Hammer surfaces??

[Fatboy8]

A pro shop buddy of mine was talking Hammer cover tech stuff with a staffer in our area. This guy said that Hammers 4000 OOB box finish, is equivalant to 1000 abralon pads.

Has anyone else heard of this? My Bite was starting to shine up somewhat from use, so I hit it with a 1000 pad. I ended up going with 2000, and it's back to OOB reaction, etc. 1000 pad made the ball really rolly, and even. The 2000 brought the backend reaction back, and didn't want to roll out.

Any thoughts on Hammer's grit number, and abralon?

[BubbaRay]

I can't see where 4000 abralon is the same as 1000. Take for instance the BWP. It's 4000 abralon factory polished OOB. I have see many take the ball down to 2000 abralon and or even 1000 and it was a totaly different reacting ball. It never reacted like the OOB with 1000 abralon / Polished.

I am confused on what he was trying to say. I was talking to the Hammer Staffer who drills my stuff this afternoon and 1/2/3/4 abralon are all different surfaces. :confused:

[Rowdy]

A 4000 OOB finish is 4000 Abralon. Not the same as 1000 Abralon. Huge difference.

[Fatboy8]

My buddy and I were trying to figure it out too. 4000 abralon, used on a ball doesn't give a matte finish, it's still gives it a shine. So, I could see where the 4000 Hammer spec and regular abralon could be different, I don't know. Unless our shop 4000 pads are really, really worn out?

What kind of finish do you guys get with a 4000 pad? Shine or matte finish?

[Rowdy]

That would depend on what kind of ball you're grinding on. And how you're using the pads.

[JaraTo]

Daniel son... wax on , wax off. Circles.

[bluerrpilot]

Unless there is some sort of polish used, it is considered a matte finish. In Hammers current lineup, with the exception of the Anger(2000) all balls are at 4000 Abralon. (BW,BWB,NM,NMB) Some have polish added to them(TOXIC,DOOM,BWP,BOTH VIBES) but they are still 4000 Abralon under the polish.

4000 Abralon is still considered a dull, matte or sanded surface. But because the grit is so fine, it will give the appearance of being polished. Especially after the ball has been thrown on the lanes or a number of games and had the chance to allow oil to soak in.

[hbhammerhead]

A pro shop buddy of mine was talking Hammer cover tech stuff with a staffer in our area. This guy said that Hammers 4000 OOB box finish, is equivalant to 1000 abralon pads.

Has anyone else heard of this? My Bite was starting to shine up somewhat from use, so I hit it with a 1000 pad. I ended up going with 2000, and it's back to OOB reaction, etc. 1000 pad made the ball really rolly, and even. The 2000 brought the backend reaction back, and didn't want to roll out.

Any thoughts on Hammer's grit number, and abralon?

i don't see how 4000 abralon would be different from any other brand. 4000 is 4000. maybe he was just saying that because hammer bowling balls are big hooking balls and compared to other companies it's like they are at 1000?? who knows? :D

[uberamd]

i don't see how 4000 abralon would be different from any other brand. 4000 is 4000. maybe he was just saying that because hammer bowling balls are big hooking balls and compared to other companies it's like they are at 1000?? who knows? :D

Good call, that sounds like the case.

[Fatboy8]

Here's what I've noticed though:

When you pull a Bite or BW Solid out of the box, it's dull/matte finish. If you get some games on it, it shines with use and oil absorbtion. Put it on the Haas machine, with 4000, it doesn't get back to the matte/dull finish, it stays shiney.

This is what makes me wonder if their is some sort of difference, or a missing piece somewhere.

Try putting a ball on the machine with 4000 abralon, and you'll see it still takes it to a shine, not back to the OOB dull/matte finish.

One of those things that make you go............hmmmmmmm............

[JaraTo]

I'd guess it's the absorbed oil

[pipes]

I do a LOT of wood working and even turn plastic on a lathe a LOT and polish it ! I Lnow a little about this and 1000 abralon is gona GRIP a lane much harder and is way diffrent than 4000 abralon . 4000 polished will ract and is diffrent than stright up 4000 abralon .

Thou I have saw a couple a Pro Shops puting a finish on a ball and they seem to just go 1 way around in a circle then turn the ball ! To get it right IMO they should go aacross the fist sanding a second time in a cross cut direction to really get the finish corect ! Just my 2 cents

[Fatboy8]

I'd guess it's the absorbed oil

I thought that too, but: I took my BW Solid, soaked it in an oil bath, drew some oil out, and then the ball was semi-dull when it dried out and was done. Then, the 4000 abralon shined it back up.

I'm not complaining about the surfaces at all though. I took the Solid to 1000 abralon, then hit it with some Finesse It. Then took my Bite to 2000 abralon with no polish. I couldn't ask for a better 1-2 punch.

I was just kind of baffeled by differences this guy stated. I'll see him next weekend at a tourney, and I'll dig deeper yet, lol.

[Green Bay Coach]

Many different things come into play when you resurface the ball. First and foremost is the amount of oil that has been absorbed into the balls coverstock. You will note that USBC has now set a standard for the viscosity of the lane oil. To be sure they included all oils now in use. This is currently a rather wide range. I predict that over the coming years you will see this range narrow down. As the lane oil viscosity gets thinner it will be absorbed faster and deeper into the coverstock of the ball. When you take your ball to a pro shop to have the oil removed they will normally cook it just once. When i take mine in I have them cook it at least 3 times. It costs a little more but is well worth the extra. I do this at the start of the season and then again between Christmas and New Years. Between those cookings I will also do the dawn bath every 2 weeks. (about every 30 - 40 games) This is because I bowl in 4 leagues plus practice at least once per week. That is about 15 to 18 games every week, summer included. If all the oil is not removed before you resurface then you will get a more polished look on the ball.

By maintaining this schedule of cleaning I almost never have to resurface the ball during the season. When it goes in at the end of December I let the pro shop make the decision if it should be done. This can get to be a little expensive when you are having 6 balls done but it is well worth it. Even my old Turbo Diesel is still working as well as it did new.

Putting a polish on the ball after it is done is a matter of personal choice. I prefer my ball to be the same as it was when it came from the factory. The polish is a bit expensive so I have the pro shop get it for me.

Glenn C.

[TenPinSniper]

i don't see how 4000 abralon would be different from any other brand. 4000 is 4000. maybe he was just saying that because hammer bowling balls are big hooking balls and compared to other companies it's like they are at 1000?? who knows? :D

Abralon is rated on a FEPA Grit on ANSI "US" Grit. So 4000 is not 4000.

4000 is actually alot lower, off the top of my head around 1500 to 2000 ANSI. (I think.)

Used 4000 will not dull or matte a ball. Before I sand I clean the ball and rinse of with lots of water. Used a new 4000 Grit this weekend, the grab it had some lot compared to my old pad.

Which staffer? I'd guess these guys are pretty knowledge, in general.

This could be a question for Jeff.

[agroves]

Try putting a ball on the machine with 4000 abralon, and you'll see it still takes it to a shine, not back to the OOB dull/matte finish.

One of those things that make you go............hmmmmmmm............

I hit my Anger with 2000 Abralon at the shop. It seemed shinier than the OOB 2k. We ordered in new pads and I redid it, afterwards it looked correct. So, the age and amount of lubrication(water) used will affect the grit applied.

I also tried something on my Mystic that turned out good. I applied polish TO a 2000 grit pad. It gave the ball shiny look with a textured feel. The reaction was very good as well.

Andrew