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Author Topic: Slaair vs. Abralon, is there really a difference?  (Read 16293 times)

Roller

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Slaair vs. Abralon, is there really a difference?
« on: August 02, 2017, 12:19:03 AM »
Hello all,
 I have had this one bug me for a while, and I would believe that with the combined experience here, some folks can shed light on the advantage of one type of pad over the other. I am used to seeing Ebonite and its partners and Storm and its partners use abralon pads, whilst Brunswick and its partners favor the Slaair. I would think it would normally be an economy of scale argument that decides this, but I just suspect a really clever and cutting-edge designer like Mo would only use that if it provided a type of performance edge, comparatively, versus their competitors. I was a big fan of the Guru, lol. Anywho, is it merely a naming thing, or is there a more significant advantage to one over the other? Thanks again. :)
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SVstar34

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Re: Slaair vs. Abralon, is there really a difference?
« Reply #1 on: August 02, 2017, 12:36:11 AM »
They're essentially the same. For me siaair lasts a little bit longer when using with a spinner
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charlest

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Re: Slaair vs. Abralon, is there really a difference?
« Reply #2 on: August 02, 2017, 01:31:39 AM »
Siaair pads use Aluminum Oxide as the abrasive, while Abralon uses silicon Carbide. Their size and foam backing are almost identical. Both use FEPA as their grading so their grit numbers are also identical.

Their main functional difference for use on bowling balls seems to be that Siaair pads last slightly longer than Abralon pads.

Example: for the 4000 grit pad, I'll get 3 - 5 full uses per ball with standard light pressure needed to get as close to a true 4000 grit reading as possible. For the Siaair 4000 grit pads, I'll get 4-6 uses, roughly speaking.

Of course other pads, like 900Global's NEAT and 3m Trizact, the use per pad is significantly higher. (FYI 900G's NEAT pads have been replaced recently by their ICE pads.)
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Medichal

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Re: Slaair vs. Abralon, is there really a difference?
« Reply #3 on: August 02, 2017, 11:17:17 AM »
after 20 years i still use 3m regular sandpaper much cheaper and still does a fantastic job i buy all gritsup to 5000 at walmart good price
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Roller

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Re: Slaair vs. Abralon, is there really a difference?
« Reply #4 on: August 02, 2017, 07:48:41 PM »
Thank you again for input on using the variety of pad types. Charlest, thanks for the detailed explanation of the material and chemical difference in the variety of pads. Now, as far as the ones used by 900 Global, I am not surprised theirs are so unique, as they went into great detail on the ICE pads on their sites. I am glad to finally know the real difference, no matter how minimal, between Slaair and Abralon.
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charlest

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Re: Slaair vs. Abralon, is there really a difference?
« Reply #5 on: August 03, 2017, 05:09:15 AM »
FYI If anyone's interested, details on 900G's new ICE pads can be found on their web site:
https://www.900global.com/newglobalshop/?page_id=9289
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milorafferty

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Re: Slaair vs. Abralon, is there really a difference?
« Reply #6 on: August 03, 2017, 09:31:39 AM »
Quote from: charlest on August 03, 2017, 05:09:15 AM
FYI If anyone's interested, details on 900G's new ICE pads can be found on their web site:
https://www.900global.com/newglobalshop/?page_id=9289

I'll be trying them once I can find where to buy. I still have a stock of the NEAT pads and love the reaction I get.
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charlest

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Re: Slaair vs. Abralon, is there really a difference?
« Reply #7 on: August 03, 2017, 11:38:24 AM »
Quote from: milorafferty on August 03, 2017, 09:31:39 AM
Quote from: charlest on August 03, 2017, 05:09:15 AM
FYI If anyone's interested, details on 900G's new ICE pads can be found on their web site:
https://www.900global.com/newglobalshop/?page_id=9289

I'll be trying them once I can find where to buy. I still have a stock of the NEAT pads and love the reaction I get.

I'll try them. I Like the NEAT pads but even the NEAT pads were almost impossible to find. Of course, since the supply seemed so limited, the prices were always seemingly high, but they last a LONG, LONG time.
Wonder if ICE pads will be more readily available.
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milorafferty

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Re: Slaair vs. Abralon, is there really a difference?
« Reply #8 on: August 03, 2017, 11:53:41 AM »
Quote from: charlest on August 03, 2017, 11:38:24 AM
Quote from: milorafferty on August 03, 2017, 09:31:39 AM
Quote from: charlest on August 03, 2017, 05:09:15 AM
FYI If anyone's interested, details on 900G's new ICE pads can be found on their web site:
https://www.900global.com/newglobalshop/?page_id=9289

I'll be trying them once I can find where to buy. I still have a stock of the NEAT pads and love the reaction I get.

I'll try them. I Like the NEAT pads but even the NEAT pads were almost impossible to find. Of course, since the supply seemed so limited, the prices were always seemingly high, but they last a LONG, LONG time.
Wonder if ICE pads will be more readily available.

Yea, the only place I could find the NEAT pads for sale was a guy on eBay. He was in the Detroit area if I remember correctly, I bought the bulk of what he had.
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"If you don't stand for our flag, then don't expect me to give a damn about your feelings."

charlest

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Re: Slaair vs. Abralon, is there really a difference?
« Reply #9 on: August 03, 2017, 01:22:10 PM »
Quote from: milorafferty on August 03, 2017, 11:53:41 AM
Quote from: charlest on August 03, 2017, 11:38:24 AM
Quote from: milorafferty on August 03, 2017, 09:31:39 AM
Quote from: charlest on August 03, 2017, 05:09:15 AM
FYI If anyone's interested, details on 900G's new ICE pads can be found on their web site:
https://www.900global.com/newglobalshop/?page_id=9289

I'll be trying them once I can find where to buy. I still have a stock of the NEAT pads and love the reaction I get.

I'll try them. I Like the NEAT pads but even the NEAT pads were almost impossible to find. Of course, since the supply seemed so limited, the prices were always seemingly high, but they last a LONG, LONG time.
Wonder if ICE pads will be more readily available.

Yea, the only place I could find the NEAT pads for sale was a guy on eBay. He was in the Detroit area if I remember correctly, I bought the bulk of what he had.

With as long as the NEAT pads last, you may never need to buy any ICE pads at all. :)
(About 10 years ago or so, I got lucky on Ebay and bought 2 boxes of 4000 grit Abralon pads for about $20 DELIVERED! I think everyone thought the price was for one box, but the "two boxes" were in tiny print somewhere at the bottom.  While I've tested NEAT, Siaair, Jost, and Trizact pads, I've never had any need to buy new 4000 grit pads. I have yet to go through these 2 boxes (20 each) of Abralon.)
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Roller

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Re: Slaair vs. Abralon, is there really a difference?
« Reply #10 on: August 03, 2017, 11:23:35 PM »
Wow, that is quite a deal off Ebay! I may have to ask you to look for items for me in the future on there. ;)
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charlest

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Re: Slaair vs. Abralon, is there really a difference?
« Reply #11 on: August 04, 2017, 04:42:08 AM »
Quote from: Roller on August 03, 2017, 11:23:35 PM
Wow, that is quite a deal off Ebay! I may have to ask you to look for items for me in the future on there. ;)

Never found another deal like again; it was a sheer accident/mistake by the seller. I'd suggest that today 95% of ball supply sellers post things at a minimum price that assures them of some profit margin.
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