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If I liked galvanized steel for my sweaty hands, will stainless steel be a good option?
I'm getting back into poling after a nearly 2 year absence so am shopping for a new pole. Back when I first started, I had a homemade pole set up in the garage made out of a galvanized steel pipe that I sanded down as smooth as I could – it was a matte finish. I learned how to pirouette, swoop, fireman, climb, and pole sit on it in spite of my super sweaty, clammy hands (I have hyperhidrosis), and all without the use of grip aides or gloves.
Then I bought my TG Xpole for my living room, and the instant I touched the pole it would get slimey. For the year and a half that I danced on it, I had to use gloves because every hand antiperspirant and grip aide failed to work. I remember being distressed because I didn't slime up the galvanized pole in the garage the way I did with the TG! I've handled chrome and powdercoated vehicle items, both of which turn into a slimey mess against my skin as well, so those options are pretty much out for dancing without gloves.
So my question is, if I didn't have so many issues with the homemade galvanized pole, will stainless steel work just as well, even though it will surely be smoother and better polished than my matte finish? I've come across 2 or 3 posts where people have said that they didn't have to wipe their hands as much with SS, or didn't turn the pole slimey in spite of it being the least grippy surface.
I'd love some feedback from those of you with sweaty hands and your experience with pole finishes, especially SS. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif
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19 Replies
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stainless, chrome, and TG all have the same type of polish, which is not very friendly for sweaty hands.
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Galvanization is the application of a zinc coating to steel, so in answer to your question, no. You have gotten used to your hands/body interacting with zinc, not with stainless.
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On the zinc note, you might like brass. It is copper and zinc.
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^ ^ ^ ^
What say you??!! I don't want a copper and zinc pole, I want 100% PURE BRASS!!
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LOL
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I am sorry. I could not resist. I will go to my corner for a time out now.
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Any finish will be an issue if you have sweaty hands…..I say get the studioveena pole 😀
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Brass is the easiest for me with sweaty hands. Powder coated isn't secure for me. The PC resists the sweat. The brass seems to work with it a little better, but this is my experience.
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You have to go w/ what works best for you and, from what I can gather, the zinc works well for your body chemistry. I cannot say for sure brass or powdercoat or a custom-made galvanized pole, but it sounds as though you may want to look into those options. I know someone w/ hyperhydrosis that prefers chrome while everyone else I know w/ sweaty palms HATES chrome. I know girls who swear by brass, a number of others who prefer powdercoat and TG. Even so, ALL of them use grip aids, Tite Grip being the most popular.
I cannot help in a directly personal level as I have the opposite prob. My hands are always dry to the point where they blister at times, and brass tears my skin to shreds! Hope you find a comfortable fit for your needs. 🙁
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EagleSpirit I believe you are experiencing something entirely different than grip related to composition. You state that your pole is sanded and that other finishes become slimey. I wonder if you have such moist palms that the abrasions caused by sanding your galvanized pole provide a wicking effect, a place for moisture to go then evaporate.
Body chemistry as it relates to your pole is a very personal thing. To say "All poles of type x have the same polish and therefore won't work", while well-meaning is invalid.
You might have sweaty hands and very moist skin or you may have sweaty hands and dry skin. Your skin may be more acidic or more basic than average skin. All these things affect your grip and will have different interactions with different pole compositions.
Because you have atypical grip requirements your best bet is going to be to try as many poles as possible before making your next purchase. You may even find differences in types of brass, types of stainless and types of powder coat.
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Wow, that's just about Genius Webbie!
Anyway, different poles are diff. for everyone. At a recent competition we were on a pole that some guys who had extra pole from their barn. They decided to turn it into a pole. Most of the girls thought it was slippy but it was perfect for me.At another comp. I was on a 22 ft pole and the finish was diff. than any that I've come across.I find that using dry hands on my hands and putting the leftover up and down the pole works best. I don't always use it. I usually use it for new tricks or comps and showcases. A lot of girls swear by TG but I'm a chromy girl. I hope one gets suited for you well:)
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SLIMEY!!! Thank you. I thought I was the only one. I can wash and thoroughly dry my hands and touch a pole and it still feels exactly how Eagle described it, slimey.
But I've never used anything but a smooth surface. Web Master what is wicking?
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@Aviva, by sanding the pole you create abrasions and scratches that can "absorb" small amounts of water and quickly evaporate it. This is of course merely a theory as to why slimeyness may be better on the sanded pole.
I am not condoning that you sand a pole as you never know how a finish will react or how your skin may react to the dust left behind.
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Thanks, everyone, for your replies!
Chem, I nearly spat tea all over my monitor when I read your post! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
Veena, I LOVE your new pole! Especially the quick switch from static to spinny and the super fast setup/removal time.
Webmaster, I also wondered about the matte surface having a wicking effect. I know for sure that my skin is acidic – jewellers always marvel at how quickly my skin can eat through even heavily plated jewellery. And I think, of your descriptions (sweaty/dry or sweaty/moist) the sweaty/moist fits my skin type best because I never need moisturizer for my body even though I live in the rather dry, Southern Alberta prairies.
When I touch chrome or TG poles, they feel wet to me although my husband swears they aren't. Does brass have more of wicking effect? And which brass poles are more matte, if that might help me more than a mirror finish?
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