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Author Topic: Tips on Polishing  (Read 24356 times)

CoorZero

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Tips on Polishing
« on: October 30, 2019, 03:36:11 PM »
So, I'm not sure if it's me or maybe just the polish that I'm using (Motiv Power Gel and Power Gloss) but it seems that I can't get a good shine on the ball. Sanding on the spinner is a breeze and makes maintaining and cleaning up surface so much easier.

However, polishing skills elude me. I feel like I'm doing it right - shake polish, squirt some on the ball, rub it in a little, apply with microfiber cloth while spinner is on, remove excess before going to a different side. The results are kind of meh though. My spinner is a 1/2 HP Vertex so I should be good there.

What's your normal (successful) process for polishing a ball? Is temperature a factor? Does it have to be layered on/done multiple times?
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Impending Doom

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Re: Tips on Polishing
« Reply #1 on: October 30, 2019, 03:53:51 PM »
Temperature is totally a factor. The grit that you're trying to take it down from matters too. Trying to polish a 1000 grit ball is going to be much harder than a 4000 grit.

The more pressure you apply to the polish rag or whatever you're using to polish, the more you're going to affect the surface of the ball. If you want glossy, that ball should be warm after you're done with one side.
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BowlingForDonuts

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Re: Tips on Polishing
« Reply #2 on: October 30, 2019, 03:58:23 PM »
Key with Motiv Power Gloss is not to use too much (really clogs up pad quick)  and don't be afraid to do 45 seconds or even longer a side if really want a mirror shine (also usually do at least four sides if going for super length).  I turn my polish pad (use blue ones with sponge in middle get at Walmart auto section for car polishing) like 90 degrees every 15 seconds as well.
« Last Edit: October 30, 2019, 04:02:06 PM by BowlingForDonuts »
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Jesse James

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Re: Tips on Polishing
« Reply #3 on: October 30, 2019, 04:04:30 PM »
Quote from: CoorZero on October 30, 2019, 03:36:11 PM
So, I'm not sure if it's me or maybe just the polish that I'm using (Motiv Power Gel and Power Gloss) but it seems that I can't get a good shine on the ball. Sanding on the spinner is a breeze and makes maintaining and cleaning up surface so much easier.

However, polishing skills elude me. I feel like I'm doing it right - shake polish, squirt some on the ball, rub it in a little, apply with microfiber cloth while spinner is on, remove excess before going to a different side. The results are kind of meh though. My spinner is a 1/2 HP Vertex so I should be good there.

What's your normal (successful) process for polishing a ball? Is temperature a factor? Does it have to be layered on/done multiple times?

Don't feel bad though! You're doing it right!!

You are definitely not the first person to have a hard time with that Motiv Gloss. don't know why but it just takes a lot more work to get it to the shine you want!

My favorite polishes are The Secret Sauce, Powerhouse factory finish, and UFO, in that order. They tend to give you a mirror finish with very little effort!
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dizzyfugu

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Re: Tips on Polishing
« Reply #4 on: October 31, 2019, 04:17:51 AM »
Personally, I love 3M car body finishingrubbing compound as a high gloss polish. Absolutely no silicones included, and the stuff reveals a pure (and tacky) surface with a shiny polish.
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BowlingForDonuts

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Re: Tips on Polishing
« Reply #5 on: October 31, 2019, 11:33:48 AM »
Quote from: dizzyfugu on October 31, 2019, 04:17:51 AM
Personally, I love 3M car body finishingrubbing compound as a high gloss polish. Absolutely no silicones included, and the stuff reveals a pure (and tacky) surface with a shiny polish.

Yeah auto body supplies are remarkably useful on bowling balls for sure (turtle wax will make virtually any ball go straight lol).  Of course with the USBC here in the states big on the shakedown racket of bowling suppliers for $, we have to be careful what we use or can technically get disqualified.
« Last Edit: October 31, 2019, 05:27:22 PM by BowlingForDonuts »
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Good Times Good Times

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Re: Tips on Polishing
« Reply #6 on: October 31, 2019, 03:54:35 PM »
I use Storm Xtra Shine...........I put a dollop on the back of an abralon pad (the red side) that is completely used and done.

Works for me on the spinner.  I do 2 sides about 20 seconds each.

I don't tend to use a ton of polish in general though I do bowl in an environment on Friday nights that calls for it.  I will take a used 4000 pad and just touch the surface with it when I'm done polishing. 
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charlest

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Re: Tips on Polishing
« Reply #7 on: November 02, 2019, 04:17:04 PM »
Quote from: Good Times Good Times on October 31, 2019, 03:54:35 PM
I use Storm Xtra Shine...........I put a dollop on the back of an Abralon pad (the red side) that is completely used and done.

Works for me on the spinner.  I do 2 sides about 20 seconds each.

This process works for me also. I tend to do 2 sides rather 4 or 6.

Power Gel polish has, in the past, been among the less abrasive polishes. (Remember that polish is just a micro abrasive in suspension.) This is good because it allows you to make many steps along the way from an almost imitation of a 4000 grit dull look up to a gloss polish (with effort).

So, for the most part, I tried Power Gel but rarely used it myself. Among my favorites were Impending Doom's Storm Xtra Shine, Ebonite's/Powerhouse Factory Finish polish and Lane Master's polish.

The back of a used Abralon or SiaAir pad makes an excellent applicator. Once I used one, I never used any other.

Personally, I put about a quarter sized dollop on a dampened (squeezed dry)  pad, spread it across the top half of the ball, BEFORE I turn the spinner on, then turn it on slow speed. Then press with medium pressure. If you start with 1500 grit or 2000 grit base, you should a shine developing after 15-20 seconds more or less. Then buff the cloud off with a microfiber towel. If you start with 500-1000 grit base, putting a shine on will take slightly more time or polish or pressure. Starting with 3000 or 4000 grit base, it will take less of each.
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Impending Doom

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Re: Tips on Polishing
« Reply #8 on: November 02, 2019, 08:28:39 PM »
Quote from: charlest on November 02, 2019, 04:17:04 PM
Quote from: Good Times Good Times on October 31, 2019, 03:54:35 PM
I use Storm Xtra Shine...........I put a dollop on the back of an Abralon pad (the red side) that is completely used and done.

Works for me on the spinner.  I do 2 sides about 20 seconds each.

This process works for me also. I tend to do 2 sides rather 4 or 6.

Power Gel polish has, in the past, been among the less abrasive polishes. (Remember that polish is just a micro abrasive in suspension.) This is good because it allows you to make many steps along the way from an almost imitation of a 4000 grit dull look up to a gloss polish (with effort).

So, for the most part, I tried Power Gel but rarely used it myself. Among my favorites were Impending Doom's Storm Xtra Shine, Ebonite's/Powerhouse Factory Finish polish and Lane Master's polish.

The back of a used Abralon or SiaAir pad makes an excellent applicator. Once I used one, I never used any other.

Personally, I put about a quarter sized dollop on a dampened (squeezed dry)  pad, spread it across the top half of the ball, BEFORE I turn the spinner on, then turn it on slow speed. Then press with medium pressure. If you start with 1500 grit or 2000 grit base, you should a shine developing after 15-20 seconds more or less. Then buff the cloud off with a microfiber towel. If you start with 500-1000 grit base, putting a shine on will take slightly more time or polish or pressure. Starting with 3000 or 4000 grit base, it will take less of each.

I see what you did there, sir. Well played.

I honestly am out of the polish game. Abrasives, I got that down cold. Last time I was using polish daily in a pro shop, I was using hook it, control it, clean and dull (pre ebonite days), factory finish and extender polish. Now it seems like I may need a flow sheet.

After I get my press and spinner, I need supplies.
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CoorZero

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Re: Tips on Polishing
« Reply #9 on: November 02, 2019, 11:01:08 PM »
Thank you thank you thank you all for the responses. Looks like bringing the spinner in out of the (getting) cold garage and spending more time with pressure on the ball is doing the trick with the two Motiv polishes.

Will look into using the back of an abralon pad or something similar as an applicator. I'm using the Mirka Mirlon pads to sand right now and they're working great.
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charlest

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Re: Tips on Polishing
« Reply #10 on: November 03, 2019, 07:01:27 AM »
Quote from: Impending Doom on November 02, 2019, 08:28:39 PM
Quote from: charlest on November 02, 2019, 04:17:04 PM
Quote from: Good Times Good Times on October 31, 2019, 03:54:35 PM
I use Storm Xtra Shine...........I put a dollop on the back of an Abralon pad (the red side) that is completely used and done.

Works for me on the spinner.  I do 2 sides about 20 seconds each.

This process works for me also. I tend to do 2 sides rather 4 or 6.

Power Gel polish has, in the past, been among the less abrasive polishes. (Remember that polish is just a micro abrasive in suspension.) This is good because it allows you to make many steps along the way from an almost imitation of a 4000 grit dull look up to a gloss polish (with effort).

So, for the most part, I tried Power Gel but rarely used it myself. Among my favorites were Impending Doom's Storm Xtra Shine, Ebonite's/Powerhouse Factory Finish polish and Lane Master's polish.

The back of a used Abralon or SiaAir pad makes an excellent applicator. Once I used one, I never used any other.

Personally, I put about a quarter sized dollop on a dampened (squeezed dry)  pad, spread it across the top half of the ball, BEFORE I turn the spinner on, then turn it on slow speed. Then press with medium pressure. If you start with 1500 grit or 2000 grit base, you should a shine developing after 15-20 seconds more or less. Then buff the cloud off with a microfiber towel. If you start with 500-1000 grit base, putting a shine on will take slightly more time or polish or pressure. Starting with 3000 or 4000 grit base, it will take less of each.

I see what you did there, sir. Well played.

I honestly am out of the polish game. Abrasives, I got that down cold. Last time I was using polish daily in a pro shop, I was using hook it, control it, clean and dull (pre ebonite days), factory finish and extender polish. Now it seems like I may need a flow sheet.

After I get my press and spinner, I need supplies.

Be thankful that either your speed or your bowling in centers that provide a decent amount of oil ALLOWS you to use abrasives, rather than polishes. I have often regretted both my lack of speed and that local center choose to use so very little oil. I have to use a very mild ball to use it at 4000 or 5000 grit dull.

Thus I learned how to use polish at an early bowling age, out of sheer necessity.
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