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Author Topic: balls from thrift stores and yard sales  (Read 11508 times)

machine35

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balls from thrift stores and yard sales
« on: May 06, 2012, 09:46:19 PM »
i bought myself two balls from a yard sale this weekend. i took them home and put them in a bucket of hot soap water to see if i could bring them back to life. Well, i had a bowling league over the weekend also and i didnt perform like i had hope they would. what can u do with a bowling ball if u buy it from a thrift store or a yard sale to bring it back to life?

 

Long Gone Daddy

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Re: balls from thrift stores and yard sales
« Reply #1 on: May 06, 2012, 09:50:01 PM »
What balls?  How old?  How many games on them?  What didn't they do?  How are they drilled?  Get the drift?
Long Gone also posts the honest truth which is why i respect him. He posts these things knowing some may not like it.

Mainzer

BallReviews-Removed0385

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Re: balls from thrift stores and yard sales
« Reply #2 on: May 07, 2012, 01:58:31 AM »

Agree with above. What balls were they? 

However, perhaps they ended up at the thrift store for a reason.  Give us more information and we will try to help.
 

machine35

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Re: balls from thrift stores and yard sales
« Reply #3 on: May 07, 2012, 05:27:46 AM »
The balls i got from the yard sale was a storm eraser boost pbt and a brunswick power groove urethane

Long Gone Daddy

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Re: balls from thrift stores and yard sales
« Reply #4 on: May 07, 2012, 07:09:58 AM »
Oooookay.  What did you expect them to do?  What didn't they do?  How were they drilled? 
Long Gone also posts the honest truth which is why i respect him. He posts these things knowing some may not like it.

Mainzer

BallReviews-Removed0385

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Re: balls from thrift stores and yard sales
« Reply #5 on: May 07, 2012, 09:24:59 AM »

Did you get them re-drilled for your hand?
Does the house where you bowl oil their lanes regularly?
What part of the lane are you playing?

The Eraser you found has a particle load (I think). If you are playing the lanes properly you should get some movement. At very least it should be resurfaced, and probably needs an oil extraction. These things are sponges that soak oil up pretty fast.

I use a Urethane Groove as a spare ball. If I try I can get some hook, but I just use it because I got tired of polyester balls getting brittle and chipping. My Urethane Groove is pretty much indestructible, and if the lanes are super torched I can find the pocket easily with it. 

It sounds like you might have some usable pieces if you have some routine maintenance done.  A soapy bucket of hot water doesn't do much compared to the Revivor method. I routinely see balls bleed oil for 6 hours, and sometimes longer. Good luck.

Spider Man

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Re: balls from thrift stores and yard sales
« Reply #6 on: May 07, 2012, 09:46:49 AM »
I wouldn't want a yardsale ball from a town that flooded. Never know what those balls could have been soaking in.

Good Times Good Times

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Re: balls from thrift stores and yard sales
« Reply #7 on: May 07, 2012, 10:43:24 AM »
This thread started the downward spiral at "i bought myself two balls from a yard sale this weekend"  ....
GTx2

Long Gone Daddy

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Re: balls from thrift stores and yard sales
« Reply #8 on: May 07, 2012, 01:39:30 PM »
That's for sure.  Wonder if the guy even had them plugged and fitted to his hand?
Long Gone also posts the honest truth which is why i respect him. He posts these things knowing some may not like it.

Mainzer

Good Times Good Times

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Re: balls from thrift stores and yard sales
« Reply #9 on: May 07, 2012, 02:02:03 PM »
One would think that logic would dictate plugging, re-drilling, full resurface and de-oil would yeild the best results??   :o
GTx2

Long Gone Daddy

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Re: balls from thrift stores and yard sales
« Reply #10 on: May 07, 2012, 03:09:46 PM »
One would, wouldn't they?  Do you get the feeling that was done here?  ::)
Long Gone also posts the honest truth which is why i respect him. He posts these things knowing some may not like it.

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guffnuh

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Re: balls from thrift stores and yard sales
« Reply #11 on: May 07, 2012, 04:57:52 PM »
Don't be hating on people who buy bowling balls from thrift stores, you'd be amazed at the stuff you can find. I once found a single drill 15 pound blue vibe for $2.50 at a goodwill. Overall I've bought around 10 balls from thrift stores, including a storm trauma recovery which I shot 259-300-300 with the first time I used it. You never know what you'll find

Long Gone Daddy

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Re: balls from thrift stores and yard sales
« Reply #12 on: May 07, 2012, 07:18:44 PM »
I don't think anybody has posted any hatin' on thrift store/garage sale balls.  What if being questioned is the total lack of information and what the expectations for the balls were. 

But of course, if you want any further adventures of Mr. Cheapskate, you can tune into his new thread "Do you have to go to a Pro Shop to resurface a ball?"  :o 
« Last Edit: May 07, 2012, 07:20:31 PM by Long Gone Daddy »
Long Gone also posts the honest truth which is why i respect him. He posts these things knowing some may not like it.

Mainzer

MI 2 AZ

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Re: balls from thrift stores and yard sales
« Reply #13 on: May 07, 2012, 08:30:19 PM »
i bought myself two balls from a yard sale this weekend. i took them home and put them in a bucket of hot soap water to see if i could bring them back to life. Well, i had a bowling league over the weekend also and i didnt perform like i had hope they would. what can u do with a bowling ball if u buy it from a thrift store or a yard sale to bring it back to life?

What kind of soap did you use?  Most recommend Dawn or something similar that will cut grease/oil.  How long did you leave the ball in the hot water?  I usually let it sit for about 5 to 10 minutes - too long and the water cools and possibly the oil soaks back into the ball.  Did you repeat this procedure a couple of times or only try once?

Here is a link to an article that has some useful info on this procedure:
http://morichbowling.com/Education/Cleaning.aspx

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Six decades of league bowling and still learning.

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dmonroe814

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Re: balls from thrift stores and yard sales
« Reply #14 on: May 08, 2012, 06:51:21 AM »
Basically:  Bake to get the oil out, Plug, Redrill, and resurface.
14lb 15.5 mph at pins 325 Revs. Silver Coach, Ball Driller. In Bag:  Storm Pro-Motion, Hyroad X, Matchup, Code Red.