sandbagging?
 

Guys,
I have heard about this technique for tweaking using sand paper...how does that work? How do you do it? Why is it effective?

PLMK, I would love to make my bases a little stronger!

Thanks in advance,
Mark

I use an emery board.. (or whatever you call the thing that women use on their finger nails).. The one I have is a foam type in the middle.. And a fine and extra fine surface on the other two sides.. Got it at a Walgreens Drug Store. OH.. And it's pink in color. I do know some use 600 grit sandpaper.

I use it on the rear prongs on both the Tornado Alley and previous to that, the Miggle TTC shells.. I run them over the approx 6-8 inch long emery board twice.. And it makes them stronger. I've don't use it on the front prongs.

The thing is.. When you use sandpaper.. The strength DOES go away.
The same bases I used in the Tornado Alley Championship Weekend last August, the same bases that gave a very mediocre player (ME), the championship.. Can't compete with anything I tweak now.

Why does it work? I don't know exactly. Course.. I don't really know why some of the other tweaking techniques make the base stronger either.. :D

Good Luck
Take Care

Mark,

Basically it's removing the finish on the end (tips) of the prongs. Now you have a surface that will create more friction. More friction = more strength.

Wally

To further elaborate on this, it is like a bald tire (untweaked/flat surface) and a tire with tread (tweaked/grooved surface).

OK, but how?
 

Guys,
First, thanks so much for responding to my post, I really appreciate it!

Next question, how do you do it? Do you hold the prongs down with your finger, do you just do the ends, what exactly do you do and how? I am really excited about learning this technique, I have tweaked some very strong ITZ dials and if this works, maybe I can actually compete at the Seawall Brawl (not win, just compete).

Again, thanks guys!
Mark