RAIL MODIFICATION REVIEW

[paulaboutform]

Last year I did some builds of different bows from a Y25 Exomax, Y25 405, Aging tweaked Matrix420 and a gen 1 and 2 Micro 355. My Exomax build was the first and I initially primed and spray painted everything flat black. It looked surprisingly good but the durability wasn't there, especially on the mainframe (rail). I did some homework and found an anodizing shop close to home and had them type three hard anodize the riser and mainframe. This looked awesome but I found in very short order that the center serving was literally being sanded away as if it was riding across an emory board, which it kind of was. I contacted the shop and they explained that polishing would remedy this immediately...followed by 'reanodizing. I brought the mainframe back and they stripped it again, bead blasted it and sent it out for polishing on the top of the rail and the upper side edges of the rail. The shop then anodized the rail once again. It was a learning curve for both of us as they've never worked on any crossbow stuff before.
THE RESULT
I picked up the rail and was amazed! It was actually a gloss finish and looked like polished glass. Serving wear where the string rides the rail is not reduced at all though, it is 100% ELIMINATED!!! The only wear on the serving now is from the jaws. I personally think this is one of the best mods I've seen. Seeing the results I proceeded to do the same to every bow I've acquired....except my M380 because I left my camo rail to match the stock. This anodizing is superior to the stock anodizing completely. It's harder and slicker. I've never seen a crossbow from any manufacturer with this quality in their finish. Some of our forum brothers, upon seeing this, have had their bows done as well and perhaps will throw in their opinions and possibly pics. I did do a before and after chrono test with the micro and found no difference in speed which surprised me a little. Anyway, that's the report. This is a mod I would HIGHLY recommend. It looks great and works even better. I believe it gives you a bow that is far superior than what you see in the showroom.

Paul

[ThunderXB]

So while I am interested in this, cost is an issue, so, ballpark in USD, what did stripping, then type 3 anodizing and the polishing run you?

[flightattendant100]

Great Review. Thanks, Paul. I have seen a pic or two on the forum of some other folks polished rails and they do look great. My question is can the rail be polished and anodized and not be a gloss finish? It may not be possible, I was just curious. Again, Thanks for the great review.

[newbie]

What you mean like this?
Paul is correct the rail is slicker then anything you will see. I litteraly see no serving wear other then claws.

[flightattendant100]

So while I am interested in this, cost is an issue, so, ballpark in USD, what did stripping, then type 3 anodizing and the polishing run you?

Don't get Paul to figure U.S. dollars !!!

[flightattendant100]

What you mean like this?
Paul is correct the rail is slicker then anything you will see. I litteraly see no serving wear other then the claws.

Mike, so did the riser get same treatment but without the polish?

[newbie]

Exactly Paul! Just the top and where the hooks rub the side had to be done or else it would eat the serving. The unpolished is like a fine emery.

[racking up points]

I will never own a camo rail again because I'd end up stripping it to get the anodizing done anyway. I think if I ever do one again, I'll get the sides polished like Don did to eliminate the two tone look. For those that are afraid of glare, it's nothing to worry about especially if you only get the top of the rail done. The finish is incredibly durable - Paul handed me my riser at Boofest and I fumbled the exchange and it bounced off a concrete floor without a mark.

[Carnivorous]

My Micro 315 needs that treatment....

[paulaboutform]

The risers don't need polishing as they're just cosmetic. They become a flat finish opposed to the gloss. Sorry Paul, but the layer of anodizing is super thin and takes on the texture of what's under it. So when they did my first rail, they gave it a chemical bath to remove the anodizing then finished it with bead blasting. When they anodized over it, it literally became like a super fine grit emory board. The polished aluminum is the reason for the gloss and there's not really a way around it that I'm aware of. If you're concerned about being too shiny for hunting I really don't see it being an issue.....unless you had everything anodized in bright orange. In that case you'd more likely of losing your bow to Gaston.
The cost here is around a couple hundred dollars Canadian plus shipping...that's for the riser, rail, and polishing of the rail. The polishing is pricey as it's done out of house. Btw, colors other than black, such as Newbie's, are a type two hard anodizing which is still crazy durable and tough. I have both and you can't tell the difference between type two and three.
***look at Derrick's awesome pic with the buck. The rail looks charcoal grey next to the top and sides that are polished. Now look at the limbs. They're about the same color as the non polished part of the rail. It looks like that because the polished part takes on a deeper colour tone. Polishing the entire rail gets a little more costly but both ways still looks excellent.

Paul

[mreyner]

Outstanding don't know if I could do this to my new xbow though. Maybe in a couple of years.

[roly]

With the help of Paul, l had the rail of my micro done. I didn't get my riser done because it is already black.
It turned out fantastic, and looks awesome, I love it and to be honest I don't even notice the gloss.
If I could get photobucket to work I would post a pic.

No ware on servings, I'm so glad I had it done. Thanks again Paul for all your help.

[paulaboutform]

With the help of Paul, l had the rail of my micro done. I didn't get my riser done because it is already black.
It turned out fantastic, and looks awesome, I love it and to be honest I don't even notice the gloss.
If I could get photobucket to work I would post a pic.

No ware on servings, I'm so glad I had it done. Thanks again Paul for all your help.

No problem at all Rick. I was happy to help. I'd like to add that I have no affiliation with the anodizing shop and have nothing to sell.

Paul

[roly]

can't believe i got it to work.

I only had the top of the rail done and the sides, but it turned out great.
Sorry Paul if i made it sound like you were affiliated to these ppl.

[newbie]

With the help of Paul, l had the rail of my micro done. I didn't get my riser done because it is already black.
It turned out fantastic, and looks awesome, I love it and to be honest I don't even notice the gloss.
If I could get photobucket to work I would post a pic.

No ware on servings, I'm so glad I had it done. Thanks again Paul for all your help.

No problem at all Rick. I was happy to help. I'd like to add that I have no affiliation with the anodizing shop and have nothing to sell.

Paul

Paul is good at helping me spend my money.... same as Derrick!
Thanks again guys!