waxed balls
- Thread starter mysticjon
- Start date
This subject has always been interesting to me. If you put something like wax or silicone oil on the balls, they will indeed "play differently," and that's because the friction factor will be greatly decreased. But is that a bad thing? If you decrease the friction, you also decrease the throw - a common problem on cut shots.
Cue builders offer shafts that are designed to decrease cue ball deflection (squirt), so it can be said that those cues play differently from regular cues. Well, if it's okay to modify cues to ease one problem, why is it not okay to modify balls to ease another problem?
Just curious.
Roger
Jim,
I just looked up the words "polish" and "polished" in the dictionary.
Used as a verb, the word polish can mean "to smooth and brighten, as by rubbing" or it can mean "to coat with polish, wax, etc. and make bright or glossy." And used as a noun it can mean "a surface gloss" or it can mean "a substance used for polishing." Now I'm going to make an assumption that one of the substances commonly used for polishing things, is wax, especially since the word wax was used in the definition of the word polish.
I'm sure that you are recommending rubbing only - without the aid of any wax or other substances - in order to attain a "smooth and shiny surface" (as my dictionary defines the word "polished"), but my question is, does it really make a difference whether you do or don't use wax? Isn't smooth and shiny, still smooth and shiny, whichever way you come by it?
Roger
No its not the same. Anything softer (as in a coat of wax, even microns thin) that the surface of the balls themselves will cause the balls to cling together and throw alot worse. Not to mention the added bonus of collecting dirt and chalk dust faster than a set of unwaxed balls. There are plastic polishes out there that some people use, some are ok, some have a wax like substance that causes issues. A bit of cleaner followed by a good buffing will result in balls that play truer longer.
Chuck
As Chuck has said.... wax puts a film on the balls that is not wanted. In addition to causing a stickiness the film also comes off on the cloth bed and rails and over time this can damage the cloth and cause permanent conditions that will spoil the play of the cloth.
Polish should not have a coating that stays on the surface of whatever it is used to polish. Polish should have a very mild abrasive.. like in body shop work polish would come after using rubbing compounds of diminishing abrasiveness, with polish being the least abrasive. Wax is then applied to protect the paint from environmental pollutants. Wax coats the paint with a protective film which wears off in the weather and the friction of movement. If it's not reapplied then more polishing will have to be done as the pollutants cause the paint to become microscopically uneven. Polishing makes the surface even... smooth and it's the smoothness that causes brightness to the eye.
I use Plexiglas polish. Plexiglas is prone to scratching so almost no abrasive in the cleaner/polish is wanted. Brillianize is a such a product and it works great on pool balls leaving them clean, polished and without a wax film. It is made to polish plastic, Plexiglas etc and works great on pool balls. I just discovered it a few months ago when my copier repair guy used it to make the platen on the copier slicker, so paper would slide across it easier when using the auto feeder. I brought some home and it works great on my pool balls.
www.brillianize.com
Polish should not have a coating that stays on the surface of whatever it is used to polish. Polish should have a very mild abrasive.. like in body shop work polish would come after using rubbing compounds of diminishing abrasiveness, with polish being the least abrasive. Wax is then applied to protect the paint from environmental pollutants. Wax coats the paint with a protective film which wears off in the weather and the friction of movement. If it's not reapplied then more polishing will have to be done as the pollutants cause the paint to become microscopically uneven. Polishing makes the surface even... smooth and it's the smoothness that causes brightness to the eye.
I use Plexiglas polish. Plexiglas is prone to scratching so almost no abrasive in the cleaner/polish is wanted. Brillianize is a such a product and it works great on pool balls leaving them clean, polished and without a wax film. It is made to polish plastic, Plexiglas etc and works great on pool balls. I just discovered it a few months ago when my copier repair guy used it to make the platen on the copier slicker, so paper would slide across it easier when using the auto feeder. I brought some home and it works great on my pool balls.
www.brillianize.com
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Thanks for the link on the Brillianize, Jim. Looks like pretty good stuff.
Roger
Roger
Good question Roger.
Here's my answer. A low deflection cue lasts forever. Wax wears off in about 30 minutes. At least on the CB. Now the game has changed from when it started.
The other thing to think of is the top ball manufacturers have done their homework and are creating the best possible product they can. Adding wax to the finish diminishes their efforts and only gives the Appearance of a polished ball.
Next time you have the chance. On a newly covered table take a brand new cue ball and put some wax on it. Even furniture wax will do. You will have one squirrely cue ball. Put it on the other balls too and OMG. Kinda fun though for a while.
What is the problem?
our balls
are 3 years old and look like new. A little dish soap to cut grease in a spray bottle of water does the trick. Good ball cleaning machine is well worth the $$.
are 3 years old and look like new. A little dish soap to cut grease in a spray bottle of water does the trick. Good ball cleaning machine is well worth the $$.
I just got a Ballstar machine and it works great. I use to clean by hand but they just didn't shine. After one cycle through the Ballstar they look brand new.
right
your right brillianize is awesome on poolballs.i like it better then wax ,it last longer.
your right brillianize is awesome on poolballs.i like it better then wax ,it last longer.
John is right
Brallianize is the nuts - I got a gallon of it and use it with my ballstar probably every other day (I play alot). Another factor is clean balls wear the cloth out a LOT slower. Less burn marks etc... Great for straight pool as the balls seperate very well (which is probably another reason John likes it).
Mr 402 (jk John)
Brallianize is the nuts - I got a gallon of it and use it with my ballstar probably every other day (I play alot). Another factor is clean balls wear the cloth out a LOT slower. Less burn marks etc... Great for straight pool as the balls seperate very well (which is probably another reason John likes it).
Mr 402 (jk John)
WPA Rules
I quote from the WPA equipment specification rules:
16. Balls and Ball Rack
All balls must be composed of cast phenolic resin plastic and measure 2 ¼ (+.005)
inches [5.715 cm (+ .127 mm)] in diameter and weigh 5 ½ to 6 oz [156 to 170 gms].
Balls should be unpolished, and should also not be waxed. Balls should be cleaned with a
towel or cloth free of dirt and dust, and may also be washed with soap and water. Balls
contaminated with any slippery substance - treated with a polishing or rubbing compound
and/or waxed - must be cleansed and dewaxed with a clean cloth moistened with diluted
alcohol before play.
I quote from the WPA equipment specification rules:
16. Balls and Ball Rack
All balls must be composed of cast phenolic resin plastic and measure 2 ¼ (+.005)
inches [5.715 cm (+ .127 mm)] in diameter and weigh 5 ½ to 6 oz [156 to 170 gms].
Balls should be unpolished, and should also not be waxed. Balls should be cleaned with a
towel or cloth free of dirt and dust, and may also be washed with soap and water. Balls
contaminated with any slippery substance - treated with a polishing or rubbing compound
and/or waxed - must be cleansed and dewaxed with a clean cloth moistened with diluted
alcohol before play.
I think the rule is stated as it is, to prevent any surface treatment from being left behind after polishing. Some polishing compounds contain wax or other such substances like silicone to enhance the appearance after use.
The rule is also is set up and meant for sanctioned competition and primarily major competition. The conditions at this level of play are normally pristine. New balls, New cloth and the tables are kept clean throughout the day(s). Under these conditions the balls will not show much wear at all with the exception of mis-cue marks and some chalk dust which can be rubbed off leaving very little if any evidence.
The problem we have at most local rooms is they refuse to keep the cloth clean. Its too much work. Its easy to buy a $600 machine that cleans a whole rack of balls and makes them pretty with a little wax. WOW!! But after 30 minutes on a filthy table the balls look 10 years old.
Wax IMO is a no no for 2 reasons. 1) The angle of deflection is different than its supposed to be. 2) The wax wears off in a short period of time (30min - Hour) which is a game changer. BAD
I think the word burnish should be used instead of polish/waxing. Burnishing removes no material, leaves no residue, and makes the balls look and play like new without the use of chemicals or waxes.
Super Aramith Pro Ball Polish
Super Aramith Pro Ball Polish, designed for pool balls, not for your corvette's paint job. Using anything else seems wrong. Sure, if you want to draw the rock 25 feet, shine it up with some WD-40, but I stick to Aramith Ball Polish, nothing else. JMO
Super Aramith Pro Ball Polish, designed for pool balls, not for your corvette's paint job. Using anything else seems wrong. Sure, if you want to draw the rock 25 feet, shine it up with some WD-40, but I stick to Aramith Ball Polish, nothing else. JMO