Finishing compound -- any tips?

[GoKidd]

Having fun with my first ball spinner (from Innovative) and have searched BB.com for good info -- much found!
Question: When using finishing compound (Storm Step 2) I didn't see as much deep gloss as I remember on the ball from the factory. Not bad, but not that dreamy, wet luster I remember seeing. Did I use the product poorly? Used a palm-sized amount on a piece of wet terrycloth and eased off on the hand pressure applied as I finished.
The ball reaction seems fine, unchanged as far as I can tell, so it's just a cosmetic difference I'm asking about. The ball is a pearl Storm Tropical Heat and had about 40 games on it when I did the refresh -- sanded with 1000 grit and then used the compound.
I also did a refresh on my plastic spare ball (sanded with appropriate grits) and hit it with Ebonite's Magic Shine as the final polish -- big luster, but I am not looking for that ball to hook-up with the lane surface, of course.
Can I have it all? Or just smile and enjoy the great ball reaction??

[bowl1820]

Here's the factory finish for the Tropical Heat.
1500-grit Polished Factory Finish
1. 500-grit Abralon® pad – Sand for 15 seconds on all four sides.
2. Grey Scotch-Brite™ pad – Sand for 40 seconds on all four sides.
3. Storm® Step Two™ – Polish lightly for 15 seconds on two sides.
Storm® suggests repeating steps 2 and 3 from above every 20 to 30 games or repeating
all steps every 60 to 80 games.

The appearance might look somewhat different because the factory uses a different type of machine to finish them not by hand on a spinner .

A palm sized amount of compound sounds like a awful lot, unless you mean you just spread a small amount over that size area. It doesn't take alot of compound to finish a ball.

[GoKidd]

The appearance might look somewhat different because the factory uses a different type of machine to finish them not by hand on a spinner .

A palm sized amount of compound sounds like a awful lot, unless you mean you just spread a small amount over that size area. It doesn't take alot of compound to finish a ball.

Yup, I used 1000 grit, then the compound just to do a refresh on the cover and take out the track.
I don't think I used a lot of compound, but I will remember that for next time.
Thank you!

[The Mayor]

Everything bowl said is exactly right. Super powered finishing machines. As for doing it by hand on a spinner, the grey Scotch brite is the key. This stuff is amazing.

[GoKidd]

Hmmm ... haven't found it, yet. I've used Siaair and wet/dry sandpaper. I will go back to the grit chart and look for the exact product number -- I may have seen Gray Scotch-Brite at a Home Depot. *Edit -- Scotch-Brite 7448 - equivalent to 800 grit? Just saw it listed at West Marine. Thanks!

[bowl1820]

If you're looking for a Gray pad try the pro shop. If he doesn't have some, they should be able to get it. The gray scotchbrite are around 800 to 1000 grit.

[GoKidd]

I have a confession, now.
I OVER-POLISHED my strike ball this past weekend and totally ruined my Monday night league match. My bad.
But this was not the result of compound, rather it was using Storm Reacta Shine too heavily and in two coats (one on the spinner, one by hand).
Instead of doing what I did -- overuse Reacta Shine -- should I just use the compound a little more to get an even sheen/shine?
I was so bummed -- and cleaner (during the match) wouldn't undo what I'd done. After I got home, I refreshed the surface with 1000-grit Siaair and then Step 2 compound. It looks more like what I need.
The other lesson from my exasperating match was -- learn the line for throwing a strike ball with a "spare" (no hook) ball! I made notes for the future.

[GoKidd]

I did take the Tropical Heat back to stock surface, using the Storm directions (Thanks Whiskey Basin!) and life is good again. Last night's league was back to being fun!!

I think I will only apply Reacta Shine by hand (not with the ball spinner) -- that way seemed to work fine and it's a really good cleaner when used properly.

Oh! And my proshop bud gave me some Scotch-Brite pads to try -- the Gray does a nice job.