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Author Topic: Abralon?  (Read 3157 times)

Strapper_Squared

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Abralon?
« on: February 08, 2006, 03:20:42 AM »
A little over a month ago I bought a number of 1000 grit and 2000 grit Abralon pads.  Up until this point, I have had good luck with equipment wet sanded to 1000 grit or finished with ebonite matte finish (like 1500 grit).  I tried the pads on three different balls now (both leaving the surface at 1000 grit, 2000, grit and putting polish overtop of the 1000 and 2000) and have absolutely hated the reaction of all of three!  Some of the worst over/under reaction I have ever seen.  I kept thinking it was the ball not matching up, etc., etc. until last night.  I had a tsunami given to me and threw it a little while with the original span...  had a wonderful reaction out of the ball.  Yesterday I plugged/redrilled the thumb and finished the surface to 1000 grit Abralon (which was close to the surface on the ball)...  figured it was worthwhile freshening / cleaning up the surface.  I took it out in league and had the absolute worst reaction I had ever seen... since the last ball I finished with Abralon (my Seek & Destroy, which I had such bad reaction I sold).  

I know there has been a lot of praise for the pads here, but has anyone else experienced poor reaction from these things?

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Old Coach

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Re: Abralon?
« Reply #1 on: February 08, 2006, 12:46:05 PM »
Strapper, this is really confusing.  I have used abralon for about 3 years and just love it.  Have used sandpaper, scotch brite and you name it.  The abralon gives the best finish of anything I have ever used without getting irregular sand lines. I normally always us it wet but either way it should not make any difference. Are you sanding in one direction or cross hatching it??? I have three "Ones" in the family and have used the 4000 on all of them with Ebonite Factory finish to maintain the out of box finish and they work just like the day we got them and all three have over 75 games on them.  Also have been using it on my other equipment, Rampage, Absolute, Ultimate, Xfactor, Slash and on and on. I take care of a lot of bowlers equipment.

My good friend drills about 1500 balls a year and is a PGA shooter and that is all he uses for final finish??????  Wish I could help!
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mrbowlingnut

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Re: Abralon?
« Reply #2 on: February 08, 2006, 01:01:59 PM »
Tsumani is polished i have 2 of them, maybe the specs say different but i know what i am looking at. I would try brunswick high gloss right on it of the 1000 abralon, i think it would be a whole new ball game Scott.
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Strapper_Squared

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Re: Abralon?
« Reply #3 on: February 08, 2006, 01:44:06 PM »
Yes, it comes polished, but the previous owner didn't care for the gloss, so took it down to a matte finish...  

I have been using the pads just like sand paper or scotch brite...  on a spinner (all three sides...so yes, cross-hatched) with water...  Finish appears to be a sheen...  all of the equipment I have tried the pads on, I have gotten severe over/under... (seek&destroy, centrifugal mass, and now tsunami).  

I'll give the comparison (1000 abralon vs 1000 sandpaper) a shot Friday during my practice session (unless I really like the polished surface)... that would be the true test.
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smpecjak

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Re: Abralon?
« Reply #4 on: February 08, 2006, 01:51:06 PM »
Hay Strapper,
The big difference that I have found is that the abralon pads seem to put a much smoother finish on the ball compared to 1000-grit sandpaper, so the abralon finished ball seems much cleaner through the front part of the lane (compared to a 1000-grit sanded ball).
I've just started looking at the abralon pads as being more of a polishing option instead of a sanding option (if that makes any sense).
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charlest

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Re: Abralon?
« Reply #5 on: February 08, 2006, 01:51:31 PM »
Strapper,

As far as I know, for whatever it's worth to you, Abralon seems to use silicon carbbide as its abrasive, just like wet/dry sandpaper.

I was just looking through a Jan 2001 issue of an old woodworking catalog I had. It shows Abralon and says its silicon carbide.

I've gotten a whole bunch recently (of Abralon in 1000 and 2000 grits) but have hardly used it. I wonder if the problem is the way you're using it. I'm not aware of any special procedure except that people keep saying you need to use LOTS of water.

If you learn anything, please pass it on.

Hmm, I wonder: could you be pressing too hard for too long a period and wearing the silicon carbide bits dowm to ultra fine grit levels?? That happens with regular wet/dry sandpaper. It could be happening to Abralon.

If you're getting over/under, it could be the finish is too fine and it's just not grabbing the lane. That could possibly be coming from earing down the grit, as I mentioned above.

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Strapper_Squared

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Re: Abralon?
« Reply #6 on: February 08, 2006, 01:58:56 PM »
On the latest ball, I used a brand new pad...  as far a pressure...nothing out of the ordinary.  Who knows.. maybe it is just the equipment.. you know, a friend's ball always seems to roll better until you own it!
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charlest

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Re: Abralon?
« Reply #7 on: February 08, 2006, 03:01:35 PM »
quote:
On the latest ball, I used a brand new pad...  as far a pressure...nothing out of the ordinary.  Who knows.. maybe it is just the equipment.. you know, a friend's ball always seems to roll better until you own it!
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Agreed. I got no answer for you, as things stand.

If you pursue it, please let us know what happens. Thanks & good luck.
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