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Author Topic: Desperado (and LE) Covers  (Read 2817 times)

DaveW

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Desperado (and LE) Covers
« on: January 10, 2012, 10:12:43 AM »
For any of you out there with either Desperado ..
 
I just drilled a new Desp up and OOB its a good bit stronger than my previous one. 
 
I'd been using abralon pads more recently to change surfaces, but when I tried them on urethane they just didn't cut it. (See what I did there?)
 
Anyway, i went back to the good old wet 'n' dry glass paper that I used first time round, and this was much better for changing the surface of the Desps, and significantly cut down overall hook, making the ball far more useable for a slower speed higher rev player such as myself. 
 
I would recommend 600, 800, 1000, 1200, and then 1500. I don't think 2000 would really do much more to the surface.
 
This has probably been discussed, or you probably all know, but since a lot of shops or home users are using abralon or similar, I thought it was worth reiterating. 


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charlest

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Re: Desperado (and LE) Covers
« Reply #1 on: January 10, 2012, 10:13:24 PM »
Abralon uses the same silicon carbide abrasive that wet/dry sandpaper uses. This stuff (silicon carbide) is VERY hard.That is why it is used as an abrasive world wide on almost everything.
 
The reason why sandpaper is better than modern sanding materials, like Abralon and Siaair, especially for the sanding of hard materials like urethane is that it is available in all grits that are needed to take a ball up, numerically, in finer and finer degrees of sanding, while Abralon makes larger numeric jumps(360 - 500 - 1000 -1500 - 2000). Sandpaper is available in smaller increments: 220 - 240 - 280 - 360 - 440 - 500 - 600 - 800 -1000 - 1200 - 1500 - etc.


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DaveW

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Re: Desperado (and LE) Covers
« Reply #2 on: January 11, 2012, 03:59:28 AM »
That's a good point Charlest. 
 
I'm not sure if it scientific fact, but the fact the paper has no padding always made me think it cut better. The padding is bound to spread the pressure you exert, albeit a small amount.
 
I think I maybe got lazy changing surface on softer covers, and  I showed the harder urethane less mercy by starting lower.
 
I think also that because you pay a little more for the pads you maybe tend to use them past their useful lifespan in comparison to paper. Really gota stop being so tight!


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Impending Doom

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Re: Desperado (and LE) Covers
« Reply #3 on: January 11, 2012, 06:48:54 AM »
Dave, I think you hit the nail right on the head. My Hype Urethanes are silly hard to change the surface on. I need to actually buy myself a spinner, and then go out and get all the surface management tools I need to work on them. Resin cuts so easily that I forget how we used to sand urethane. 320 sandpaper is unheard of nowadays as a cover, but back in the day, we used to use it like people use 500 Abralon now. 
 
Glad to know that the surface on the Desperado is similar to what I'm working with with my Hypes.. 


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charlest

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Re: Desperado (and LE) Covers
« Reply #4 on: January 11, 2012, 09:21:04 AM »
I think it's just the new Desperado LE which is very hard, like the Hype. I was never able to get a true shine on my Hype. Whereas the original (pearlized urethane) Desperado was also a 4000 grit matte finish (supposedly the same as the Hype), I got a true medium gloss shine on the Desperado fairly easily (for a urethane, that is).
 
Impending Doom wrote on 1/11/2012 7:48 AM:
Dave, I think you hit the nail right on the head. My Hype Urethanes are silly hard to change the surface on. I need to actually buy myself a spinner, and then go out and get all the surface management tools I need to work on them. Resin cuts so easily that I forget how we used to sand urethane. 320 sandpaper is unheard of nowadays as a cover, but back in the day, we used to use it like people use 500 Abralon now. 
 
Glad to know that the surface on the Desperado is similar to what I'm working with with my Hypes.. 


*Inventor of the FIBJAM*

 
The sky is falling
The end is near
The final warning
The sun disappears. 
 
My arsenal
 


"None are so blind as those who will not see."

 
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RyanRPS

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Re: Desperado (and LE) Covers
« Reply #5 on: January 11, 2012, 12:00:53 PM »
Charlest, remember that the original Desperado had silicon in it, so didnt have the typical urethane properties, where as the LE is very close to the cover on the Hype Urethane, both being comprised mainly of basic urethane, however the LE has a "smidgen" of plastisizor.
 
One way to get a shine on Urethane is to get it to a very low temperature, but I do not advise this if you want to keep the whole ball as one piece! :) 


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charlest

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Re: Desperado (and LE) Covers
« Reply #6 on: January 11, 2012, 12:31:40 PM »
Ryan,
 
I guarantee that I have not forgotten about the silicon in the Pearl Desperado. I did not mention that while we were talking about polishing urethane becaus I cannot say that that was THE factor that made the Pearl Desperado so much easier to polish than my Hype.
 
Nice touch about the plasticizer (spelling?) in the LE model.
 
By the way, I assumed but am not sure: is the Desperado LE a solid urethane blend or pearlized, like the original?
 
RyanRPS wrote on 1/11/2012 1:00 PM:
Charlest, remember that the original Desperado had silicon in it, so didnt have the typical urethane properties, where as the LE is very close to the cover on the Hype Urethane, both being comprised mainly of basic urethane, however the LE has a "smidgen" of plastisizor.
 
One way to get a shine on Urethane is to get it to a very low temperature, but I do not advise this if you want to keep the whole ball as one piece! :) 


Ryan Press - Seismic Staff Member
 


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RyanRPS

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Re: Desperado (and LE) Covers
« Reply #7 on: January 11, 2012, 06:21:59 PM »
Ha yeh tbh Im not sure of the correct spelling of plasticizor lol im pretty sure the american spelling uses a z and we use an s..
 
Yeh the LE is solid urethane, no pearl.
 
 


Ryan Press - Seismic Staff Member