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Author Topic: Is a cracked bridge really anything to worry about???  (Read 18212 times)

Ric Clint

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Is a cracked bridge really anything to worry about???
« on: October 21, 2003, 02:53:48 PM »
I've got a ball that has the bridge cracked and I need to know if it will hurt anything to leave it like it is in the long run??? Do I need to get it plugged and fixed or is it fine like it is?

The crack won't spread throughout the ball will it? Or, spread down to the core and split or disconnect the core or anything will it???



Thanks!





 

agroves

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Re: Is a cracked bridge really anything to worry about???
« Reply #1 on: October 22, 2003, 07:07:43 AM »
Ric,

You probably have nothing to worry about.  Keep a close eye on it and if it starts to crack in another direction plug it, if not leave it be.  The major cause of bridge cracks is not beveling the finger holes and/or drilling the bridge wrong.

Andrew
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JohnP

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Re: Is a cracked bridge really anything to worry about???
« Reply #2 on: October 22, 2003, 11:49:06 AM »
I have a ball in the shop now that has a cracked bridge.  I'm going to pull the finger inserts out, use tape on the inside of the finger holes to dam the crack, and pour plug material into the crack.  Two reasons, first the customer is concerned and second to try to prevent a hunk of the bridge from breaking out forcing me to plug and redrill the fingers (costly to the customer, the ball is two years old and the warranty has run out).  Andrew -- when the customer wants finger grips, I don't normally bevel the finger holes, let the grips serve as the bevel.  Do you think this could contribute to bridge cracking?  If so, how much do you bevel them?  By the way, this is the first ball I've had that cracked at the bridge, but have had several Ebonite balls (and this ball is Ebonite also) that have cracked from the finger to the pin or totally around the ball with no obvious starting spot.  Any one else having this problem with Ebonite balls?  --  JohnP

Strider

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Re: Is a cracked bridge really anything to worry about???
« Reply #3 on: October 22, 2003, 04:21:57 PM »
quote:
when the customer wants finger grips, I don't normally bevel the finger holes, let the grips serve as the bevel.  Do you think this could contribute to bridge cracking?


I'm no driller, but I've heard from several good people here that not beveling (even when using inserts) leads to cracking.  I think you just need enough to remove the sharp edge.
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JohnP

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Re: Is a cracked bridge really anything to worry about???
« Reply #4 on: October 22, 2003, 11:39:52 PM »
king of the mill -- Thanks for the info.  I'll start beveling the finger hole edges for grip holes.
amish_ashaman -- I would drill out the cracked bridge before plugging, at least deep enough to get through the coverstock.
Regarding the ball with cracked bridge I worked on today - I used Quick Patch, sprayed with the accellerator before putting the patch on, worked it down into the crack with a safety pin, sprayed with the accellerator again and let it set up.  When I pulled the tape from the holes, some of the crack wasn't filled, so I used the Quick Patch again, inside the finger holes, working it in with the safety pin.  Let that set up and sanded it out, and it looks good.  Time will tell if it will hold up.  --  JohnP

agroves

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Re: Is a cracked bridge really anything to worry about???
« Reply #5 on: October 23, 2003, 12:01:39 AM »
I second what King of the Mill said.  All you need to do is take the sharp edge with a sander.  As for Ebonite balls, yes I have had quite a few crack from the pin to the finger holes.  I don't know what the deal is with those.  The only thing I have changed is not drilling within 1/2" of the pin.  I try to stay at least that far away from it.

Andrew
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Brickguy221

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Re: Is a cracked bridge really anything to worry about???
« Reply #6 on: October 23, 2003, 01:12:30 AM »
Guess I need to knock on wood, but I have never had a ball crack from the finger hole to the Pin. However I have had several crack through the bridge between the finger holes. I've bowled with them this way for weeks at a time, until I had time to give the ball up to the Pro Shop for a couple days. The Shop simply drilled out the cracked area, plugged and redrilled. Did not effect the ball's erformance at all.


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Doc Hollywood

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Re: Is a cracked bridge really anything to worry about???
« Reply #7 on: October 23, 2003, 12:15:32 PM »
Best way is to drill out the bridge and plug it all including the fingers and then redrill.

Usually a cracked bridge also loses it's bond with the core and if you just try to patch it it will break out again.
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