I wish I knew the answer to that question, but it must have some degree of abrasiveness because some time back, the PBA was considering disallowing the use of micro-fiber towels entirely during competition. That never came to be.

If you press firmly with a micro fiber towel while on a spinner, I'm sure you will change the surface, but how I cannot say.

Obvious sheen is easily acquired with firm pressure.  Would be nice to know where the grit goes.

Don't forget the other side of the coin: there are 49 different types of micro fiber towels, each with a different feel and a different purpose. Therefore a different abrasiveness. If someone tests 1 or 2, then someone else will ask, "But what about this one?".

Something to test with my ball surface scanner this afternoon!!!!!!!!! 

Thank you!

Quote from: charlest on June 18, 2013, 10:43:40 AM

Quote from: onlybowling on June 18, 2013, 10:03:56 AM

Obvious sheen is easily acquired with firm pressure.  Would be nice to know where the grit goes.

Don't forget the other side of the coin: there are 49 different types of micro fiber towels, each with a different feel and a different purpose. Therefore a different abrasiveness. If someone tests 1 or 2, then someone else will ask, "But what about this one?".

49? Charlest, you wow even me with your knowledge sometimes.

Ah yes... the subtle art of online sarcasm...

FWIW -
 http://www.900global.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=77

The above link is to the 900 Global finishing process steps and it mentions nothing about microfiber towels specifically.  I find it unlikely that they are using anything other than plain terry cloth towels...

OK THE PURELY UNSCIENFIC RESULTS ARE IN 
NIB Storm Manic. Out of box 4000 grit Abralon finish is the factory. Actual reading on a PAI Ball surface scanner.
Results estimated grit average 3794
Used a Storm Micro Fiber towel on a Innovative ball spinner high speed for 15 seconds heavy pressure
Results estimated grit average 4010
no noticeable change as far as I'm concerned

OK THE PURELY UNSCIENFIC RESULTS ARE IN 
NIB Storm Manic. Out of box 4000 grit Abralon finish is the factory. Actual reading on a PAI Ball surface scanner.
Results estimated grit average 3794
Used a Storm Micro Fiber towel on a Innovative ball spinner high speed for 15 seconds heavy pressure
Results estimated grit average 4010
no noticeable change as far as I'm concerned

That is a minimal change, but it is a change.
Thank you again!

One other material you might want to test: Newspaper.
I was told by JustRico that it is an old PBA-truck trick to get an even finer grit level beyond 4000 grit: use newspaper to "sand" the ball after using a 4000 grit pad.
Newspaper is theoretically 20K grit. Of course, as one fellow on BBE.com learned, if you use it too firmly, it puts a shine on the ball. So it is definitely abrading the ball's surface.

My friend dampened it to use over the 4000 grit on his RG Wrecker.

Just a personal opinion, I can't imagine a micro towel doing anything noticeable to a lower grit surface as much as the higher grits. I don't think a towel would affect to rougher surface enough to warrent to time it would take!