The best results would be to use a spinner to restore the factory surface on the versa-max.  The first step is to take the surface to 500 grit using a abralon or siaair pad on 4 or 6 sides.  Then, use rough buff on at least 2 sides, and finish with high gloss polish on at least 2 sides.

Rough Buff is Brunswick's polishing compound. It has abrasives, which is why it's used after the 500 grit pad. Personally, I find it extremely close to the Storm #2 and use them both interchangeably (in case you have one but not the other).

How do you bring the Versa max back to box condition and can you substitute an Abralon pad for a Siaair pad?

The instructions given above are accurate. They are on the VersaMax web page.

Yes, Abralon and Siaair use the same grading system, FEPA. So 500 grit created by an Abralon pad will be the same as 500 grit created by a Siaair pad.

To be a little bit more explicit -
I feel it is more accurate to describe Brunswick's Rough Buff as a rubbing compound due to its aggressive abrasive action. It used to be used over 220 grit on many Brunswick balls, like the Vapor Zone. Today, the stock finishing process usually calls for it to be used over 500 grit, sometimes 1500 grit. RB will add a polish-like shine when used over a higher grit, like 2000 grit. (In this sense, it will act like Storm's Step 2 - being also very abrasive, it can polish a ball when applied intensely.) When RB is applied over the 500 grit sanding, the finish appears half-dull, half-shined. While it could be considered equivalent to about a 3000 - 4000 grit sanding, it is not that and does act differently from a simple sanding.

Brunswick polishing compound is called Factory Finish High Gloss polish. This is what is applied after the  Rough Buff has been applied to the VM.

Had a friend using his Versa Max box(shiny) he had an 800.

Had a friend use a Versa Max box in some big senior PBAs very high finish.

Heard a guy named Walter Ray something used a dull versa Max in some Senior PBA events, annhilation!

Regards,

Luckylefty

My only add on would be, I prefer a Haus or equivalent resurfacing device to do the Siaair pads.  It does a more uniform job and sanding rather than doing it by hand. 

Mike Freundel
Brunswick Regional Staff
The views of this post are solely those of the writer and not Brunswick Bowling and Billiards.

If you own your own pro shop, yes a Haus machine is the professional way.
If you own your own spinner, then doing it on a Haus machine makes no sense.
Siaair and Abralon pads can do a perfectly good and proper job.

I've always wondered how long do you apply the Rough Buff on each side of the ball for on your spinner?

Til you're happy with the result. (no smiley face).

For me, over the 500 grit sanding, I applied RB just slightly longer than I would with a 2 sided, medium-gloss polish. Maybe 45 seconds to a minute for each side with medium-firm pressure. In reality, it does depend on what you want from the ball. There is no magic formula, because of the number of variables & the human factor.

Brickguy221.

First things first.  Get feeling better.  Your ball will be ready for you when you return.