Throw test using PlastX, compared to Aramith Restorer and Cleaner

buckshotshoey

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Here goes.... putting myself out there for all to see. I expect some criticism so let me know if I could have done anything better.

I did not edit out any shots that were off speed, or not hit well on my part. I tried using a cue ball distance that gave a stop shot with a center ball hit. I used an old stick I keep in the garage and I'm not used to it.

Test done on 7 foot table on fairly well used Worsted cloth.

Caveat.... the balls used are not Aramith. They are Empire. Only info is they are made of a "high quality resin". They play well enough for an economy set.

Vid 1.... I started the test using dirty balls. They had many games and practice drills played on them.....
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Vid 2... I put balls in polisher. I have a homemade bucket polisher using an orbital buffer and wool pad. In/out carpet around the inside of bucket. 1 drop of PlastX on each ball. As the balls roll around the bucket, the orbital motion rotates them, so the entire ball is polished.
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Vid 3....Additional time in the polisher... 1 more drop on each ball. Remember that I did no editing. Some shots are off speed. At 5:55, the OB hopped and slid a little. Not sure why. Maybe the ball hopped off the donut? I may not have had them froze properly? Ignore that one. Also, I stopped using chalk. No need for it. Useing center ball hits. Reduced any chance chalk would be transferred to the OB.... which could effect a subsequent shot if the chalk mark was lined up with contact points.

Next videos will be the same two balls cleaned with isopropyl alcohol. Then I will use the Aramith Restorer and Cleaner. Will probably be later this weekend.

Vid 4...
Cleaned balls with 50% isopropyl alcohol. I was kind of surprised. The throw wasnt as bad as I assumed it would be.
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Vid 5...
Replaced carpet and wool buffer pad so as to not contaminate the test with PlastX. Used Aramith Restorer, and then Cleaner.
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The Aramith products did reduce throw considerably. I surmise this is do to the added wax. But as long as my shots were consistent, the throw was consistent. Next, I'm going to play with them all weekend, then redo the throw test to see how they change. I expect rhem the change somewhat like the difference between the dirty balls and the PlastX. We shall see.

I will post that video sometime Sunday night. I'm going to add this video to show how my polisher works. That way everyone has an idea that it does a fairly good job.
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Vid 6.....
I played on and off all day. Played about 20 games of 8 ball and a few drills. The throw is up to where the PlastX was...about 4 inches. I expected that. I'll keep playing through the weekend untill I get up to the dirty ball baseline I set in video 1. I did notice the balls sliding at first, but they settled down. I also notice the chalk marks clean off the cue ball easier with the Aramith.

 
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Thanks for taking the time to do this. Looks like the PlastiX may be the opposite effect I thought it would be: too much grab. The Plastix freshly cleaned balls seem to impart more spin on the stripped ball. If you notice in videos 2 and 3, you are getting the ball much closer to the pocket which means more spin on the ball. I would expect the opposite: more spin transfer on the dirty balls vs the freshly cleaned balls. It will be very interesting to see what the Aramith Cleaner test reveals.
 
Thanks for taking the time to do this. Looks like the PlastiX may be the opposite effect I thought it would be: too much grab. The Plastix freshly cleaned balls seem to impart more spin on the stripped ball. If you notice in videos 2 and 3, you are getting the ball much closer to the pocket which means more spin on the ball. I would expect the opposite: more spin transfer on the dirty balls vs the freshly cleaned balls. It will be very interesting to see what the Aramith Cleaner test reveals.
I noticed that too. Didnt expect it. Hit 1 inch shorter, but came off cushion longer. Could be because of my cushions? You also have to remember I dont have Aramith balls. It does seem to be very consistent after 25 shots. I'll probably have to tape the other measuring template to the table when I clean them with the alcohol.
 
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Agreed with the above...thanks for the efforts.
I'm trying. I always wondered how it would do after watching the Dr Dave vid. Not done yet. Anxious to use the Aramith Restorer. It put some on my finger and it seems "coarser" then the PlastX. It kind of smells like model glue. Pleasant citrus smell.
 
I'm trying. I always wondered how it would do after watching the Dr Dave vid. Not done yet. Anxious to use the Aramith Restorer. It put some on my finger and it seems "coarser" then the PlastX. It kind of smells like model glue. Pleasant citrus smell.
Keep sniffing. Might have a different take on it.

Or so I heard.
 
Here goes.... putting myself out there for all to see. I expect some criticism so let me know if I could have done anything better.

I did not edit out any shots that were off speed, or not hit well on my part. I tried using a cue ball distance that gave a stop shot with a center ball hit. I used an old stick I keep in the garage and I'm not used to it.

Test done on 7 foot table on fairly well used Worsted cloth.

Caveat.... the balls used are not Aramith. They are Empire. Only info is they are made of a "high quality resin". They play well enough for an economy set.

Vid 1.... I started the test using dirty balls. They had many games and practice drills played on them.....
------------

Vid 2... I put balls in polisher. I have a homemade bucket polisher using an orbital buffer and wool pad. In/out carpet around the inside of bucket. 1 drop of PlastX on each ball. As the balls roll around the bucket, the orbital motion rotates them, so the entire ball is polished.
-------------

Vid 3....Additional time in the polisher... 1 more drop on each ball. Remember that I did no editing. Some shots are off speed. At 5:55, the OB hopped and slid a little. Not sure why. Maybe the ball hopped off the donut? I may not have had them froze properly? Ignore that one. Also, I stopped using chalk. No need for it. Useing center ball hits. Reduced any chance chalk would be transferred to the OB.... which could effect a subsequent shot if the chalk mark was lined up with contact points.

Next videos will be the same two balls cleaned with isopropyl alcohol. Then I will use the Aramith Restorer and Cleaner. Will probably be later this weekend.

Nice job. It will be interesting to see how your results compare to mine:

 
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Nice job. It will be interesting to see if your results compare to mine:

With the exceptions you did yours on a 9 ft table. And I think I'm hitting a little harder then you were, it should be close. I need to be more consistent with the cue ball though.
 
With the exceptions you did yours on a 9 ft table. And I think I'm hitting a little harder then you were, it should be close. I need to be more consistent with the cue ball though.

As long as you compare shots of similar speed and are careful to not have any sidespin on the CB, your comparisons should be valid.
 
I'd like to thank whomever came up with the idea of putting an inexpensive 10-inch orbit polisher in a bucket, with a piece of remnant carpet, to fashion a homemade ball polisher for around $30. I made one and tried it today, having finally scored a suitable piece of carpet.

Works incredibly well! Thanks to (whomever) for the idea!
 
My conclusions....
PlastiX....
Positives...
Cleans balls well. Nice luster. No wax.
Negatives.... contains small amount (1- 5%) of a form of silicone.
A little bit more ball throw...1
Inch more then Aramith. (7 foot
table)

Aramith Restorer and Cleaner....
Positives....
High Luster. Reduces ball throw.
Chalk Mark's on cue ball remove
easier.
Negatives...
Contains wax. Ball throw difference between clean
and dirty seems greater.

I have found that the Aramith cleaner returns to dirty ball status after 30 games of 8 ball.... approx 4" -4.5". Both products seem equivalent in that respect. The Aramith cleaner reduced throw more after use...3 inches. It also had a bigger spread. 1.5" difference. The clean/dirty spread for the PlastX was 1/2" to 3/4".

Normally I would not use anything containing silicone, but the tiny bit of silicone in the PlastX didnt seem to cause any I'll effects. The wax in the Aramith made a bigger difference then the silicone in the PlastX did. I actually noticed more ball slide (rebounding off cushion) after using the Aramith. But that settled down after some time.

It seems to me that, in the real world where balls wont get cleaned every day, the PlastX has an advantage. There wont be as big an aiming difference to deal with.

As for cost, its not a huge difference. Not enough to justify either product.

Final analysis..... both work. Each have advantages and disadvantages. If you disagree, run your own test and post it for all to see. As a matter of fact, I welcome it just to see if any of my conclusions are incorrect.

PlastX ingredients...
Screenshot_20210817-090128_Drive.jpg


Aramith Ball Cleaner...
Screenshot_20210817-094218_Drive.jpg
 
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What do you believe is causing dirty ball status after only 30 games? Abrasion of the cleaner by the cloth?
 
I'd like to thank whomever came up with the idea of putting an inexpensive 10-inch orbit polisher in a bucket, with a piece of remnant carpet, to fashion a homemade ball polisher for around $30. I made one and tried it today, having finally scored a suitable piece of carpet.

Works incredibly well! Thanks to (whomever) for the idea!
Get a micro-fiber bonnet for the polisher. They work really well. https://www.amazon.com/Polishing-Bu...ets+for+orbital+buffer&qid=1629213517&sr=8-15
 
What do you believe is causing dirty ball status after only 30 games? Abrasion of the cleaner by the cloth?
No data to draw a conclusion. But if I had to take a wild guess, I would say chalk dust. That is the most abrasive thing on the table. Running a close second, possibly dirty ball return gulleys?
 
I'd like to thank whomever came up with the idea of putting an inexpensive 10-inch orbit polisher in a bucket, with a piece of remnant carpet, to fashion a homemade ball polisher for around $30. I made one and tried it today, having finally scored a suitable piece of carpet.

Works incredibly well! Thanks to (whomever) for the idea!
I was told to get a piece of marine grade carpet and I did. It works really well. The microfiber bonnet works well as well.
 
I'd like to thank whomever came up with the idea of putting an inexpensive 10-inch orbit polisher in a bucket, with a piece of remnant carpet, to fashion a homemade ball polisher for around $30. I made one and tried it today, having finally scored a suitable piece of carpet.

Works incredibly well! Thanks to (whomever) for the idea!
I did precisely the same thing, and it does work well no question. A word to the wise, I would not use the Aramith ball restorer, or Amamith ball cleaner either for that matter as it tends to gum up the 10 inch polishing bonnet. The machine should be used for buffing only, at least that’s been my experience with it. If you want to use that stuff do it by hand and use the machine for final buffing.

Like he said for about thirty dollars you’ll be saving hundreds compared to the expensive machines on the market. Maybe those companies will lower their prices no that they have some low cost competiton.
 
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