WHAT DOES YOUR WEAR PLATE WEIGH?
JADCO • Rich F.2023-05-04T18:32:48-04:00Check out this post for a quick calculator to quickly determine the weight of your steel.
Customers often ask us to quote two thicknesses of wear plate when quoting wear resistant steel for a project. They are comparing the cost difference to the benefit of longer wear life.
Often they consider using a thicker wear resistant steel with the same hardness throughout the plate. Logic assumes you will receive longer wear life between replacement cycles, using thicker steel.
Meaning ½” thick steel should deliver twice the life of ¼” thick steel.
It Works On Paper, Correct? That Actually Depends On Your Equipment.

Vibratory Conveyors are used in Mining, Foundry, Bulk Processing, Recycling and Wood Processing.
One issue to keep in mind about vibratory conveyors, is this design does not respond positively to increases in material weight.
Vibratory feeders are more likely to lose convey-ability if thicker/heavier wear resistant steel replaces what the OEM uses. The result is broken springs, and “dog bones” (links), since the engineering was not designed for the additional weight. The same happens when the transport surface is overloaded with product exceeding design parameters.
Quickly determine the weight of your wear plate using this Steel Weight Calculator on our website. You can easily change thickness & size parameters to see how it will effect your equipment. NOTE: This is accurate for any steel: mild, stainless, QT-Plus ®, etc.
There are even more factors to consider before you just add another wear plate to replace the original thickness wear plate.
A Prime Example Of Adding More Steel
Within 3 months after their shutdown, one large papermill experienced a dramatic wear issue. They experienced up to 3/8” thickness worn away on the bottom 40’ of their newly installed log deck. Yet the top 140’ of the through-hardened wear plate had absolutely no measurable wear.
JADCO maintains records for all steel sent on every project, to verify which material was used on any specific job.
Checking the quality certifications from the steel mill for the QT-Plus ® used in this order, every wear plate was the same hardness. This didn’t explain the dramatic wear at the loading area, while there was zero wear at the top.
After spending an entire day carefully watching their operation in action, we determined the tail pulley had not been adjusted for adequate clearance of the new wear plates.
Close inspection revealed with each of the prior three maintenance shut downs, they simply laid a new wear plate on top of the previous deck plate.

Here you can clearly see four layers of wear plate, one on top of the other. This additional deck height forced the cast chain into direct contact with the newest plate, rather than gliding onto the deck as designed. By adding over 3” of height to the deck over time, it forced the chain to ‘file’ its way through the new wear plate.
Results: By adjusting the tail pulley up so the chain glided onto the deck instead of making the chain file through the steel, the deck wear was eliminated.
By replacing the AR400 used over the previous 30 years, QT-Plus ® through-hardened log deck wear plate delivered 2.5 times longer life.
By partnering with us and identifying a simple mechanical adjustment, it allowed them to eliminate their greatest wear application challenge.
As you can see, JADCO’s QT Plus ® will deliver greater performance IN YOUR WEAR APPLICATIONS than the various AR400 type steel wear plates you have used previously.
Being able to create wear resistant steel having the same hardness through the entire thickness of the steel, demands you accurately control the alloying chemistry with precise heat treating.
Doesn’t Every Steel Company Make Their Wear Plate Last As Long As JADCO QT Plus ® ?
The quick answer is No; although the attention to detail required at the steel mill in Pennsylvania is available to anyone. Yet most wear plate distributors choose to reduce the proper quantities and percentages of these essential alloying elements, to get a lower selling price. When you have to cut back on these critical alloys, wear life always suffers. For over the last 42 years JADCO has focused exclusively on delivering consistent, longer equipment life for our customers.Now you understand why JADCO delivers better results for our customers. We think differently by focusing only on your results.
Allow us to help you today by calling (724) 452-5252, or email info@jadcomfg.com. We will schedule a meeting with one of our local wear plate specialists at a time that best fits your schedule.
Remember, the only thing you have to lose by not working with JADCO, are your profits.
When your standard wear plate gives out, be certain to give JADCO a shout! (724) 452-5252.