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Author Topic: Cost to oil one lane  (Read 32505 times)

bowl400

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Cost to oil one lane
« on: September 16, 2015, 12:56:08 PM »
Wondering if anyone knows how much it costs to oil one lane with a 40 foot long house pattern using Kegel Fire and/or Ice conditioner.  Have bowled 3 different centers so far starting this winter and all 3 featured short/lightly oiled patterns.  I was told that the centers are just trying to save a little money.
« Last Edit: September 16, 2015, 02:14:08 PM by bowl400 »
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avabob

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Re: Cost to oil one lane
« Reply #31 on: September 17, 2015, 11:56:42 AM »
Another problem you have is surfaces are getting old.  I bowl on a 16 year old anvil lane surface in one league.  The THS has plenty of oil volume and I often play really weak with my Ride outside 10 for a game.  However the middles are so trashed from 10 to 15 that I quickly have to jump 5 boards left and go to something stronger like my polished Black Widow.  By the 4th game I am playing 20 out to 10.  Not a problem, but I do think back to the days of double shift leagues when we could still start out to the right of 15 board at 9 oclock.  This with less than half the volume of oil we would typically see today. 
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Radical In RI

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Re: Cost to oil one lane
« Reply #32 on: September 17, 2015, 12:06:47 PM »
I have a league (24 teams/mixed) that uses Kegel High Street (21.10 volume and 44ft) For a pattern that long, the volume isn't very much at all.  The league coordinator who chose the condition said "it helps the lady bowlers and rev deficient players still get some hook"  I'm bowling with this group this year and the strongest ball i can use is a Vintage LT48.  Averages in this league are HUGE in comparison to our standard house shot which is White 2 (41 feet with 25.45 volume)  one bowler last year under the same conditions averaged 227 on the High Street and 210 on the White 2, big difference considering it's the same center.

But anyways to answer your question about why the centers would make the decision not to oil to save pennies, I think John Taffer from Bar Rescue said something along the lines of "Stopping to pick up dimes instead of trying to get more business to make dollars'



Quote from: Good Times Good Times on September 17, 2015, 11:03:53 AM
So we've seen from a few people here that the savings is extremely minimal at best, so that leads me to ask:  Why do centers continue to rationalize using less oil when it's shown it doesn't lead to savings? 
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avabob

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Re: Cost to oil one lane
« Reply #33 on: September 17, 2015, 12:16:26 PM »
Biggest issue for most non scratch senior leagues is slow balls speeds causing burn out.  If I wanted to help the most seniors I would go to a long buff with a heavy crown in the middle.  Funny that the highest scoring sport and PBA patterns are the long patterns.  Toughest are the 38-40 foot patterns that tend to be flatter.  Even the long patterns are attacked more effectively by strong core pearls than by aggressive shelled balls. 

Digressing a bit, most people today probably don't realize that the original lane conditioning rules of the 70s were aimed at taking away the hold area in the middle.  The ABC rules makers didn't realize that a new breed of power player was emerging that could exploit unlimited swing area more effectively than us traditional guys could exploit the hold area.  Nothing I like better than matching my low rev low speed roll up against a high rev kid on a 45 or longer pattern.   
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DynoLess Daddy

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Re: Cost to oil one lane
« Reply #34 on: September 17, 2015, 01:14:26 PM »
Cost to oil the lanes has variables:
1. Oil type
2. Cleaner Type
3. Liner duster type

From this you need the volume of the pattern and the volume of the cleaner.  Cost will be dependent on the above and then how applied.

quote author=bowl400 link=topic=309102.msg2536736#msg2536736 date=1442426168]
Wondering if anyone knows how much it costs to oil one lane with a 40 foot long house pattern using Kegel Fire and/or Ice conditioner.  Have bowled 3 different centers so far starting this winter and all 3 featured short/lightly oiled patterns.  I was told that the centers are just trying to save a little money.
[/quote]
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downstroker7

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Re: Cost to oil one lane
« Reply #35 on: September 18, 2015, 10:49:03 AM »
Has anyone been successful in getting a center to increase oil volume? If so what course of action did you take? I bowl I three different houses and only one has this issue. I'm dropping this league if conditions persist.
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12XSECH

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Re: Cost to oil one lane
« Reply #36 on: September 18, 2015, 11:06:51 AM »
it costs about $1.25 per lane...so I'm told
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xrayjay

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Re: Cost to oil one lane
« Reply #37 on: September 18, 2015, 11:10:16 AM »
Honestly, the house that I bowl leagues with lower volume and shorter length, is my go to bowling center. There is oil, but not enough for those how prefer a little more units like myself. Longer patterns is my cup of tea. But still, this "dryer" house is my favorite.

1. I have to work for my 200+ average.

2. The other house with the same distance from my house, I have averaged a dozen pins more without really try. My pocket is very wide lol.

I know many bowlers left for the higher scoring house and good for them.
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JohnP

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Re: Cost to oil one lane
« Reply #38 on: September 18, 2015, 06:37:25 PM »
Quote from: 12XSECH on September 18, 2015, 11:06:51 AM
it costs about $1.25 per lane...so I'm told

Probably true, but the oil is a very small part of that.  Labor is the largest part.  --  JohnP










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luv2C10falll

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Re: Cost to oil one lane
« Reply #39 on: September 18, 2015, 07:51:43 PM »
Yaaaa.....those jr high school kids are pretty expensive to employ !!
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BowlingforSoup

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Re: Cost to oil one lane
« Reply #40 on: September 18, 2015, 08:57:52 PM »
About 4 hours a night our labor at one house is laying on the couch on the other side of the house watching tv.Cant say labor for most of the night labor is doing nothing.
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luv2C10falll

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Re: Cost to oil one lane
« Reply #41 on: September 18, 2015, 09:04:03 PM »
Same at my bowling establishment  !
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itsallaboutme

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Re: Cost to oil one lane
« Reply #42 on: September 18, 2015, 09:37:09 PM »
Just because the bowling center you bowl at is poorly managed doesn't mean there is no "labor cost" associated with doing the lanes.  And for the guys that think you can oil lanes for $1.25 each I have some advice.  Do not go into business for yourself, you will fail miserably.
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BowlingforSoup

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Re: Cost to oil one lane
« Reply #43 on: September 19, 2015, 08:22:31 AM »
Really don't make much sense to have a 20 to 30 thousand dollar lane machine and not use it to protect your lanes.Saying oil cost to much is crazy.Wonder how much 40 synthetic lanes cost from being wore out from not oiling.Regardless of cost that should be preventative maintenance.
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luv2C10falll

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Re: Cost to oil one lane
« Reply #44 on: September 19, 2015, 09:47:42 AM »
That's been our thinking the past few years .It's no wonder Brunswick sold it's bowling alleys !!
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12XSECH

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Re: Cost to oil one lane
« Reply #45 on: September 22, 2015, 06:04:01 AM »
I have been in business since 1989....doing great, thank you! So tell us genius...How much does it cost to oil a lane?
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