BallReviews

General Category => Coverstock Preparation => Topic started by: Bowldozer on May 17, 2019, 01:59:02 PM

Title: Urethane maintenance
Post by: Bowldozer on May 17, 2019, 01:59:02 PM
Hi there,

I’ve just bought True Motion urethane a month go and have absolutely no idea on how to clean it apart of wiping the oil on it with alcohol.

Having watched USBC coverstock tests video on oil absorption, I know urethane coverstock doesn’t eat oil.

I bake regularly my other reactive bowls.

Would urethane require same treatment?

Thanks for the inputs.






Title: Re: Urethane maintenance
Post by: CoorZero on May 17, 2019, 02:17:40 PM
Keeping the surface at a fresh grit is more of a concern than oil extraction for urethane. Like, by a lot. I would just clean it however you clean your other equipment.
Title: Re: Urethane maintenance
Post by: BowlingForDonuts on May 17, 2019, 03:50:05 PM
Keeping the surface at a fresh grit is more of a concern than oil extraction for urethane. Like, by a lot. I would just clean it however you clean your other equipment.

^this.  Get yourself some scotch brites from Home Depot paint section (maroon, black and grey for example) and touch it up by hand every few sessions (abralon or other pads fine too of course).  Oil extraction is seldom needed with urethane but resurface it like you do your other reactives schedule wise.
Title: Re: Urethane maintenance
Post by: leftybowler70 on May 18, 2019, 01:30:24 PM
Keeping the surface at a fresh grit is more of a concern than oil extraction for urethane. Like, by a lot. I would just clean it however you clean your other equipment.

^this.  Get yourself some scotch brites from Home Depot paint section (maroon, black and grey for example) and touch it up by hand every few sessions (abralon or other pads fine too of course).  Oil extraction is seldom needed with urethane but resurface it like you do your other reactives schedule wise.

I concur fellow's, well stated.
Title: Re: Urethane maintenance
Post by: Bowldozer on May 19, 2019, 01:43:57 PM
Thank you for your replies.
It’s just that I’m from France and need to have a look at DIY centers to find any scotch brites. We do have MIRKA abralons though.

I don’t have a ball turner either. Used to watch some fellows on youtube wet sanding it..
It’s tricky to do manually.. The local proshop takes 10€ to resurface.
It’s not pricey but when you’ve got 10 dull bowls.. with those of my partner’s .. combined altogether..

Anyway.. it’s very insightful. Thanks again guys.
Title: Re: Urethane maintenance
Post by: BowlingForDonuts on May 19, 2019, 11:33:24 PM
Thank you for your replies.
It’s just that I’m from France and need to have a look at DIY centers to find any scotch brites. We do have MIRKA abralons though.

I don’t have a ball turner either. Used to watch some fellows on youtube wet sanding it..
It’s tricky to do manually.. The local proshop takes 10€ to resurface.
It’s not pricey but when you’ve got 10 dull bowls.. with those of my partner’s .. combined altogether..

Anyway.. it’s very insightful. Thanks again guys.

Abralons work great too just prefer scotch brites cause cheaper and less blisters when hand sanding. As for resurfacing if anything my urethane tends to develop a track slower than my reactives so can probably resurface a bit less frequently.  Especially if hand sand frequently.  Good luck.
Title: Re: Urethane maintenance
Post by: Dave81644 on June 01, 2019, 10:23:31 AM
you would be using the pads to "touch up" the surface, not "resurface"
I do this regularly with alot of equipment.
Cleaning them is a must, surface touch up doesn't remove anywhere near as much cover-stock as refinishing does.
Scothbrite pads here in the states are far cheaper and last longer than Abralon or similar pads
Title: Re: Urethane maintenance
Post by: BeerLeague on June 04, 2019, 10:50:43 AM
urethane balls do not absorb oil..... this is what makes a "reactive" ball "reactive".

All you need to do it periodically refresh the surface with the grit of your choice.  Cleaning the ball is helpful but understand the first couple shots you throw with a freshly cleaned urethane ball will hook considerably more than one that has a little oil on the cover.
Title: Re: Urethane maintenance
Post by: avabob on June 04, 2019, 09:59:40 PM
Urethane formulas hsve changed over the years, but  urethane from the 80s did absorb oil.  Anyone who ever owned a blue hammer could see it change from powder blue to a sea blue green.   
Title: Re: Urethane maintenance
Post by: leftybowler70 on June 05, 2019, 05:09:01 PM
Agree avabob.
Title: Re: Urethane maintenance
Post by: Aloarjr810 on June 05, 2019, 05:39:51 PM
avabob is right, anybody that left their urethane ball out in the car all day could tell you that.

Many times I had my urethane balls in the car while at work and then go directly to the lanes. Open the bag and oil would be running off it.

Urethane balls absorb oil but at much slower rate than reactives

This is part of the reason why A lot of bowlers today don't see it today, because they don't use them all the time like we did back then (or keep them as long), so they don't really have time to get saturated with oil like they did back then.

Plus today bowlers clean their balls a bit more often than back then, giving them even less chance to absorb oil.

But they will absorb it and it can build up.

Title: Re: Urethane maintenance
Post by: BowlingForDonuts on June 05, 2019, 06:07:35 PM
Urethane formulas hsve changed over the years, but  urethane from the 80s did absorb oil.  Anyone who ever owned a blue hammer could see it change from powder blue to a sea blue green.

Same thing with my Slate Blue Gargoyle.  Not sure if its oil or age though as never been able to pull any oil out of my old Blue Hammer or my Gargoyle.