BallReviews
General Category => Coverstock Preparation => Topic started by: lefty50 on September 03, 2012, 02:57:25 PM
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Looking for info from anyone who uses these. I've seen a few references to tham and found a few online shops that have them. They look like nothing more than a shaped holder for either sandpaper or abralon/siaair pads, right?
Do they work well? Any reason to have more than one?
Thanks
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Yep, you pretty much have the description down.
I bought a CAB along with my first spinner many years ago. I initially used it with sandpaper, then later with scotchbrite, and most recently with abralon. I've tried the CAB with the 900G Neat pads, but that combo doesn't work too well.
The initial reason for using a CAB was because I was new to spinners, and I was afraid of creating flat spots. The CAB ensures consistent contact across paper/pad. I've been comfortable without a CAB for a long time, but still use it a lot out of habit. It's almost impossible to make errors when using it.
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Seems like an expensive option for not much value if you're comfortable with a spinner then...? I see them online for $40. Expensive hunk of plastic.
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Seems like an expensive option for not much value if you're comfortable with a spinner then...? I see them online for $40. Expensive hunk of plastic.
The cheapest I used to be able to get them was around $25-28. Even then they were a luxury, especially with the foam backing on Abralon and Siaair pads.
What they were invaluable for was Trizact pads because they were thin, with no foam backing. However they were different in that the loop portion attached to the CAB, while CAB used for sandpaper had the hooks attached to it.
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Here's a DIY option:
DIY Contour Sanding Block
All you need is a quart of fiberglass resin, some saran wrap and a nice sized dish sponge.
1- In a well ventilated area, Lay out a piece of saran wrap.
2- Then mix up about half a plastic beer cup of fiberglass resin.
(the amount of resin you mix would depend on the size sponge)
3- Once mixed dunk the sponge in the resin until it's fully saturated.
4- Then drop the sponge flat on the saran wrap you layed out.
5- Next cover the sponge with a second piece of wrap.
6- Then set a old bowling ball (you could use a good ball even, but why risk it) on top of the saran wrap covered sponge.
Now let it sit till the resin hardens, The resin typically will set in an hour or so, depending on how much hardener you use. Once hard remove the ball.
Now you can grind/saw/dremel and smooth your block until you get the shape you want. This will will give you a block perfect for use w/sandpaper.
You can also make a second one, except place a piece of scotchbrite between the ball and the top piece of saran wrap for a block matching the needed contour of the thicker abrasives like scotchbrites or abralon.
You can also add some velcro strips (the hook part) to the block, so the abralon will attach to it or if you use hook and loop sandpaper.
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Seems like an expensive option for not much value if you're comfortable with a spinner then...? I see them online for $40. Expensive hunk of plastic.
If you're already comfortable with a spinner, then there might not be a lot of value in using a CAB. Still, no matter how good you think you are, a CAB will probably provide more accurate contact and even pressure.
It's just another option.
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The best tool out there for use with a ball spinner is the SMarT PRO from Polish Your Ball Inc. It uses Abralon and Sia abrasives. For polishing, a terry cloth polishing bonnet slips over the PRO. Check it out at www.polishyourball.com.
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Cab Blocks used to be $25 - $28. Saw these tonight for $20 or $15 if buying two ...
http://www.shop.innovativebowling.com/Innovative-Sanding-Block-CAB.htm
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One was recommended to me because I have smaller hands. It's not needed but it helps a lot for consistency when making adjustments on your bowling balls.
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Vertex maker of Vertex Spinners has them also for same prcie as Innovative.
http://www.vertexbowling.com/Sanding-Block-v-cab.htm
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I believe ive seen mentioned before that many paint stores carry a similar item. Just google palm sanding blocks and it shows a few.
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I believe ive seen mentioned before that many paint stores carry a similar item. Just google palm sanding blocks and it shows a few.
You are right. A bunch popped up on google when you search. I actually remember seeing a few in Wal-Mart before.
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I believe ive seen mentioned before that many paint stores carry a similar item. Just google palm sanding blocks and it shows a few.
Are you sure you meant to type "palm sanding blocks"?
All I get from such a search is what I think of by that: a plastic sanding block meant to be held in the palm of your hand:
http://www.toolsource.com/palm-sander-p-58588.html (http://www.toolsource.com/palm-sander-p-58588.html)
http://www.woodessence.com/Mirka-Molded-Palm-Sanding-Block-P126.aspx (http://www.woodessence.com/Mirka-Molded-Palm-Sanding-Block-P126.aspx)
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I believe ive seen mentioned before that many paint stores carry a similar item. Just google palm sanding blocks and it shows a few.
Are they curved to fit the arc of the bowling ball or are they simply flat?
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The ones that I've seen are flat.
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Go to an actual paint store, I just mentioned the google search for some of the options that come up.
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The ones that I've seen are flat.
Kind of what I felt they might be. I've had a Cab Block for years so not looking for myself. A friend of mine is going to get a Vertex Spinner and I saw them on the Vertex site when I was searching for the best price, thus my post in this link.
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You need a block that's curved to the circumference of a bowling ball, not one that's flat. A regular (flat) sanding block is a good way to sand a flat spot on a ball. -- JohnP
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Cab Blocks and the ones Vertex sells are curved to the circumference of a bowling ball. It appears that Innovative's sanding blocks are the same as the ones Vertex has.
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Yes, Taxi Contour Abrasion Blocks (C.A.B.'s) are contoured to the shape of the ball hence the name.
(https://www.ballreviews.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jayhawkbowling.com%2FPro_Shop_Equipment%2FSandpaper___Resurfacing_Suppli%2Ftaxi.jpg&hash=f4cd38762cbda0c0fc4ea9a56c8be3c27c10d32f)
When you google search use the keywords Contour Abrasion Blocks, not palm sanding blocks.
A alternative is the http://www.polishyourball.com/ (http://www.polishyourball.com/) SMart Tools
(https://www.ballreviews.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fecx.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F41VASC4ik3L._SY450_.jpg&hash=7669d55d904d8e9d57c58e76b6302a406d0d0795)