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Author Topic: Grit and lane shine  (Read 2283 times)

WiscBowler

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Grit and lane shine
« on: January 27, 2009, 06:02:52 AM »
I have a new ball that is at 1000 grit Abralon.  After about 12 games now it has a significant amount of lane shine to it.  Is it still technically at 1000 grit?  The reason I ask is because if I hit it with the 1000 pad again, won't it be a lot "grittier" than it was with the lane shine?  I initially liked the reaction it was giving me once it got some shine to it, but now it's not quite strong enough.  I'm afraid to go all the way back to dull 1000, but don't know what else to do.  If I do, will it get back to where I want it after a couple of games?  I know this is kind of rambling, any advice on this would be great.

 

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Re: Grit and lane shine
« Reply #1 on: January 27, 2009, 02:47:58 PM »
A ball that starts out at 1000 will gradually smooth out as you throw it. The rate this happens depends on the lane conditions and other factors like your rev rate, ball speed, etc.

Think of it as a new tire with treads on it at 1000. Friction from the lane surface will gradually wear off the treads so some degree. The more friction you are bowling on the more rapidly this should happen.

If you are touching it up by hand instead of on a spinner you will want to be careful to not use too much hand pressure since the ball is still new and there probably isn't any track wear to speak of yet. On a spinner you can adjust easier because you can change speeds as well as water used and hand pressure and get a more uniform finish. Good luck.


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dizzyfugu

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Re: Grit and lane shine
« Reply #2 on: February 03, 2009, 07:37:09 AM »
A good amount of this shine is lane oil and machine grease - a thorough cleaning with a good cleaner (e. g. Lanemasters' stuff) get a ball easily back to its sheen/matte finish if you wipe it frewquently and clean it dircetly after use on the lanes. From my experience, the actual sanded surface last quite a while, only once the track area starts to become truly visible you should IMO touch up the surface again, evenly from all sides.
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charlest

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Re: Grit and lane shine
« Reply #3 on: February 03, 2009, 08:05:48 AM »
quote:
I have a new ball that is at 1000 grit Abralon.  After about 12 games now it has a significant amount of lane shine to it.  Is it still technically at 1000 grit?  The reason I ask is because if I hit it with the 1000 pad again, won't it be a lot "grittier" than it was with the lane shine?  I initially liked the reaction it was giving me once it got some shine to it, but now it's not quite strong enough.  I'm afraid to go all the way back to dull 1000, but don't know what else to do.  If I do, will it get back to where I want it after a couple of games?  I know this is kind of rambling, any advice on this would be great.


WiscBowler,

As notclay states, most balls after extended use will tend towards a 600 -800 grit US level of finish. It does take a while for this to happen. Note that your 1000 grit Abralon pad uses the FEPA grading system and is actually approximately 550 grit US, VERY close to that magic 600 grit US. So if you use a 1000 grit Abralon pad to refresh the ball, it will be a minor change at best.

BUT to get rid of those oil shine lines (very different from an oil line just picked up from the lane surface), I'd recommend CLean and Dull. It is one of the few cleaners strong enough to remove them. But always clean the ball with some good bowling ball cleaner BEFORE putting it back in the bag.
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Edited on 2/4/2009 9:51 AM
"None are so blind as those who will not see."

Gazoo

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Re: Grit and lane shine
« Reply #4 on: February 04, 2009, 08:00:01 AM »
+1 to above statement.
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