Joeyjoejo wrote:Hey folks! I recently acquired a ridiculous pearl (pin just right of ring finger and CG just right of center grip)...awesome hitting ball. I'm no pro but know my way around surface prep and would love to maintain it but I can find ZERO info on how to re-surface to the OOB 500 siaair/ Royal compound finish. For how long and how many sides? I emailed tech help on the Radical site and Phil told me to "visit the Facebook page...there's lots of good info there." I couldn't find anything...I think I may have been blown off. Not a great way to greet a new customer. Anyway, I'm done complaining
...Any advice?
First thing I would recommend is whenever you get a new ball (new to you, doesn't matter if brand new or used), take it to your spinner and put your own finish on it. You will be able to duplicate that finish. You will never be able to duplicate the finish you get on the ball when you receive it.
Once you are in the habit of doing your own resurfacing you will develop a consistency in how you are applying the finish, that is, the pressure you use, and you will easily be able to vary what is "light" and "firm."
Re-surface vs. refreshing the surface: These are not the same thing. The first you do every 60 to 80 games, the latter you do after every other series (although I do it after every outing). Re-surfacing you will probably start at a lower grit (240/280/320/360/380) and then move to 500. For a refresh, you'll use just the 500.
Just me, base on my experience, for the re-surface, after repairs to any nicks or deep scratches, I will start with a 220/240 for 5 seconds each side, six sides, firm pressure, wet. Move to 360 for 10 seconds each side, six sides, firm pressure, wet. Then go to your 500 for 15 seconds each side, six sides, firm pressure, wet, and then follow with your 5000-grit Royal polish, 4-sides, at least 20 seconds per side.
For your re-fresh, the 500 on 4 sides, for 15 seconds each side, wet, light pressure, and then follow with your Royal polish.
I've always used the Storm guide for refinishing as a starting point, but if you can find another manufacturer's guide, then go with that. In the end, they are just that, guides. As you continue to work/re-work the surface of your BBs, and experiment with various products, you will begin to know what works for you (as a baseline) and then how to modify depending on the result you will achieve.
One thing I do (and that I recommend you do) is keep track of how much time I put on my abrasive pads and paper. As a rule, I usually won't go past five minutes cumulative on 1000-grit and below, and 10 minutes cumulative on anything above 1000-grit. That works for me.
Hope this helps.
viper/Joe