I'm not sure what the coating on the irons is but mine wear off on the first plane every time. So I started using a sock. The coverite sock fits the coverite iron better but I've also used the TopFlite socks. All of them wear thru the tip first for me so I suppose its my fault due to how I use it. I just wraps a small piece of cotton cloth over the tip of my trim iron for the same reason.

Seems to slide better on the monokote. With the socks on I pretty well have my coverite irons on full heat and just move around and not park on a spot long enough to burn thru.

I'm still not any good at covering and would love to try the heatgun/oven mitt approach but have never had anyone around to hold things still for me.

One of these days I'm gonna have to make me some sandbags,

Clay