Does anyone have any guidance on how to repair scratches or gouges to the surface of a ball? Is it as simple as just resurfacing the coverstock? If so, is there a certain technique or method that works best?

Depending on the deepness, which I am guessing looking at these that they aren't super deep, a good resurface where you start with a super low grit and do a 4 inch in diameter sanding circle (on the spinner) directly over the scratch and move outward in sanding radius diameter while moving up in grit would be best until the whole ball is resurfaced. Some people like using bevels and then sand, but that can leave flat spots and isn't suggested for anything in the track area, but still can be done well.

If you don't have a spinner, there are a couple products that are sprays that fill in the gap like super glue, but I still believe they need some form of sanding.

If the scratches are super deep, then you would need a drill and plug, which also requires sanding.

Thanks for the guidance. Correct, the scratches are not super deep. The ball in pic #2 is deeper than pic #1. A few additional questions for clarification:

1) I'm assuming when you're suggesting to do it on the spinner that the spinner is turned on? I've seen some people previously suggest to put the ball on the spinner but sand the ball by hand.

2) What would be considered a super low grit? 180?

3) Can you please clarify what you mean by sanding a circle 4 inch in diameter directly over the scratch and move outward in sanding radius diameter? Are you saying that the super low grit would only be used on the scratch area and not the rest of the ball?

Thanks again for your help.

Quote from: Bigpoppa3000 on April 10, 2018, 03:05:36 PM

Depending on the deepness, which I am guessing looking at these that they aren't super deep, a good resurface where you start with a super low grit and do a 4 inch in diameter sanding circle (on the spinner) directly over the scratch and move outward in sanding radius diameter while moving up in grit would be best until the whole ball is resurfaced. Some people like using bevels and then sand, but that can leave flat spots and isn't suggested for anything in the track area, but still can be done well.

If you don't have a spinner, there are a couple products that are sprays that fill in the gap like super glue, but I still believe they need some form of sanding.

If the scratches are super deep, then you would need a drill and plug, which also requires sanding.

Thanks for the guidance. Correct, the scratches are not super deep. The ball in pic #2 is deeper than pic #1. A few additional questions for clarification:

1) I'm assuming when you're suggesting to do it on the spinner that the spinner is turned on? I've seen some people previously suggest to put the ball on the spinner but sand the ball by hand.

2) What would be considered a super low grit? 180?

3) Can you please clarify what you mean by sanding a circle 4 inch in diameter directly over the scratch and move outward in sanding radius diameter? Are you saying that the super low grit would only be used on the scratch area and not the rest of the ball?

Thanks again for your help.

180 is a good start, or if you have a scuff pad or 120 grit sandpaper that could work too. When I say 4 inch diameter, I mean as put the scratch as the center of the spinning axis when it's on the spinner, do it's not moving around and right in the middle while it's spinning. Then, take the low grit and put it directly on the scratch while the ball is spinning and move out about 2-3 inches so you get a hockey puck sized scuff (or do just the size of an abralon pad if thats what youre using). Then, as your moving up in grits, make the circle bigger until it encompasses the whole ball, probably around the 1000 grit is a good interval to get the whole ball, where everything else is in between. Then, you can just resurface the other half of the ball regularly and then apply your desired end surface over the ball regularly.

+1 on what bullred said.  --  JohnP

and by the way, Im guessing that is a hyroad pearl on the bottom, one of my favorite balls of all time. Instead of polishing it, you can just throw it to 4000 grit and with a little lane shine, it becomes one of the smoothest angular balls on the planet. Just a suggestion since you have a spinner .