Mike, Have ran the chromed flutes on our hugger heads now for a number of years.Have not worn any of them out yet.So can not report on their life.The orginal set is back on the ole spare black N8-30 in the corner of the machine shed,they wore out the first N8-30 head they were on.Recently Hyper II installed square stainless keystock in place of the round rods on the deck plates,hope they work out as wellIJ Would like to try to chrome the spiral tips on the rolls also.Have played with different gearing on the drive as well as the cross auger.Hugger needed hypered to feed the beast.With always like new sharp flutes power consumption is less,faster ground speeds are maintained and stalks are cut up more completely.Good luck! Hyper