32/20465_2.png) [@Rosenberg](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Rosenberg)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 2:15pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/what-does-hardcoat-mean/294123/26 "2018-10-23T14:15:46Z")
In its undyed form, that statement holds true for hardcoat, but no it doesn’t work as a blanket statement. If you leave it “plain” the color (more or a tint in a lot of cases) will vary, but dye can be added ---
**Author:** ![Dust](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/dust/32/83340_2.png) [@Dust](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Dust)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 1:48am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/what-does-hardcoat-mean/294123/27 "2018-10-24T01:48:22Z")
I stand corrected. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mOonman\_V](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/moonman_v/32/39920_2.png) [@mOonman\_V](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/mOonman_V)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2018, 12:11am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/what-does-hardcoat-mean/294123/28 "2018-10-26T00:11:14Z")
Full ceramic bearings, I almost got a Tundra…almost… ---
**Author:** ![Dust](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/dust/32/83340_2.png) [@Dust](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Dust)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2018, 1:33am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/what-does-hardcoat-mean/294123/29 "2018-10-26T01:33:22Z")
Only the AMS Hardcoat version of the Tubdras came equipped with that bearing. Full Ceramic centering bearings an be a really tough thing to find! The ano’d and raws all came with steel and they felt alot different in comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Cannon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Cannon](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Cannon)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2018, 2:13am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/what-does-hardcoat-mean/294123/30 "2018-10-26T02:13:59Z")
Is there a noticble increase in durability with a hard coat? ---
**Author:** ![Dust](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/dust/32/83340_2.png) [@Dust](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Dust)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2018, 2:19am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/what-does-hardcoat-mean/294123/31 "2018-10-26T02:19:35Z")
Maybe in a Hard coat rubbing up against another hardcoat, (vs ano on ano) than yes, Id think so. But against a rock, or concrete? I broke the hardcoat on mine pretty easily when trying to film that video of mine i posted a few posts up. So long story short, ( TOO LATE! ) yes, it is stronger, but it can still ding and knick. also different hardcoats will likely have different hardness too, but im guessing here. ---
**Author:** ![codinghorror](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/codinghorror/32/8052_2.png) [@codinghorror](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/codinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 10:59am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/what-does-hardcoat-mean/294123/32 "2019-01-05T10:59:16Z")
Thanks for starting this topic, and all the detailed replies. It helped me understand and appreciate the hardcoat process … so I jumped on one when I saw it come up in the BST. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/6/7/e/67ec24c3bd53f34e5ba73273d3c21df63ef376bd.jpeg) Here it is ---
**Author:** ![noodles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/noodles/32/36467_2.png) [@noodles](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/noodles)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 7:07am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/what-does-hardcoat-mean/294123/33 "2019-01-15T07:07:44Z")
is it heavier? ---
**Author:** ![codinghorror](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/codinghorror/32/8052_2.png) [@codinghorror](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/codinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 7:12am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/what-does-hardcoat-mean/294123/34 "2019-01-15T07:12:11Z")
Good idea sir noodles! I’ll post that in a more relevant topic, keep your 👀 peeled! [Previous page](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/what-does-hardcoat-mean/294123.md?page=1)