I've been using the N.E.A.T. pads for 4 to 5 months now and last night I figured it was time to give a quick follow up to the original review.


The original set I bought is still going strong. I have a couple of sets and tried a "New vs Old" test and could not tell the difference on the ball or the lane. I still need to get to a scanner to have a legitimate test result, but to my eye, these things sure seem to last a LONG time.


The only downside I see to using the NEAT pads is for deep resurfacing. I tried taking a Motiv Primal TV4 down to a fresh surface this weekend and even the N pad didn't give me what I wanted. I ended up using the 360, 500, 1000, 2000 sequence with abralon instead. The NEAT pads just don't cut enough material away to remove the deeper cuts and nicks all balls get over time and use(at least in a reasonable time frame).


The upside to this is that they are perfect to "refresh" a surface. Especially for a sanded surface that needs a lot more maintenance. I have gotten into the habit of hitting my balls with a quick spin after each league/tournament to give it a fresh new finish. 


I don't know how much life I will get out of the T pad, but it has been used a lot. It still gives a nice finish that is a very good balance between a true high polish and a sanded finish. I would guess it has been used more than 60 times already. The N pad gets the least use as I have stopped "stepping" levels like I did with abralon pads. If I want a 2000 finish, I just go straight to the E pad instead of the N, then the E like I would with abralon.


One odd thing that has resulted from my use of these pads though, I have learned to not leave them attached to the CAB blocks after use. Twice as the pad dried out, it actually pulled the velcro hook surface right off the CAB block. The NEAT pad will curl up if it can and to do so, it will take the velcro with it. Now I just lay them flat and put the CAB block on top of the stack, velcro side up.

I remove my NEAT Pads from my Cab Block every time after done using them and wash under running water plus brushing the pad lightly with a soft tooth brush while the water is running on them.

Hey "Milo",

Maybe your CAB block are too old or have had the pads put on and taken off too often?

I have the E, A and T pads (1500, 2500, 4000 grit) permanently attached to CABs. One is the old original CAB with 5" Velcro on one side and a 3" Velcro on the other (the 3" is great for 3" Trizact foam pads). The other two are the newer, cheaper CABs from Innovative. I've left them on for oh, 4 months now; none of the NEAT pads have pulled off the CAB.

Maybe you should try one or more of the newer Innovative CABs; they're pretty reasonably priced.

Ripping the pads on and off each time you use them has to reduce the longevity of the pad, if only the Velcro portion.

FYI Nice detail. I agree with much all of what you have said. After 40+ uses of the "T" ad, I bought another set just for fear that I had worn it too far. I hadn't; the new set still sits unused next to the spinner. 

One thing find curious is the AMF stuff still shows the NEAT system in their final ball finish. But the 900 Global balls do not mention it. I wonder why?

Didn't Storm get AMF along with 900 Global?

Last Global ball to have a neat finish is the Break Down. AMF, Unreal, Pure, Night Hawk SE, and Decimate all have neat finishes. So one of two things.

1. Global is using finishes on the Storm side on some stuff in SA.

2. More stuff is being made in Utah.

Yea, the ones I have are cheap ones I got off eBay. They are not quality. LOL I've gotten to where I just use a velcro glove instead, except for a deep resurface.

Wow, you find a lot of uses for those velcro gloves of yours.  Good thing you have a large supply of them. 

Quote from: MI 2 AZ on September 22, 2015, 11:47:33 AM

Quote from: milorafferty on September 21, 2015, 01:13:22 PM

Yea, the ones I have are cheap ones I got off eBay. They are not quality. LOL I've gotten to where I just use a velcro glove instead, except for a deep resurface.

Wow, you find a lot of uses for those velcro gloves of yours.  Good thing you have a large supply of them. 

I think you have me confused with 9~ LOL

Oops, you're right, sorry.