damage to barbell knurling

[Jeff Yan]

Will routine everyday metal-on-metal contact with bar catches, j-hooks, spotter rods, gun racks, etc. cause significant damage to barbell knurling?

If this is such a significant issue what can be done when your equipment doesn't have protective plastic guards?

edit: just found this thread

[Wade Smith]

I don't have an answer but am quick to note that the thought of seeing a barbell on a "gun rack" would be an awesome sight. Especially in the city.

[Jeff Yan]

http://www.newyorkbarbells.com/pro93120.html (wfs)
Unfortunately, I'm not talking about a literal 'gun rack', just the boring kind related to lifting.

[Paul Findley]

I have a bar with aggressive knurl, it has been pounded down by metal on metal, and the stands also show signs of wear.

I have a bar with not so aggressive knurl, there is no visible change to this bar, but it's my wife's and does not see the same loading.

I have a new bar with not so aggressive knurl, I am going to glue on some rubber to the stands (york press squat stands).

[Jeremy Stecker]

I remember reading a book a long time ago "brawn" and "beyond brawn" that said to get an old piece of hose and wrap it around the thingy that holds the bars. Haven't done it yet. I suppose if I got an expensive bar I would.

[Alex Rosch]

Jeff...
I have a rack and two bars...if I were to pound the stuff together there would be more wear. There's only a bit of flattening of the bumps of the powder-coat of the j-hooks of the rack. I'm going to be attaching some thin vinyl matting to the potential wear spots.
At the smaller-box gym I used to work out at, all the knurling at or about the contact points for a snatch grip were worn smooth on the barbells, mostly the the one they had for their bench press set up.
I've heard old socks work well to protect the racks (and bars).