win a ball from Bowling.com

Author Topic: Surface Maintenence suggestions  (Read 2124 times)

stopncrank

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 965
Surface Maintenence suggestions
« on: February 08, 2011, 01:35:08 AM »
After seeing some bad ball reaction for some time now, I borrowed my friends Rejuvenator and got the oil out of my equipment. A couple of them in particular where really oil soaked, a 607A and Virtual Gravity.

 

So I guess my main question is what is the best soloution or tips to slow the oil soaking down? I have noticed bowlers in my area using alcohol on a towel in between throw, is this legal now? And if so, will this help my problem? Also, are duller surfaces more prone to absorb more oil than a polished ball?


Still taking your lunch money one strike at a time, just without a Mission in my bag....
DV8 Regional Staff
www.coolwick.com

 

Locke

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1482
Re: Surface Maintenence suggestions
« Reply #1 on: February 08, 2011, 09:41:45 AM »
Dull equipment will absorb more. And yes, alcohol on a towel is legal and it will help a lot.

Always be sincere, even when you don't mean it
Always be sincere, even when you don't mean it.

stopncrank

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 965
Re: Surface Maintenence suggestions
« Reply #2 on: February 08, 2011, 09:49:04 AM »
Thanks for the response, Locke. I have seen more and more people going to wiping down with Alcohol between shots, so I will give it a try. I guess this is just an area where I have been lazy lately.

 

It is amazing to see the difference in ball reaction after a Rejuvenation though, now I just have to adjust quicker.


Still taking your lunch money one strike at a time, just without a Mission in my bag....
DV8 Regional Staff
www.coolwick.com

charlest

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 24523
Re: Surface Maintenence suggestions
« Reply #3 on: February 08, 2011, 11:58:21 AM »
May I suggest you don't use alcohol to wipe the ball down between shots. Alcohol can clean some dirt off the ball but it will do nothing to control or remove lane oil, which is the culprit you need to control. A clean micro-fiber towel  is probably better than using alcohol on the towel between shots/frames. If you feel you need to use a cleaner during bowling, try Valentino's Remedy or Zapp-It. They are approved during bowling and will do a better job than alcohol.
 
To truly take care of oil affecting your ball, use a strong cleaner like Hook-It or Lanemasters cleaner after bowling and before putting the balls into your  bags and certainly before leaving the center. Use the strongest cleaner, Clean and Dull, every 9 games or so, when using dull or matte finish balls on heavier oil patterns. If the oil is truly heavy, use it when you get home after every bowling session.
 
Put your balls thru the extraction process every 50 games or earlier if you see a loss in performance or hitting power. 
 
Strong balls, like the VG, will absorb the oil into the coverstock within 15 minutes or so of throwing it. So cleaning the ball after bowling is imperative. Using a stronger absorber like micro-fiber towels between frames will also go a long way towards inhibiting loss of performance. 
 
One other thing, maybe you didn't realize but these new balls need to have their surface refreshed much more often to maintain their performance, too. Bowling will wear down the surface and flatten down the hills and valleys of the sanding lines. This includes super dulls balls like 1000 grit Abralon, super-fine finished balls like 4000 grit Abralon and even the grit level under polished balls. They all need to be refreshed on a regular basis. Otherwise, throw them in the garbage and buy a new ball.
 
stopncrank wrote on 2/8/2011 10:49 AM:
Thanks for the response, Locke. I have seen more and more people going to wiping down with Alcohol between shots, so I will give it a try. I guess this is just an area where I have been lazy lately.

 

It is amazing to see the difference in ball reaction after a Rejuvenation though, now I just have to adjust quicker.


Still taking your lunch money one strike at a time, just without a Mission in my bag....


"None are so blind as those who will not see."
"Some bowlers are crazy as pickled cats."
 
"None are so blind as those who will not see."

stopncrank

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 965
Re: Surface Maintenence suggestions
« Reply #4 on: February 08, 2011, 01:16:37 PM »
Actually i do touch up the surfaces pretty regularly, Im always tinkering trying to find that perfect surface for each ball.

 

Where I have been lacking is cleaning and maintenence. Theres alot more work involved to keep stuff today in top shape. After extracting all the oil from our equipment, I went over the ones I wanted polished with Storm's Reacta Clean n Polish. Thats puts a decent shine on the ball by hand. I have been tinkering with Abralon surfaces by hand here lately with pretty good results.


Still taking your lunch money one strike at a time, just without a Mission in my bag....
DV8 Regional Staff
www.coolwick.com