General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: danprince10 on February 12, 2011, 06:00:01 AM
Title: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: danprince10 on February 12, 2011, 06:00:01 AM
I've done the method before where I put it in a tub of hot water and would have to do it multiple times because the oil would keep seeping out and I would have to towel it off, but I just put my ball through the dishwasher and I didn't see any type of oil residue at all on it. Is that normal when you put it through the dishwasher, or does my dishwasher just not work for this method and I should go back to the tub?
Arsenal
Brunswick Power Groove
Roto Grip CellPearl
Brunswick Target Zone
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: Strider on February 12, 2011, 02:09:26 PM
It's probably fine. Because the dishwasher constantly rinses and drains, you just don't see the oil coming out. For me, the dishwasher performs better than the bucket method. I had a ball that still wasn't performing after the bucket method. I threw it in the dishwasher (heat/dry cycle OFF) and it was like a completely new ball.
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: Cobalt Bomb on February 12, 2011, 02:09:42 PM
Open the dishwasher shortly after starting the cycle and you will feel the oil on the ball. One of the reasons the dishwasher works so well is that the oil is carried away in the water, mostly in the wash cycle. That water is drained prior to the rinse cycle. After the rinse cycle, there is usually nothing left.
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: ruger311 on February 12, 2011, 02:36:35 PM
after you do the dishwasher method do you run the dishwasher once by itself to clean out any leftover oil residue so the dishes wont get messed up?
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: Cobalt Bomb on February 12, 2011, 02:51:53 PM
Never needed to. In reality, you are talking about a very small volume of oil, probably less than is usually in the foods on dishes. If there is any residual, it is easily broken up by the detergent in the next cycle.
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: kidlost2000 on February 12, 2011, 04:15:26 PM
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: ruger311 on February 12, 2011, 04:23:27 PM
So any pre preparation before dishwasher? Any amount of dishwasher detergent? Any aftercare?
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: danprince10 on February 12, 2011, 05:15:37 PM
Wow thanks for the responses everyone. Omni, that is really much easier than the old bucket method. Thanks guys!
Arsenal
Brunswick Power Groove
Roto Grip CellPearl
Brunswick Target Zone
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: Cobalt Bomb on February 12, 2011, 05:32:45 PM
Sand the ball with a green pad to open up the pores prior. Put the ball in the dishwasher with the holes down. Remember to turn off electric water heat and electric dry. No detergent is recommended. Refinish as desired when you are finished.
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: ruger311 on February 12, 2011, 07:25:04 PM
Green pad like scotch brite or some abralon pad?
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: ruger311 on February 12, 2011, 07:40:15 PM
What about the inserts any harm to them?
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: danprince10 on February 12, 2011, 07:41:55 PM
Bathing, and dishwashing my bowling balls hasn't given my inserts any trouble yet, you could always electrical tape the holes if you're worried, but simply putting the ball in face (holes) down prevents much water from going to the holes.
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: ruger311 on February 12, 2011, 07:48:42 PM
Sounds good thanks gonna give it a shot
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: Aloarjr810 on February 12, 2011, 08:17:16 PM
While sanding the ball first might not be needed all the time now
The point of it originally was to open the pores so that the dirt and grime and polishes that had been compacted into the porous surface over time was removed, because bowlers went longer times not cleaning their equipment if at all at the time the oil removal methods were first starting to be used. This helped make it easier for the oil to get out, because the pores were no longer plugged.
Now that people are taking better care of their equipment before it gets to the needs the oil removed stage, the sanding step might not as important.But that doesn't mean that you never do it, sometimes it might need to be done depending on the situation.
Edited by Aloarjr810 on 2/12/2011 at 9:20 PM
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: notsohotshot on February 12, 2011, 09:55:48 PM
I have a Copperhead that I have used the dishwasher method both ways,sanded and not sanded and from my experience it worked a lot better when I sanded the ball first and the cleaning lastest longer. Now I have the problem that I have done it again without much improvement and what improvement I got only lasted about 6 games. Any suggestions???
Edited by notsohotshot on 2/13/2011 at 10:25 AM
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: Cobalt Bomb on February 13, 2011, 01:50:41 AM
I always sand the ball. Besides, if its due for an oil extraction, its likely due for at least a surface touch up anyway. Will it work without it, probably. Will it work as well, I don't know.
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: charlest on February 13, 2011, 06:52:53 AM
Over time, those peaks and valleys get flattened by use. So balls need not just a surface refreshing (if it's final sanding is 2000 grit Abralon, then a refreshing is just redoing that 2000 grit surface.), they will, at some point in time, need to have the basic surface process done, from almost the base point. I'd suggest a thorough sanding with something like a (new) 500 grit Abralon pad, then a (new) 1000 grit pad, and then a final (new) 2000 grit pad (if that is the final grit level).
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: danprince10 on February 13, 2011, 08:29:49 AM
I've never sanded my stuff before and its always worked like new after I cleaned it. I can't compare how long it lasts though because obviously I've never sanded it before. My theory is if the oil can get in the ball when you throw it without caring about sanding/polish, why would it matter for getting it out?
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: charlest on February 13, 2011, 09:11:46 AM
Based on that theory if carbon monoxide from your car exhaust gets into your car from a small opening in the window, then you can get all of it out by opening the other window by the same small amount. Yes, of course it will but will it be soon enough. For a bowling ball will the surface as it is be enough to get all or most of the oil out? How will you know?
Why take a chance? Why not do it the recommended way to begin with?
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: justink on February 13, 2011, 11:37:43 AM
I am very interested in trying this method of cleaning my balls, I have quite the bucket method due to the unrealistic time it takes and not seeing much of a benefit. So I think I'll get out the old No Mercy, sand it down and put her in. Thanks for the idea
Omnipotent you seem to have a huge attitude on every post you do.I see you have a lot of knowledge and we all would listen so much more closely if you didn't cop such an attitude with how everyone else does things or how you put it "with their money". You can give your opinion without attitude, just get off your high horse and realize we are all bowlers trying to do the same thing. Knock all ten down. So don't make things so damn hard and get all riled up.
Live and let live.
"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men." -Gene Wilder
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: ruger311 on February 13, 2011, 02:08:20 PM
Just got done putting my storm reign supreme in dishwasher water only turned heated dry off. WOW it's super tacky again!
This worked good so far. Now to see how it reacts on the lanes
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: qstick777 on February 15, 2011, 09:10:50 AM
I'm going to assume you guys are putting the ball(s) on the bottom tray, right? I don't think I have 9 inches of clearance on the top shelf.
How do you deal with the little prongs on the bottom tray? Do you guys have dishwashers that have the prongs that collapse? My old dishwasher had those, but in my current one they are fixed. I'm not sure they are strong enough to support the weight of a ball without bending.
Has anybody done more than 1 ball at a time? Looks like 2, maybe even 4, will fit without any problems (seems typical dimensions are 24" x 24", but not sure if that is inside or outside dimensions).
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: ruger311 on February 15, 2011, 09:26:02 AM
I went top rack. The prongs collapse on both racks in mine. A friend did four of his at a time all on bottom and worked fine
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: danprince10 on February 15, 2011, 09:32:50 AM
I use the bottom rack, the prongs on mine don't collapse so what I did was take the foam pad out of the bottom of one of my ball bags set that on top of the prongs, and put the ball in its place on the foam pad.
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: Cobalt Bomb on February 15, 2011, 09:33:55 AM
I have done it 2 different ways on the bottom rack:
1) small bowl suspended on the tines.
2) I got a rack out of an old dishwasher that had one of those things that raise up in the middle. My dishwasher does not have that. The round area in the middle of the old rack is perfect for a bowling ball.
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: milorafferty on February 15, 2011, 09:52:39 AM
I use the bottom rack and my prongs don't fold down. I use an old Abralon pad, foam surface against the ball to prevent the indentations the prongs can leave. My top rack is removable, so I just take it out. I never do more than two balls at a time as that is a lot of weight on the little plastic wheels of the bottom rack.
I have sanded balls before putting them through the dishwasher and not sanded. I don't see a difference either way.
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: Steven on February 15, 2011, 10:37:46 AM
I've never tried the dishwasher method. I don't dispute that it should work (many folks attest to it), but I'm concerned that the bottom rack on my diswasher isn't strong enough to hold the weight of a ball without permanently bending the thin metal rods. It just doesn't seem designed for that kind of concentrated weight.
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: milorafferty on February 15, 2011, 10:47:02 AM
Yea, I agree with the weight issue, that is why I will only do two balls at one, although four would fit. A load of dishes MIGHT weigh 20 lbs, but that seems like a lot.
I don't use my regular dishwasher for it though. I think if I did, my GF would remove MY balls. LOL
I found an old portable dishwasher I use only for bowling balls at a flea market that works great.
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: OddBalls on February 15, 2011, 10:54:50 AM
The only time I sanded a ball was when I put my EPX through the dishwasher..
The reason was that the lanes polished the surface to such an extent that I wasn't able to get all of the oil out of that ball. Once I removed the "shine" off that ball and then gave it the treatment, all of the oil finally came out..
So, my take is that IF you have a solid with a low grit OOB finish that you're doing an extraction on, I would first take in back down to the OOB surface..
JMHO that worked for me..
Yes. it's I, the Inverted One..
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: ruger311 on February 15, 2011, 11:26:26 AM
Tried ball after dishwasher at lunch bowled 150/170/208 left a couple opens on the first two killed it for me
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: Steven on February 15, 2011, 11:35:34 AM
Removal of the personal junk (MY Balls) is exactly what I had in mind if I damaged my wife's diswasher :]
Unless I can do what you've done and get a portable dishwasher, I think I'll stick to the Rejuvinator. But I'm looking for an alternative because of all the oil sucking equipment I have that needs constant care. At $20 bucks a pop in the Rejuvinator, it can get expensive quick.
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: ruger311 on February 15, 2011, 02:43:14 PM
Heres a question. How often can/should/are you dishwashing the balls? If only water no soap I don't think it would ever hurt it might hurt for electric bill but that's it. A lot easier than putting manual labor into them
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: milorafferty on February 15, 2011, 03:01:18 PM
I think it is a function of the lane conditions where the ball, and the type of ball being used. If the lane pattern has heavy oil and you are using a Brunswick Fury, you will need to remove oil a lot more often than with a dry condition and using something like a Storm Fast.
I tend to cycle my Roto Cell about every 30 to 40 games at this point. It seems that it doesn't take as long for it to load up with oil as it did when it was new. When it was new, I didn't cycle it until it had around 90 games or so. Once you have done it a few times, you will know when it needs it as your reaction will just not be there anymore.
I don't feel running it though the dishwasher negates the need to use a good cleaner after each session of bowling if that is what you are asking. I suspect that each cycle through the dishwasher shortens the life of the ball just a bit. Since it is heating up and then cooling down, just the thermal stress alone has to have some effect. I also let the ball sit for at least 24 hours before I use it.
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: vortex315 on March 12, 2014, 06:51:16 PM
I have a question about this! I put my ball in the rinse only cycle, heated option off and stopped it before drying phase. Then cleaned it with cleaner and the ball was dirty?!
Does it not get the surface stuff off very well? Did it work for the oil? Or should I be using other options?
My choices are heavy wash, normal wash, water saver, rinse only and hot pre wash
I wasnt sure if I should do one of these instead like hot pre wash!
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: the stylish one on March 12, 2014, 06:59:15 PM
I have a question about this! I put my ball in the rinse only cycle, heated option off and stopped it before drying phase. Then cleaned it with cleaner and the ball was dirty?!
Does it not get the surface stuff off very well? Did it work for the oil? Or should I be using other options?
My choices are heavy wash, normal wash, water saver, rinse only and hot pre wash
I wasnt sure if I should do one of these instead like hot pre wash!
Nice try. I'm not responding on this topic yet again. We all know who is behind the rancor here. It's the same guy who disputes common sense and economical ways to clean the oil off your ball.
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: vortex315 on March 12, 2014, 08:38:51 PM
what are you even saying im being serious. I tried it and I think I did it wrong so im honestly asking for real help here. I read all the post and put it in there and when I took it out and wiped it off with my cleaner it was still dirty so im assuming that I did something wrong.
Not that it doesnt really work. Im assuming I made a mistake and im asking for help. Im wondering if it should be a different setting or something. I used the rinse only setting.
Maybe my dishwasher is powerful enough? But Im not trying to argue or bs anyone I honestly wanted to make this work to save some money! lol.
and for the record I still take my balls to the pro shop once and a while too because I know its important since I dont change surface on my own! So please help?!
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: Nails on March 13, 2014, 06:05:59 AM
If you have obvious belt marks or build up, clean the ball first with your favorite cleaner. The dishwasher is mainly used as a heat source to remove the oil, not as a surface cleaner. Run it through a normal cycle, not just the rinse cycle. I usually do the heavy duty cycle because it's longer. No matter what, turn off the heat dry cycle, but leave the ball in until the dishwasher is completely done. Some probably don't, but I use a small amount of the dishwashing soap. Just don't use anything with a "drying aid" built in.
Title: Re: When you do the dish washer method for cleaning a ball, should it be covered in oil?
Post by: vortex315 on March 13, 2014, 08:16:32 AM