While I still hate the idea that NEAT pads cost about $9 each compared to $3 or less for the equivalent SiaAir or Abralon pads, I wanted to try them for myself. So I bought of set of one each of the four from a seller on Ebay.

Here are some thoughts so far.
1. They do seem to do a very good job of sanding. The results are smoother than the equivalent SiaAir or Abralon pad but I do worry a little that the ball's surface is not the same grit level as when done with the other pads. I'm sure the NEAT manufacturer has tested them and wouldn't say they are xxx grit if they weren't.
(They come in P750, P1500, P2500 and P4000 grits.)

2. The ones I got seem to be 5" in diameter, which is smaller than the stock 6" pads from Siaair and Abralon. (Both of the other 2 are made in 5" size; so no big deal.) Cost relative to size and consistency are minor issues.

3. They have a good foam pad in the back that holds water and makes it flexible just like the S and A pads. All good.

4. The abrasive side of each side seems impermeable. I sprayed water on it and it just rolls off. It doesn't seep through to the other side and soak the foam pad. Interesting. While this is slightly different from the others, it only needs a little to get used to it. On the positive side, it makes the resin slurry or dust much easier to rinse off when you're through with the pad.

5. The results on a ball's surface always looks smooth, which is nice.

I have not used them enough to check the durability.

So, so far, except for the price, I hardly see any negatives. If I were much better off financially, I might very well use them all the time for everything. As it is, their purchase was more for curiosity's sake, an expensive test.

Good info.

Ive been curious to try them. Might have to splurge and get a set. If i can pay $200 for a ball, i can pay $40 for a set of pads. Really interesting that they dont absorb a lot of water like the S and A pads. Im guessing the smoother ball surface will last longer because the pads arent as abrasive.

To clarify:
1. The NEAT pad must be abrasive, and as abrasive as the aluminum oxide and silicon carbide on the other two. Otherwise they would not "sand" the ball's surface. What that abrasive is, no one has yet said.

2. The foam backing to the abrasive facing does absorb water.
It just seems like the facing does not let water through it.
(Siaair and Abralon have what appears to be a woven facing, with the abrasive stuck to the weaving threads, almost like Scotch-Brite pads, which technically say they are "non-woven".)
NEAT's facing seems more like a sheet of wet/dry sandpaper, with the foam attached, but that facing is very flexible.

I'll have to do some more checking to confirm that.

In reference to #1, I have not used any less water. I just sprayed the foam backing first to let it hold some water. Then I sprayed just a bit on the front of the pad, but made sure I sprayed some on the ball while pressing the pad. I sprayed more water on the ball than when I use a Siaair or an Abralon pad, but it was similar to the amount I use when I use plain sandpaper.

As for the PBA question, I wouldn't pull out a NEAT pad in front of a regional manager, but then not too many bowlers will sand their balls right then and there. Just kidding. I guess I wouldn't bring a NEAT pad to a regional tourney, in any case. They can be rather strict. Why tempt fate. (I've heard of a manager tearing the label from a players pants because it was not an approved label.)

Thanks Eric!

I really like the NEAT pads. The surface does appear smoother and to me seems to allow the ball to be cleaner through the fronts but giving the grip needed in the mid lane and back ends. Only concern I have compared to an Abralon is they are a little more difficult to hand scuff a ball. They remind me a lot of a piece of material you would use to upholster furniture,just with a textured sanding surface. I still keep a 2000 abralon in my bag for a quick scuff if needed and also a couple scothbrite pads of different grits.

As far as the sanding and PBA. During the practice sessions you can alter as needed following the USBC guidelines.  Just can't alter anything once competition starts.

Quote from: charlest on October 03, 2012, 02:39:14 PM

3. They have a good foam pad in the back that holds water and makes it flexible just like the S and A pads. All good.

Charlest, everything you've observed regarding the NEAT pads are accurate from my experience, except for the above. My NEAT pads are very thin and without foam -- nothing like the backing you find on Abralon.


Is it possible the design has changed over the past 6 months?

Well it's not as thick as Abralon or Siaair but it's not flat by any means. I just used one not 10 minutes ago, and flushed it out with water and rung it out.. I bought my set of 4 about 4-6 months ago and have not used them much except recently, as noted form the time/date stamp of this thread.

The state of yours leads me more to believing they're based on Trizact. My original Trizact pads had/have  no foam whatsoever. About 4 or 5 years ago I discovered a new Trizact pad (P3000 grit) which has foam but much slimmer/shallower than Abralon foam backing. However it looks very different from the NEAT pads.
This is one. It has a gray appearance. Otherwise it is still 6" in diameter:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/3M-6-Trizact-Performance-Sanding-Disc-3000-Grit-01459-/190723274629?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item2c67fe3785&vxp=mtr

This is exactly what the P3000 Trizact looks like:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-3M-02087-Trizact-Hookit-3-P3000-Grit-Foam-Disc-Box-of-15-/180955192192?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item2a21c51b80&vxp=mtr
except this one is 3" in diameter.

I think only Eric Thomas can tell you if the design has changed.

I just learned something about the NEAT pads that I thought I would pass on to everyone. I posted this on BowlingBallExchange in a thread there. Someone pointed me to some data in a similar thread on BowlingChat. This was my reply:

Originally Posted by georgeh
Check this forum post;http://forum.bowlingchat.net/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=6013

Thank you for the reference

I was aware of almost all they mentioned there except for one very interesting fact (which 990Global would never confirm) that I had suspected was true: NEAT pads are made by 3M and uses Trizact as the abrasive.

Interesting, but you would have to get three pads in each grit for a haus machine. Three 1000, three 2000 and three 4000. Almost 100 bucks for 9 pads. Ouch!!!