An Understanding Of Sanding And Bowling Balls

TruCut sanding pads are made to cut bowling balls. They are currently available in 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000 and the all new P5000D grits. TruCut Resurfacing pads are available in 80,120, and 220 grits.  Order Here 

TruCut sanding pads are exclusive to Creating The Difference and our resale partners. The proprietary formulations were designed to not only cut bowling balls at the numbers listed on the pads, but also offer a more consistent, longer lasting cut than the competition.  The picture below illustrates how the conventional pad on the left loads up with material. The TruCut pad on the right allows the dust to pass through the pad creating a more consistent, more true cut which lasts longer.

To create an accurate cut, we did two things. First, we used a high quality naturally sourced Silicon Carbide. By design, it is made to cut hard materials like bowling balls. We chose this material over the much softer aluminum oxide cutting material; which, in terms of cutting bowling balls, is vastly inferior. Next, the material is paired with a special webbing for the 500, 1000, 1500, and 2000 grit pads. It has a unique type of open cell foam material which allows for the removal of cutting debris when used wet or dry. A flame applied velour backing allows for debris to flow through the pad, yet still attach to any device that uses Velcro.  This construction makes the TruCut pad resist loading, increases the lifespan, improves consistency and durability of the pad.

What do the grit numbers mean?

TruCut is different than the competition as the number on the pad represents the number it cuts a bowling ball. Using a laser surface scanner, we verified our formulations to ensure that TruCut pads cut a bowling ball as labeled on the pad. Competitive pads cut between 800 and 1300 grit higher than listed.  The more times the pad gets used, the less accurate it cuts.  This is because they simply were not made to cut bowling balls.  Abralon, for example, was originally made for automotive use as shown by the catalog when it debuted.

TruCut has been designed to cut bowling balls and comes in 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000, and P5000D.  The lower the number the more aggressive the cut and the more surface there will be on the ball. So 500 grit will leave deep sanding lines in your bowling ball. Conversely P5000D (5000 grit) will make your ball appear shiny. 

Typically, the more oil you bowl on, the lower the grit number you will need to get your ball to hook. Manufacturers publish the finishing process for each bowling ball. Each ball can be different and you should check the manufacturer's website for details on the finishing process. These details are a very rough approximation of the actual finish on the bowling ball due to high amounts of process variation during manufacturing. It is best to use a TruCut pad that is the final step from the manufacturers recommendation before you throw your first shot with a new ball. In other words, if the manufacturer's website says "Factory Finish: 500, 1000" you should grab a 1000 grit TruCut and sand the ball with that before you ever throw it down the lane. That way you can ensure that the finish is repeatable by you or your Pro Shop. We recommend at a minimum maintaining your surface every 6 to 9 games.

It is important to note that you do not have to do multiple steps with TruCut. Just skip to the final step. So if the manufacturer's recommended finish is 500/1000/2000 Abralon. You will only need to use the 2000 grit TruCut Pad.

Does a 500 grit pad mean that the grit used on the pad is 500 Microns?

No. In fact, this creates a lot of confusion. There can be a lot of factors that go into the grit number listed on the pad. We wanted to make it simple, so when developing TruCut Sanding Pads, we said whatever the number is on the pad, that is the number it will leave on the surface of a bowling ball.  We used a bowling ball laser surface scanner to develop our grits in conjunction with an industry leading abrasive manufacturer. We are the first and only company to adopt this development process.

What about 1500 Grit Polish (compound)?

This type of polishing compound (which we like, by the way), refers to the sanding particles used in the polish, and not the actual finish left on the bowling ball. To keep things at the same reference point, a ball that is finished at 1500 grit polish will measure 5000 grit on the bowling ball.

What if I sanded the ball with 1000 grit and then polished it?

That ball will still measure 5000 grit, and as such would be considered polished. The performance will be different from a ball that doesn't have the lines left by a 1000 grit TruCut.

TruCut 1500 grit

If you are in bowling, then you must have a 1500 grit pad option. 1500 grit has a special place in bowling as some manufacturers either use or recommend it as part of the finishing process. There was such a high demand for this product from consumers and Pro Shops alike, we wanted to make sure that we offered it.  We engineered this product using a unique multi-grit application process developed by our exclusive manufacturing partner.

Here is a zoomed in picture of the 1500 grit sanding pad:

TruCut 3000 Grit

This pad uses a different Silicon Carbide material size that is paired with a unique tight weave technology that enhances the smoothing of the ball to the desired 3000 grit. This pad uses smaller open loops for light debris removal. We found through testing this was faster, more effective and more efficient than the large open weave used on our lower number grits. However, we didn't just stop there.  Another key to a smoother finish on a bowling ball is the pressure distribution. So we changed the foam structure, changed the thickness, and tweaked the cutting grit used to maximize the cutting ability.  All of this allowed us to end up with a pad that can cut a bowling ball to 3000 grit by hand or machine, wet or dry. 

Here is a zoomed in picture of the 3000 grit sanding pad:

TruCut P5000

The All New Polishing 5000 Dual pad or P5000D pad features the unique ability to create two completely different surfaces depending on use. The P stand for Polishing and the D stands for Dual. Any bowling ball surface that laser scans at 5000 or higher is considered shiny.

The ball on the left is 5000 grit and the ball on the right is 4000 grit; both using P5000D

The technology used in this pad is really unique.  It is called Dual because this is the first pad that can be used to apply a 4000 grit (ball on the right) or a 5000 grit (ball on the left) finish on the bowling ball depending on use. When you start with a 3000 grit TruCut finish base. A 4000 grit surface finish can be achieved by following the Finishing Guide.

A 5000 grit surface finish can be achieved with the P5000D pad when used with a machine and following the process on the surface guide. Note 5000 can be achieved by hand, but will require sanding the entire ball multiple times.

You can watch P5000D in action right here

Note: The grit in this pad is designed to degrade to achieve the desired finish. As a result this pad will last 50% as long as the other TruCut sanding pads. The finish it leaves on the ball will last 3 to 4 times longer than the other grits. The durability of the finish is partly because of the fact that there is no polish involved.  

Here is a zoomed in picture of the P5000D sanding pad

Here is a video showing the performance difference between P5000D and a ball polishing compound.

Watch it here

Note: The ink is biodegradable and can wash away over time. If you notice this happening we recommend using a Sharpie especially if you plan to use the pads wet. 

Longevity

TruCut can be used half the amount of time as competitive pads to achieve the desired grit written on the pad.  The pads can be used for 10 to 12 times dry or 15 to 18 times wet. Light pressure is recommended. Follow the cleaning procedure shown below.  Data collected shows that TruCut will last 3 to 4 times longer than competitor pads. This is achieved several ways. First, TruCut pads require less use per cut to get the desired grit.  Second the type of cutting material used combined with the backing of the pads has been designed to allow the debris to pass through the pad. This improves cutting longevity and durability. Third, you can skip steps when applying surface, and go right to the final recommended step. This saves time and money.

Below are our recommended procedures for using TruCut by hand or machine.

Manufacturer Recommended Finish Guide

You can use the manufacturer recommended finish guide but there are some important things to note:

1. You do not need to do multiple steps for final surface preparation.

Example: A ball has a recommended finishing process of 500, 1000, 2000 grit Abralon or Siaair. When using TruCut, you would go right to using 2000 grit only 5 seconds on 4 sides.

2. Using TruCut grit and the final manufacturer's sanding step will improve total hook by up to 40%. If additional hook is not required, we recommend choosing a grit that is one step higher than the manufacturer's recommended finish.

Example: If the manufacturer recommended finish is 500/2000 Abralon or Siaair and you want to have a similar performance to the recommended finish. You you would use the 3000 grit TruCut pad.

TruCut by Hand

Dry

When using dry by hand, we recommend applying with light pressure doing only half of the ball at a time. Move in circular motions starting at the top of the ball and work your way to the side of the ball. After half of the ball is done hit the pad on something hard and knock the dust out of the pad. Next flip the ball over and repeat the process.

Wet

When using wet by hand, we recommend applying TruCut Conditioner and a CtD Power Pad. Start by placing the desired grit in the center of the CtD Power Pad and spraying the entire pad with So Fresh and So Clean. Using light pressure and doing only half of the ball at a time, move in circular motions starting at the top of the ball and work your way to the side of the ball. After half of the ball is done spray the pad with So Fresh and So Clean again, flip the ball over and repeat the process.

Ball Spinner Use Wet

When using a ball spinner for regular surface maintenance, use the lowest speed setting with a water bottle and moderate pressure for surface application. It is recommended that you thoroughly spray the sanding pad with water first. Then spray the ball every 2 seconds while sanding 4 sides of the ball. You should sand the ball for a total of 5 seconds on each side. Top, Bottom, Left, and Right side like in the picture above. It is NOT recommended to use TruCut by CtD dry by spinner.

When using a ball spinner for resurfacing, sand the ball on 6 sides for 10 seconds each side and start with the 500 grit until the scratches have been removed. Then, go to the final finishing sanding step.

Pro Tip: Put 4 oz of TruCut Conditioner in a 32 oz water bottle. This will help extend the life of the pad. It will also reduce bacteria from forming in your water.

Using a Resurfacing Machine or Storm Surface Factory or Surface Factory Pro

First, dunk the pads completely in water and apply the velour side to the Velcro on the machine. Use the lowest setting to apply the surface with a recommended time of 1 minute for surface application and a recommended time of 3 minutes for resurfacing. If you are doing a full resurface a you should use TruCut Resurfacing pads. They come in 80, 120, 220 grit and are made for resurfacing. Do not use TruCut Sanding Pads for longer than 3 minutes on any resurfacing machine. Longer use will accelerate wear and isn't needed to achieve the grit written on the pad. They get to the final grit quickly so less is more.

Pro Tip: Put 40 oz of TruCut Conditioner in a 5 gallon bucket. This will help extend the life of the sanding pad. It will also reduce bacteria from forming in your water.

Here is how to properly clean your TruCut pads. 

To order these pads check us out at ctdbowling.com