|
Introduction
Shuffleboard, like any other sport, requires a knowledge of the game, experience, and a certain amount of playing skill to do well. It is unfortunate that often shufflers must make adjustments to their game in order to compensate for different court surfaces.
The following program was developed to standardize the method of finishing shuffleboards whether they are in Canada, Florida, Arizona or California.
The technology for blending polymers and silicones in liquids to make slippery coatings has greatly improved in recent years, and we at Poly Glide are the first to use this technology in this very special unique application. We are also constantly researching and developing new and improved formulations. We provide slick and durable products that are easy to apply.
Many years of providing shuffleboard re-finishing service, making shuffleboard products, and the input of countless experienced shufflers have contributed to this guide on proper court preparation.
[Top]
Stripping
Poly Sure Strip is a non-ammoniated, concentrated stripper which quickly emulsifies thermoplastic acrylic polymers.
-
Prepare strip solution by adding 32 ounces of Poly Sure Strip to 1 gallon of water. (Dilution: 1 to 4)
-
Apply solution liberally on court with a string mop. Let dwell for approximately 10-15 minutes. Re-apply solution to areas that become dry to keep the area being stripped constantly wet.
-
Scrub wet surface with a rotary machine using either a brown or a black strip pad. Continue to re-apply stripping solution as needed.
-
Rinse court thoroughly after stripping.
-
If outdoors, use a water hose with a pressure nozzle initially, followed by mopping with a clean mop and cold water. For indoor courts, a wet vac is recommended to pick-up dirty solution, followed by mopping with a clean mop and cold water.
Rinsing thoroughly is imperative for the proper film formation of the sealer coat.
Inspect the court to make sure all wax and sealer have been removed, if there are still shiny areas, more stripping may be necessary with a stronger stripping solution, a more aggressive pad or a stronger stripper. At this point, it may be necessary to supplment stripping solution with Poly Power Strip.
[Top]
Poly Power Strip is a "state of the art" formulation that quickly dissolves build-up of old finishes and sealers. It replaces Poly Hot Strip. Rubber gloves and rubber soled shoes are recommended when working with Poly Power Strip.
-
Prepare strip solution by adding 1 gallon of Poly Power Strip to 2 gallons of water. (Dilution: 1 to 2)
-
Continue with directions from Poly Sure Strip.
Poly Power Strip may be used as a heavy duty cleaner and degreaser at 1 pint to a gallon of water. (Dilution 1:8)
When made stronger, it will remove oil and water-based paints from brushes and painting equipment!
CAUTION: POLY POWER STRIP COULD AFFECT THE PAINTED AREA OF A COURT DEPENDING ON THE QUALITY OF PAINT USED AND THE METHOD BY WHICH THE PAINT WAS APPLIED.
New Method of Application
We strongly recommend the use of a T-Bar Applicator to apply all of our specialized coatings. It is a clean, easy, efficient way of applying finish. There is no mess and no wasted product. The T-Bar is a 18" plastic tube-like apparatus with a swivel connection and a 18" Nylfoam sleeve that slides onto it. The Nylfoam is replacable.
-
Moisten Nylfoam sleeve before using.
-
Remove Nylfoam sleeve from applicator after each use before cleaning.
-
Rinse Nylfoam sleeve thoroughly after each application of finish.
CAUTION: DO NOT ALLOW PRODUCT TO DRY ON NYLFOAM SLEEVE.
[Top]
Sealing
Sealing a shuffleboard protects the concrete surface and the painted lines. Rough concrete can be made smoother depending on the sealer used and the number of coats applied. Concrete that is very porous and weathered will play very slow. Arizona Seal & Glaze and Poly Tri-Coat are made to fill in the pores, holes and cracks of old concrete. Both products are formulated with silicone which adds durability, gloss and slickness to the sealed finish. Sealing also prevents the concrete from dusting.
Arizona Seal & Glaze is newly formulated for 2003. It is a thermoplastic acrylic emulsion which dries to an extremely slippery, brilliant gloss without buffing. It also provides UV protection for painted courts. It has been made to dry faster and be easier to strip.
-
Strip court with Poly Sure Strip or Poly Power Strip. Be sure to remove all traces of old wax and sealer.
-
Rinse court thoroughly with clean mop and cold water.
-
Allow court to dry completely before applying sealer.
-
Do not apply to extremely hot or damp concrete.
-
Apply 2-3 medium coats of Arizona Seal & Glaze using a T-Bar Applicator. Allow a minium of 30-45 minutes of drying time between coats. Weather conditions may require longer drying times.
-
Buffing is optional. Always dust mop after buffing.
CAUTION: THIS PRODUCT IS MADE TO BE SLIPPERY. DO NOT APPLY ON OR NEAR WALKWAYS.
Poly Tri-Coat is newly formulated for 2003. It was developed as a new system for applying sealer to a shuffleboard court. It quickly fills pores to provide a smoother surface. A T-Bar Applicator is required for application.
One coat of Poly Tri-Coat is equal to three coats of Arizona Seal & Glaze, thus providing less application time and less cost. Each coat increases gloss and numerous coats can be applied depending on porosity of court.
Two coats provide the optimum coverage, and one hour of drying time is required between coats.
Directions for use are the same as with Arizona Seal & Glaze with the exception of number of coats and drying time.
CAUTION: THIS PRODUCT IS MADE TO BE SLIPPERY. DO NOT APPLY ON OR NEAR WALKWAYS.
Poly Thermo Seal is newly formulated for 2003. It is a water based thermoplastic acrylic coating that offers outstanding blocking power against most chemicals, including gasoline. It is recommended for concrete, brick, terrazzo, clay tile, vinyl tile and asphalt. It is excellent for use on shuffleboard approaches since it is slip resistant. It has been made to be more durable and to dry brighter.
-
Follow steps 1, 2, 3 and 4 given above.
-
Apply two coats of Poly Thermo Seal by using a T-Bar Applicator.
-
Allow at least 30-45 minutes of drying time between each coat applied.
NOTE: THIS PRODUCT IS NOT SLIPPERY.
[Top]
Waxing
Poly Ultra Glide has also been reformulated for 2003. It is our new cross-linked, styrene based co-polymer court finish. This formulation is environmentally friendly, and its styrene base adds hardness and weather resistance to the film. We have maximized its silicone content making it much slicker and glossier than previous formulations. It replaces Poly Court Wax.
If the concrete is painted, we recommend first applying two coats of Arizona Seal & Glaze or two coats of Poly Tri-Coat before applying Poly Ultra Glide. This will provide the ultimate UV protection for painted courts and painted lines.
If the concrete is very porous, uneven or cracked, multiple coats of Poly Tri-Coat can be applied to fill-in the court. Poly Tri-Coat provides a solid, strong base for Poly Ultra Glide. Poly Ultra Glide may then be applied as many times as necessary to obtain a smooth surface.
-
Poly Ultra Glide may be applied over old sealer or wax as long as the court shows no signs of peeling or whitening.
-
Clean court thoroughly with Poly Court Neutralizer. (At the beginning of the season it is usually necessary to scrub with an automatic buffer and a red pad).
-
Always rinse court with a clean mop and cold water.
-
Apply two medium coats of Poly Ultra Glide with a T-Bar Applicator.
Allow 60 minutes or more of drying time between coats of Poly Ultra Glide depending on weather conditions. Do not apply to extremely hot or damp concrete.
Buffing will enhance the shine, produce greater slip, and will increase the hardness and smoothness of the film.
CAUTION: THIS PRODUCT IS MADE TO BE SLIPPERY. DO NOT APPLY ON OR NEAR WALKWAYS.
[Top]
Court Restoration
Poly Ultra Spray Buff Treatment is the most exciting innovation in shuffleboard maintenance that has ever been developed. It replaces the mop and bucket. A court can be restored to a clean, bright, slick shine without the use of water, without making a mess! It is a simple, cost effective method of maintaining a shuffleboard that will prolong the time between the average strip, seal and wax procedure.
-
Poly Ultra Spray Buff Treatment is most effective if used on a court which has been sealed with Arizona Seal & Glaze or Poly Tri-Coat and waxed with Poly Ultra Glide.
-
Dust mop court.
-
Spray light mist of Poly Ultra Spray Buff Treatment on small sections of court and buff dry using a high-speed buffer with a white, light blue or hoghair pad. (A slow-speed buffer may be used but, it is not quite as effective.)
-
Repeat the above step down the center of the court if wear in this area is more visible.
CAUTION: THIS PRODUCT IS MADE TO BE SLIPPERY. DO NOT APPLY ON OR NEAR WALKWAYS.
Preparing Discs
Speed Spray is a quick and simple way of reconditioning a shuffleboard disc. A small amount sprayed on the bottom of a disc restores the disc to a shiny brilliance, makes it glide easier and play faster.
-
Shake bottle well before using.
-
Spray small amount of Speed Spray on bottom of disc. Spread product with a dry terry cloth towel.
-
Allow material to dry. Hand buff with a dry terry cloth towel.
-
Apply second coat if needed.
CAUTION: THIS PRODUCT IS MADE TO BE EXTREMELY SLIPPERY. DO NOT APPLY ON OR NEAR WALKWAYS.
[Top]
Applying Court Dressing
Poly Glide Shuffleboard Court Dressing has been formulated to provide even more speed to the sliding disc than accomplished by just using liquid products. The particle size is controlled, the beads are treated to be anti-static, and the amount of beads is carefully apportioned to create a product that is fast and durable. A special process removes the fines and the oversized raw materials making this product as clean and dust free as possible. Little or no residue is left on the court. (A Closer Look)
-
Poly Glide can be applied by sprinkling it on the court directly from a wide mouthed jar or by using a court dressing applicator.
-
Used court dressing should not be mixed with new court dressing. Dirt will contaminate new dressing. However, if stored separately, Poly Glide may be used more than once.
Poly Blaze is a Tournament style court dressing. A faster mix for Diamond Polished Courts. Resistant to light winds. Passes through 5/32”Spreader holes.
Poly Neutral Beads are styrene beads which have been treated to be anti-static. They can be added to Poly Glide to make the dressing faster.
Poly Wind Resister Court Dressing is an all bead, wind resistant court dressing. The styrene beads have been treated with a special emulsion that makes the dressing hold fast to a court even on those days when strong breezes blow regular court dressing off the court.
Poly Wind Guard is a newly formulated wind resistant product which combines the durability and speed of styrene beads with the visibility of cornmeal. Created to be economical without affecting the finished surface of a concrete shuffleboard.
CAUTION: THESE PRODUCTS ARE MADE TO BE EXTREMELY SLIPPERY. DO NOT USE ANY OF THESE PRODUCTS ON DANCE FLOORS OR NEAR WALKWAYS.
Periodic Court Maintenance
Poly Court Neutralizer is a gentle neutral cleaner that removes dirt from a shuffleboard court without affecting the silicone in the finish. It was made especially to extend the effectiveness of our complete line of Poly Glide coatings.
The following maintenance should be performed if a shuffleboard is used daily, and/or if Poly Wind Guard is used regularly.
-
Dust mop court before and after playing.
-
Clean the court weekly using 1 ounce of Poly Court Neutralizer to 1 gallon of water. More is not better!
-
Mop on product, then rinse thoroughly with a clean mop and cold water.
-
If courts are slowing down or looking dull, apply two medium coats of Poly Ultra Glide or restore with Poly Ultra Spray Buff Treatment.
[Top]
Equipment
A well stocked equipment room is a must for the proper maintenance of a shuffleboard court.
There are certain items required to maintain a shuffleboard efficiently. Updating old material and disposing of all unnecessary clutter should be done at the beginning of every season. Replacing old, dirty mopheads, buffer pads, dustmops and rags will save on maintenance time during the season. Any half empty gallons of wax or sealer should also be discarded. An inventory list is helpful and should be kept-up on a monthly basis.
Necessary Equipment:
-
T-Bar Applicator Complete
-
Two clean synthetic string mopheads with handles (for stripping only)
-
36" Microfiber Wet Mop Set (for cleaning)
-
Mop bucket and wringer
-
Soft bristled 36" broom
-
36" Microfiber Dust Mop
-
Terrycloth towels
-
Automatic slow-speed buffer (175-350 rpm). To be primarily used for scrubbing and stripping, but may be used for buffing.
-
Buffer pads:
-
White, light blue or hoghair for buffing
-
Red for light scrubbing
-
Black or brown for stripping
Optional:
-
High-speed buffer (1500 rpm). To be used for buffing only!
[Top]
Troubleshooting
Stripping:
-
Proper equipment such as an automatic slow-speed scrubber, new stripping pads, decent mops with handles and buckets with wringers are necessary to perform the stripping procedure. A high-speed buffer should not be used for stripping!
-
The proper dilution ratio of stripper for the amount of old finish that is being removed and the proper dwell time need to be determined before stripping begins. Often, there is more finish on the court than expected. Allow time for the chemistry to do its work.
-
Poly Glide strippers have been formulated to remove Poly Glide finishes. Years of build-up may require more aggressive stripping methods.
-
Weather patterns have a tendency to affect courts adversely. Extreme heat, rainfall and freezing temperatures can cause irregular film formation. It is always a good idea to watch the weekly weather forcast before applying court finishes.
-
Method, Man and Material are the 3-M's of stripping. Each is essential to perform the stripping process successfully. We have found one or more of these items to be missing upon reviewing problem courts.
Cleaning:
-
A court cannot be properly cleaned and rinsed using unclean mops or dirty water.
-
Only use 1 ounce of Poly Court Neutralizer to a gallon of water. More is not better!
-
Using the 36" Microfiber Wet Mop Set makes this job a lot easier!
-
Aways rinse court with a clean mop and cold water after neutralizing.
Always remember shuffleboards are like snowflakes—there are no two that are alike. If problems persist, please contact Poly Glide, Inc. at (800) 921-1722.
Happy Shuffling!
[Top]
|
