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Author Topic: smooth off finger inserts?  (Read 16053 times)

kleptic

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smooth off finger inserts?
« on: October 02, 2007, 06:17:08 PM »
do you guys smooth off your inserts or try to glue them in and keep pushing the edges down in different places to try to get them in just right? I don't know if its my finger pitches or what but trying to get them in and even with the hole without cutting them off seems hard.

my proshop sands them off with something. not sure what. anybody know what to use?

how do you all like to do it?

thanks



 

AngloBowler

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Re: smooth off finger inserts?
« Reply #1 on: October 03, 2007, 03:14:32 AM »
Acetone works really nicely. If my inserts are too big I might cut them but leave a little over the surface and finish with acetone to give a smooth even finish.
Depending on the depth of the finger holes, you might not be able to avoid cutting the inserts down.
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dizzyfugu

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Re: smooth off finger inserts?
« Reply #2 on: October 03, 2007, 04:07:24 AM »
My pro shop just puts the inserts into the drilled holes and pushes them until they are flush with the surface, as well as fine tuning with orientation for ovals and power grips. Then a "dry test" for the grip and fel is made, and just when everything is O.K. the inserts are fixated with a little of gel super glue at both insert sides to hold them in place - I like the feeling of this solution, because the inserts remain a little flexible and are easy to get out if need be, without much harm to the ball and the insert itself. I also had a ball that had the insert really cemented to the holes, and this had a much different feeling to the touch, and it was a catastrophy when I had to change them after a resufacing (they protruded too far from the ball).
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DON DRAPER

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Re: smooth off finger inserts?
« Reply #3 on: October 03, 2007, 05:53:56 AM »
i just fiddle with them till i get them just right.

Edited on 10/3/2007 3:23 PM

Strapper_Squared

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Re: smooth off finger inserts?
« Reply #4 on: October 03, 2007, 07:10:22 AM »
With the pitches I used in my fingers, the grips would always stick out (sometimes quite a bit).  I came up with a "method" that works quite well.  Take the grip and flip it 180 degrees and insert it into the hole all the way to the bottom (if you wanted to use the lift for instance, insert the grip with the lift side down and at the top of the hole).  Take a pen and trace around the outside of the grip that is sticking out of the ball, flush with the ball surface.  Use a utility knife (or scissors) to trim the grip along the line that was drawn.  Now insert the grips the desired way (in this case, using the lift) and in most cases it will be flush or very close to flush (depending on how extreme the pitches actually are) to the surface of the ball.  

My tiny home shop where I grew up as a kid would just put the grips in as far as possible, then smooth them off with a table-mounted shoe buffer.  Worked well when using ovals... not so well with lifts .

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EboHammer4ever

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Re: smooth off finger inserts?
« Reply #5 on: October 03, 2007, 07:14:41 AM »
First of all, drill the finger holes to the depth of the insert you are installing.  For Vise Grips, that is at least 1 5/8th, if I remember right without the insert in front of me.  Turbo grips are at least 2".  I can't tell you how mad I get when I change grips for someone and the guy who drilled the ball originally didn't drill the finger holes deep enough and I have to cut the grips in half with my razor knife!!!  You are not effecting the static weights enough if you just drill deeper.

My technique for gluing grips is to start on the inside of the grip toward the bridge, then glue the opposite side once I've pushed the grip flush with the ball and then glue the other 2 sides.  This make them flush for me.  I do use a Loctite gel glue so the glue doesn't run all over the place and very rarely do I need to clean up with Acetone.

azguy

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Re: smooth off finger inserts?
« Reply #6 on: October 03, 2007, 08:13:52 AM »
I took a small screwdriver, bent the tip almost 75 degrees ( you bet I broke several until I got one to bend right) but I put the insert in, lowest side glued first (outside of grip) then pull up under the insert until the top is level with the ball. Glue it and off you go.

BTW, the screwdriver is a great tool to hold back the insert while you put in the glue. Also holding the insert for a couple seconds while the glue hardens.


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Greg T

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Re: smooth off finger inserts?
« Reply #7 on: October 03, 2007, 08:23:08 AM »

 I just use a piece of 1 1/2" dowel rod and push it down flush with the ball surface. Takes all of three seconds.




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DON DRAPER

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Re: smooth off finger inserts?
« Reply #8 on: October 03, 2007, 03:25:02 PM »
i watched norm duke for so many years on a telecast fiddle with the tape and/or cork in his thumbhole.......if that's what it takes to get you ready then so be it.

qstick777

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Re: smooth off finger inserts?
« Reply #9 on: October 03, 2007, 03:49:41 PM »
I try to push the sides down flush when I glue them in.  If they stick out a little bit, who really cares?  The inserts don't touch the lane anyway.
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John D Davis

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Re: smooth off finger inserts?
« Reply #10 on: October 03, 2007, 04:11:03 PM »
what I do is push the inserts flush with the hole to the outsides of the inserts that is... which makes the insides lower than the hole. I then glue the outsides and the pull the insides up with some plyers or something, and then glue the insides flush to the top of the hole. I know this dont make much sense the way I said it but u know what I mean....hope this helps...

Raven829

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Re: smooth off finger inserts?
« Reply #11 on: October 03, 2007, 04:11:06 PM »
quote:
I try to push the sides down flush when I glue them in.  If they stick out a little bit, who really cares?  The inserts don't touch the lane anyway.



In my case, I want them flush because of my spare shooting.  I generally don't use plastic at spares.  I prefer to roll the ball end-over-end.  When they are not flush, I roll over the grips.  

Don
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kleptic

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Re: smooth off finger inserts?
« Reply #12 on: October 03, 2007, 09:33:19 PM »
if they arent flush it makes using a ball spinner real annoying also.

qstick777

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Re: smooth off finger inserts?
« Reply #13 on: October 03, 2007, 11:39:11 PM »
quote:
quote:
I try to push the sides down flush when I glue them in.  If they stick out a little bit, who really cares?  The inserts don't touch the lane anyway.



In my case, I want them flush because of my spare shooting.  I generally don't use plastic at spares.  I prefer to roll the ball end-over-end.  When they are not flush, I roll over the grips.  

Don
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"On-base percentage is great if you can score runs and do something with that on-base percentage.  Clogging up the bases isn't that great to me. The problem we have to address more than anything is the home run problem."
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Makes sense.  I was just saying - looks wise it isn't important.  Plus, I've had a couple of balls crack on me recently, so if I have to choose between getting the insert flush or worrying about getting the glue too close to the coverstock, I choose the insert sticking out a little bit.  Just a little paranoid right now.

 Like others have said, just push them down flush when you glue them in - that's what I've seen the pro shops do.  A small screwdriver helps to bend the insert out of the way when applying the glue (as does using the loctite glue with the long applicator).  If you take your time it isn't that hard.
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laufaye

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Re: smooth off finger inserts?
« Reply #14 on: October 04, 2007, 01:04:58 AM »
Do it right or don't do it at all.
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