Mask Weight

[briancurtin]

i hate 'low profile' masks. i used one a few times as a catcher and used one once when i was like 15 as an umpire (it was a cheapo rawlings one). i didnt feel there was an advantage and it just felt weird using a mask that looked like it was run over by a truck

[MajorDave]

I have both. I think the weight is similar but the Moliben (whatever the $%@* that is) does let you see better, in my opinion. Especially on low pitches. Just my two cents. I got it with black doeskin and just got the black amara suede pads from Gerry Davis Sports last week. Done about three games with the suede on the Moliben. Not too hot yet but I feel the difference. Really nice. I have been getting several positive comments on my strike zone and I really think it is mostly the mask combined with a couple of tweaks to my stance (GDS) and early lock in. I have taken several (five or six) balls off the mask and no dents just scratches and nicks. No headaches or jaw probs, etc. One of them was the first scrimmage in Mid-March with a pitcher throwing low 90's. Lots of foul balls that day. I only caught two of them-shin and facemask. I recommend the Moliben. Oh yeah, I only paid $49 for it as it wasn't in the seller's database yet on my date of purchase and they went ahead and sold it to me as the Wilson dynalite. Lucky, lucky me.

[3appleshigh]

How Dare you talk about better vision. They can see just fine with the Traditional Masks, even if a traditional mask is imporved, vision is NOT important. If you bring that up again you could get banned. LOL

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by MajorDave

I have both. I think the weight is similar but the Moliben (whatever the $%@* that is) does let you see better, in my opinion.

Chrome Molybdenum is the correct designation. It is an alloy containing Chromium and Molybdenum which is used in the manufacture of racing wheels, golf clubs, and now apparently umpire/catcher masks. Better known as Chrome Moly.

[MajorDave]

Thanks SDS for the science lesson. I remember Molybdenum as being on the periodic table of elements from my HS/College science class days but I have never seen or dealt with it. I wonder how they got the shortened name as noted above from the original element name? Anyway, back to the point. I think it is a pretty good mask. It is my number one and I only keep the Honig's as a back up.

[SanDiegoSteve]

I think that they figured that Chrome Moly would be associated with car wheels so they used a different shortened name.......Moliben. Who'd a guessed?

Or I could be totally off base here (and subject to being tagged out) and maybe Moliben is a new alloy of which I am unfamiliar. Someone with superior intellect, such as JRutledge perhaps , may have the definitive answer.

[briancurtin]

It is also known as 4130 steel, and is composed of 0.28 to 0.33% carbon, 0.4 to 0.6% manganese, 0.8 to 1.1% chromium, 0.15 to 0.25% molybdenum, 0.04% phosphorus, 0.04% sulfur, and 0.2 to 0.35% silicon, in addition to iron.

ok im not that smart, i took it from here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrome_moly

[SanDiegoSteve]

You could have wowed us all if you hadn't copped to looking it up!!!!