Author Topic: Lane Shine question (Read 14451 times)

lilpossum1 · « **on:** November 08, 2014, 05:41:41 PM »

Idk if this is the right section, but can someone give me a detailed explanation of the term "lane shine?" I know the lanes wear polish off of polished balls, and give Sanded balls a more polished look. Is there a grit range that the balls settle at depending on the friction of a lane surface?

Aloarjr810 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 08, 2014, 06:41:08 PM »

Quote from: lilpossum1 on November 08, 2014, 05:41:41 PM

Is there a grit range that the balls settle at depending on the friction of a lane surface?

Yes ball surfaces will change with use, polished balls will get duller and dull balls will shine up.

The general rule of thumb was that the balls surface would wind up about a 600 US grit surface.

Now this was more when it was mostly wood lanes, because they have a lot more texture than synthetics.

Now I believe they have now changed this to about 800 grit (which is 1500 Fepa). Do to the synthetic lane surfaces and the change of coverstock materials.

charlest · « **Reply #2 on:** November 08, 2014, 07:41:22 PM »

Lane or oil shine is when the oil gets embedded into the surface of the ball and makes it look like it is still polished. The last report I read is that synthetic lanes will take an untouched ball to about the 2000 grit FEPA level. If you use a good cleaner to remove the oil shine, you will find a dull ball (or track) under that supposed "shine".

That is why, although it appears to the naked eye to be shined, it is NOT shined/polished any longer and has been dulled down to approximately 2000 grit (it could be 1500 grit or 2500 grit FEPA; it makes no difference because it is dull now). It needs to be re-polished, or better yet, it needs to be re-sanded to the proper grit level and then re-polished.

Juggernaut · « **Reply #3 on:** November 09, 2014, 06:04:18 AM »

Not trying to hijack, but what if the factory surface finish is 600grit sanded with 2000grit polish?

If the lane settles the ball at 2000 grit, but the ball came NIB with a 2000polish finish, does it still need to be re sanded to 600, then re polished back to 2000?

charlest · « **Reply #4 on:** November 09, 2014, 07:07:21 AM »

Quote from: Juggernaut on November 09, 2014, 06:04:18 AM

Not trying to hijack, but what if the factory surface finish is 600grit sanded with 2000grit polish?

If the lane settles the ball at 2000 grit, but the ball came NIB with a 2000polish finish, does it still need to be re sanded to 600, then re polished back to 2000?

2000 grit polish does not give you a 2000 grit finish. The old Columbia balls were often given a finish specified like that. A 2000 grit polish (or for that matter any polish with a specified grit level) does not, cannot give you a result with a 2000 grit finish. Balls finished with polish will almost always wind up with the surface being in the 5000 - 5500 grit FEPA range

Also remember that "600" grit was 600 grit CAMI which is closer to 1200 grit FEPA; so probably that "2000" grit was also a CAMI specification which translates to a 4000 grit FEPA, which is closer to the truth but doesn't really hit it.

As an example of the above, if you keep using a 4000 grit (Abralon or Siaair) pad beyond its3-5 uses, you will find that it will start to put a shine on the ball. A new 4000 grit pad leaves a ball dull or matte. That shine is evidence that the abrasive of the the new 4000 pad is probably in the 5000 grit range and has been worn beyond its intended use.

Aloarjr810 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 09, 2014, 08:33:00 AM »

Quote from: Juggernaut on November 09, 2014, 06:04:18 AM

If the lane settles the ball at 2000 grit,

One thing to remember also is that 2000 grit is just a approximation, a general rule of thumb.

Lane type, oil conditions etc. will affect what it really is, there could be a big variance +/- on that 2000 grit.

Also the wear pattern won't necessarily be consistent all around the ball. So you still would have to resurface the ball.

Juggernaut · « **Reply #6 on:** November 09, 2014, 01:27:19 PM »

Thanks guys. The ball I am using is an AMF Hype reactive, and all it says is 600 grit with 2000 grit polish.

I don't think I have ever used a gritted polish. Where do you get that?

charlest · « **Reply #7 on:** November 09, 2014, 02:00:51 PM »

Quote from: Juggernaut on November 09, 2014, 01:27:19 PM

Thanks guys. The ball I am using is an AMF Hype reactive, and all it says is 600 grit with 2000 grit polish.

I don't think I have ever used a gritted polish. Where do you get that?

I don't think you ever used a polish without some abrasive in it.

That's how they take surfaces from 500, 1000 or 2000 grit to 5000 and 5000+ grit, which is the grit level at which most polished balls' surface exist. Right now, to my knowledge point, Motiv Gel polish has the least abrasive in it. Lane#1's Secret Sauce has the most abrasive in it. (I consider Royal Compound, formerly known as Rough Buff, and Storm's Step2 to be "compounds", not polishes, although when they take a surface to that 5000 grit plateau, the ball will take on a shine.)

Those polishes which people term "non-abrasive" have the least amount of abrasive in them, but all polishes have abrasive to a lesser or greater degree. Remember that polish is NOT a coating like polyurethane or varnish or lacquer. It is a smoothing out of the highest peaks of the surface to at least 5000 grit. That's the point (grit level) where a surface begins to shine, to look polished.

Juggernaut · « **Reply #8 on:** November 09, 2014, 02:23:43 PM »

Well, about the only thing they have around here anymore is that 3M Finesse or Finesse it.

After a couple of balls seemed to not react well after a few treatments with that, I'm kind of afraid to use it on anything else.

charlest · « **Reply #9 on:** November 09, 2014, 04:30:28 PM »

Quote from: Juggernaut on November 09, 2014, 02:23:43 PM

Well, about the only thing they have around here anymore is that 3M Finesse or Finesse it.

After a couple of balls seemed to not react well after a few treatments with that, I'm kind of afraid to use it on anything else.

What about all the regular bowling ball-specific polishes?
Valentino's Snake Oil is one of the best. Powerhouse's Factory Finish is excellent, as is Storm's Xtra Shine, Neo-Tac's Renew It, Brunswick's Royal Shine.

I have not had any problem's using Finesse-It, but I prefer bowling ball polishes for consistency and longevity.

Aloarjr810 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 09, 2014, 06:28:34 PM »

Quote from: Juggernaut on November 09, 2014, 02:23:43 PM

Well, about the only thing they have around here anymore is that 3M Finesse or Finesse it.

After a couple of balls seemed to not react well after a few treatments with that, I'm kind of afraid to use it on anything else.

About Finesse it, in a old BTM issue (one of the few where they talked about different polishes.

They said Finesse it contained ceramic particles that would imbed in the pores of a ball.

If that's true then, it could be that with repeated applications. Those particles may have build up and be whats affecting the reaction.

I'll look through my old issues and see if it says any more.

MI 2 AZ · « **Reply #11 on:** November 10, 2014, 02:17:22 AM »

I've seen Perfect-it. What is the difference between that and Finesse-it?

charlest · « **Reply #12 on:** November 10, 2014, 04:41:39 AM »

Quote from: MI 2 AZ on November 10, 2014, 02:17:22 AM

I've seen Perfect-it. What is the difference between that and Finesse-it?

Here's the 3M web pages for some of them; you decide:
Perfect-It:http://3mcollision.com/products/featured-products/3m-perfect-it-paint-finishing-system
Finesse-It: http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/3MIndustrial/Abrasives/Products/~/3M-Finesse-it-Polish?N=7581719+3294228489&rt=rud

J_w73 · « **Reply #13 on:** November 10, 2014, 12:28:25 PM »

Quote from: charlest on November 09, 2014, 02:00:51 PM

Those polishes which people term "non-abrasive" have the least amount of abrasive in them, but all polishes have abrasive to a lesser or greater degree. Remember that polish is NOT a coating like polyurethane or varnish or lacquer. It is a smoothing out of the highest peaks of the surface to at least 5000 grit. That's the point (grit level) where a surface begins to shine, to look polished.

+1000.. thank you for saying this. Many people misunderstand what a polish is. I think because of things like turtle wax. It is a car polish with fine abrasive particles to put a shine on the car surface, but it also contains wax to protect the car finish. An abrasive polish without additives can not be "put on" and "taken off" the ball. It just changes the surface of the ball like any other sand paper or abrasive pad, just at a very fine grit. There are some polishing products that do contain waxes, silicones, and other slip additives though. I use a pure polishing powder so that I do not have to deal with wondering if what I am using has any additional additives in it.

Good Times Good Times · « **Reply #14 on:** November 10, 2014, 12:31:40 PM »

Finesse It has always been one of my favorite polishes. I like it as well as Snake Oil.

Author Topic: Lane Shine question (Read 14451 times)

lilpossum1

Lane Shine question

Aloarjr810

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charlest

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Juggernaut

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charlest

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MI 2 AZ

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Good Times Good Times

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