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Author Topic: Abralon Pad Life  (Read 8715 times)

Norm3v

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Abralon Pad Life
« on: October 27, 2010, 04:59:29 PM »
Hey everyone, sorry if this topic has been posted before but I couldn't find it on here.

Do you guys know the average life expectancy of an Abralon pad? Any tips to cleaning them or prolonging their desired cut? I just bought a spinner and I heard they dont last much past 6 balls, and now I can see why. My pro shop guy said to always count how many times you use it, and I was thinking of taking that a step further and putting a marker mark on them for every time used. Do you guys clean them in water and/or soapy water to get the grime out? I dont want to use a 500 pad thats actually a 1000, 2000 thats actually a 4000, etc. etc.
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adcwsdad

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Re: Abralon Pad Life
« Reply #1 on: November 13, 2010, 09:22:16 PM »
Your pro shop guy is right. Keep track of the number of uses for each pad. I use a Sharpie. Wet sanding provides lubrication and helps to keeep your Abralon pads fresher. As far as wet sanding, I tried the Smart Pro from Polish Your Ball (www.polishyourball.com). It works great with my ball spinner. Just a few sprays of water with a squirt bottle was all that was needed. This helped to cut down on splatter to virtually nothing. I found that my pads last longer than by just holding the pads in my hand. Plus I was able to acheive a more consistent finish also. Hint the higher the # grit of the Abralon, the smaller the amount water that is needed for wet sanding.
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cosmo

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Re: Abralon Pad Life
« Reply #2 on: March 16, 2011, 08:48:48 AM »
 
As a follow up to this, as these pads are used do they "transistion" towards higher # grits? 
do the 1000 eventually become closer to 2000 and 2000-> 4000?
 
 
 



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charlest

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Re: Abralon Pad Life
« Reply #3 on: March 16, 2011, 07:47:31 PM »
In general, yes.
 
cosmo wrote on 3/16/2011 8:48 AM:
 
As a follow up to this, as these pads are used do they "transistion" towards higher # grits? 
do the 1000 eventually become closer to 2000 and 2000-> 4000?
 
 
 



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DukeHarding

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Re: Abralon Pad Life
« Reply #4 on: March 17, 2011, 10:00:44 AM »
Yes,they do.
I buy used Abralon pads from a pro shop...500 is 1000, 1000 grit is 2000, 2000 is 4000, etc. You can develop a feel for the grit and come pretty close to what you want.
I use Green Scotch Brite, then 1000 (which is 2000) on all my equipment. Rarely use 4000 grit...I rarely use polish, being a lefty.
cosmo wrote on 3/16/2011 8:48 AM:
 
As a follow up to this, as these pads are used do they "transistion" towards higher # grits? 
do the 1000 eventually become closer to 2000 and 2000-> 4000?
 
 
 



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Duke Harding

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azguy

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Re: Abralon Pad Life
« Reply #5 on: May 22, 2011, 06:34:13 AM »
Not a hard and fast rule but I use a pad normally 4-6 times depending on the grit and then I mark it as the next grit 'finer'. If you plan on using them I'd suggest getting a small nail brush, kmart/walmart/target, and I scrub them after each side of the ball. Just rinsing them in water will not loosen all the "ball material" off the pad.  A sharpie will not come off in the water so I use that to mark the pad.

 

I'm also cheap. Once the pad is past it's life, I turn it over and if a polish is needed then I'll use the pad side to apply it. Again, I'm cheap so I'll try to use them as long as I can for doing jobs that need to be done. It's a 'feel thing' but U use a worn out 2000 with cleaner ( VERY light pressure) and it takes off all marks and cleans very good. LIGHT pressure or you'll change the grit.

 

Hope this helps.



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T C 300

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Re: Abralon Pad Life
« Reply #6 on: May 22, 2011, 08:42:01 PM »
the first few times ( 5 ish), you can tell your cutting into the ball pretty good....
 
after that its not the same... i still use those pads "by hand" and get great results....
i have went back to sand paper for when i need to cut into the ball bit, then go to ab 
even sandpaper works pretty good by hand!!  dont rub to hard...  lol


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