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Author Topic: Finger Cracking  (Read 1996 times)

Strapper_Squared

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Finger Cracking
« on: June 21, 2006, 02:00:10 AM »
I have a ball with a moderate amount of cracking above the ring finger and in the bridge.  The cracking above the ring is between the hole and the pin (but not touching the pin).  There isn't any missing material, just the cracks.  I had always been under the impression that the best method for fixing this problem was to drill out the cracked material and fully plug the entire area.  At times, this can lead to a rather large plug and on more than one occassion, I have seen the fixed plug crack again.  What is the best method for fixing something like this?  Is it best to drill out the cracked material and plug the entire area (maybe plugging 1/2 at a time to minimize the amount of heat generated during the curing process)?  Or would something like just putting a large plug dam around the finger holes and all the cracked area (without drill out the cracked material) and allowing the plug material to seep into the cracked area work?  What is the general opinion of the PSO's out there?

S^2
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Jeff Ussery

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Re: Finger Cracking
« Reply #1 on: June 21, 2006, 10:12:07 AM »
Your best method to repair this is to remove all of the cracked material.  You just have to be aware that when you start drilling into areas around existing holes and the riser pin, you never really know how much material may additional crack or come out.

More importantly, you should try to eliminate the cause for this happening.  There are two main reasons that this occurs in bowling balls:

1) Edges of gripping holes not sanded or beveled

Many pro shop operators refuse to slightly bevel the edge of finger holes that grips are being installed in.  I've never understood why they don't take the extra 10 seconds.  It really does prevent the circular hairline cracking on the surface of the ball.

2) Using glue too close to the coverstock material

Some fast bonding glues can actually attack the coverstock chemicals making them much more brittle than normal.  When installing finger grips, always make sure to glue below the coverstock/outer core seperation line.

Good luck!

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Jeff Ussery
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jimensminger

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Re: Finger Cracking
« Reply #2 on: June 21, 2006, 10:46:51 AM »
some guys use a small thumb slug cut in half.

DynoLess Daddy

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Re: Finger Cracking
« Reply #3 on: June 21, 2006, 04:55:02 PM »
Prefer the thumb slug. It holds up better to future cracks. In the advent that both fingers have the cracks above you can utilize the slugs (like a master card symbol)this is of course in lieu of continual plugging that happens in some regions climate.
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