There are a couple of ways to look at this.

Most of the surface is resin. The particles are embedded in resin. If they used diamond dust as the particles in this balls, like their originals, Abralon will NOT affect the particles, but will affect the resin. So that will make a difference, as does polish.

I've found some luck using Trizact to affect the entire surface, but if you really, really NEED to change the diamond's grit level, you really need Lanemasters diamond pads (approx $100 each, last time I heard).

I've had considerable luck using Trizact and polish to modify the ball reaction on many of these hard particle balls.

Remember the BD comes with a high gloss, so it's easy to reduce the gloss level, down from a low level shine to a matte finish to a dull level, if you need earlier "grab" (read the midlane earlier).
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"None are so blind as those who will not see."

A few options here Slap.

The gray pad you are using is equivalent to 12 microns, 800-grit US ANSI/CAMI and 1500-grit FEPA. (Abralon is graded using the European FEPA ''P'' standard.)

You can use the Mirlon or 3M gold pad. Use of the 3M gold pad results in a smoother, later reacting surface than the gray pad. The gold pad is 10 micron, 1000-grit ANSI/CAMI, and 2000-grit FEPA. Mirlon''s gold pad is a bit finer at 8 micron, 2500-grit FEPA.

I''ve been using a white pad about every 20 games or so with my Black Diamond to restore "new ball bite". The 3M white pad is 6 micron, 1200-grit ANSI/CAMI and 3000/3500 grit FEPA.

This is easily repeatable and seems to work well for medium-heavy, moderate length patterns, as well as medium, long patterns. For shorter and lighter patterns, I''d keep some polish on the BD surface.

One or the reasons you see a lot of scuff pad references is that these type of abrasives work well in removing some of the reactive polyurethane while exposing fresh particles to the surface. Abralon, SIAAIR, and other carbide surface abrasives also work well with the Lane Masters/Legends hard particle balls using industrial diamonds or carbide particles.

On the other hand, the scuff pad is much better suited for soft particle maintenance in reactive surface balls enhanced with Mica (Buzz Attack, Second Dimension, 930T, Offset Hammer 3D, etc.) or rubber-like particles (Ogre Particle, New Breed Particle, etc.) Abralon/SIAAIR/sandpaper tend to smooth the soft particles as well as the polyurethane.

In general, I use Abralon for reactive and non-reactive polyurethane, while using scuff pads on particle balls (industrial diamond, carbide, mica and rubber).

Hope this is useful to you!



Edited on 11/14/2009 2:05 PM