I would like to start modifying ball surfaces by hand as I don't own a spinner and trips to the pro shop can get time consuming. My question is which product has proven to be one of the best for modifying ball surfaces by hand?

I have a few I would like to just knock the polish off of and some I want to take to say 500 and step up to 2000.

Abralon or SiaAir pads.

Take a look at Mirka Mirlon Total available on Amazon. 4.5"x9" 3 pad packs of 360, 1500 and 2500.  I maintain using one of these Mirka Mirlon Total pads made for dry usage is way better and less costly than SIAair or abralon that are made for wet usage and load up when used dry.  Use Mirka Mirlon Total in a see-saw and you have a good cross hatch and easily touched up before every league set or session plus it won't pull off as much coverstock as those that use spinners with medium to firm pressure over time.

Mirka Mirlon Total is what is used in a Turbo Sandbagger

Quote from: scotts33 on August 16, 2016, 09:06:05 AM

Take a look at Mirka Mirlon Total available on Amazon. 4.5"x9" 3 pad packs of 360, 1500 and 2500.  I maintain using one of these Mirka Mirlon Total pads made for dry usage is way better and less costly than SIAair or abralon that are made for wet usage and load up when used dry.  Use Mirka Mirlon Total in a see-saw and you have a good cross hatch and easily touched up before every league set or session plus it won't pull off as much coverstock as those that use spinners with medium to firm pressure over time.

Mirka Mirlon Total is what is used in a Turbo Sandbagger

Interesting! What would you suggest for obtaining something between 360 and 1500 being that it is a decent jump?

Personally, I never see enough volume where I need the ball to read any earlier than what 1500 will give me.  Scotch brite comes in various grits make sure you are comparing apples to apples FEPA or US/CAMI. 

Quote from: scotts33 on August 16, 2016, 10:59:21 AM

Quote from: AlonzoHarris on August 16, 2016, 10:52:22 AM

Quote from: scotts33 on August 16, 2016, 09:06:05 AM

Take a look at Mirka Mirlon Total available on Amazon. 4.5"x9" 3 pad packs of 360, 1500 and 2500.  I maintain using one of these Mirka Mirlon Total pads made for dry usage is way better and less costly than SIAair or abralon that are made for wet usage and load up when used dry.  Use Mirka Mirlon Total in a see-saw and you have a good cross hatch and easily touched up before every league set or session plus it won't pull off as much coverstock as those that use spinners with medium to firm pressure over time.

Mirka Mirlon Total is what is used in a Turbo Sandbagger

Interesting! What would you suggest for obtaining something between 360 and 1500 being that it is a decent jump?

Personally, I never see enough volume where I need the ball to read any earlier than what 1500 will give me.  Scotch brite comes in various grits make sure you are comparing apples to apples FEPA or US/CAMI.

Do you know if ball manufacturers use FEPA or US/CAMI?

In general FEPA.   Ball manufacturers use Haus or a Haus type machine for doing surfaces which revolves at a much lower rpm than a spinner.  This is why spinners never can replicate OOB surfaces.   Crosshatching with a see saw or sandbagger or by hand gets much closer than a spinner at high rpm.  If you have seen a Haus machine resurfacing at your pro shop and then compare to a spinner one would understand this fact. 

IMO the bowler needs to try various grits and finishes on various balls on the conditions they face the most and see what works and what doesn't.  Add that to various hand positions and rolls with varying ball speeds and you can conquer many different lane conditions and not have to carry 8 balls with you to a league or tourney.