You are never going to duplicate a factory surface with a spinner. Why use pads that cost $3 or $4 each just to sand a ball. If the paper is good enough to wet sand paint on a car it is more than good enough to get an acceptable surface on a bowling ball.
Mike,
I think there are several reasons why people use Abralon, Siaair and Neat pads over wet/dry sandpaper.
1. The Manufacturers seem to have converted to these devices for the most part as their stock surfaces.
2. They are much easier and safer to use than wet/dry sandpaper. Their size and foam backing make them almost idiot proof. Ive seen far too many pro shops who are experienced in finishing balls, no less inexperienced bowlers use wet/dry sandpaper until there was literally nothing left of the paper. By that time, who knows what the final finish was. Of course, that doesn't stop people from doing the same thing with the pads. An idiot is an idiot.
2B. These pads, although they can be very expensive, are soooo easy to use wet or dry.
3. We don't necessarily all need (or want) to replicate the factory finish. I doubt if the factory finish is the best finish for most people with most balls, even if they say they want it. Personally, I'll often just try the ball at the factory finish just to see what the reactions is, but I rarely leave it there. Since I'm rev dominant, small changes to the surface can mean more to me than for a matched or a speed dominant player.
I think car surfaces are much more sensitive to appearance and the final sanding than bowling balls are. Thankfully I haven't had to sand much of any of last few new cars, but then I'm not in the detailing or car painting business. That said, I have used Trizact to remove scratches from windshield.
