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Author Topic: Coverstock lifespan  (Read 6184 times)

brunswickcomplete

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Coverstock lifespan
« on: March 22, 2021, 11:32:29 AM »
Since the start of Covid and its shut downs and restarts here in Michigan,
I have lost 6 "B" family balls to the cover stock cracking, all are in a 70 degree environment, on a ball cup, but my oldest "b" balls of 20 years ago are still intact (pearl power blitz, vapor zone pearl, azure zone, hph and demolition zone), are the new coverstocks cracking machines? Pretty bummed out I am down to 2 current balls left in the arsenal, an ultimate nirvana and katana dragon

What is the typical coverstock expected lifespan now a days?

No baking out the oil, just using on a spinner Storm reacta and true blue ball cleaners
All drills were within warranty spec., min. 1" pin to holes
Never left out in the winter, below freezing temps.
All were solids- dv8 pitbull, radical intel & katana dragon and Brunswick vapor zone solid, the two newest to crack are, stashed away n.i.b., newer drills, Brunswick nexus and radical reax2

« Last Edit: March 23, 2021, 07:42:07 AM by brunswickcomplete »
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SVstar34

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Re: Coverstock lifespan
« Reply #1 on: March 22, 2021, 11:42:00 AM »
I've had 0 issues with Brunswick pours over the past 5+ years.

While you mentioned them being in a temperature controlled room, where were they located? Did you rotate them every 2-3 weeks or so?

A wood rack or table could draw moisture out creating an issue. While temperature fluctuation can play a big part, I think humidity fluctuation also makes a difference.
« Last Edit: March 22, 2021, 11:44:38 AM by SVstar34 »
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TWOHAND834

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Re: Coverstock lifespan
« Reply #2 on: March 22, 2021, 12:10:52 PM »
Could also have something to do with the thickness of the covers.  Covers that were poured 20+ years ago the shells were much thicker, some balls if not most were just core and cover.  Now that all mid to high performance balls are inner core, outer core, and then cover, the thickness is not near as much as it used to be.
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milorafferty

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Re: Coverstock lifespan
« Reply #3 on: March 22, 2021, 04:08:19 PM »
Sorry, but sometimes balls crack. It doesn't seem to have anything to do with "Turning them" every now and then nor does a temperature controlled storage seem to matter.

I know everyone has an opinion on this, but if you had 6 crack in the last year, I'm betting it has something to do with the drilling.

I haven't had a ball crack in well over a year and I have at least 40 that are drilled and close to 200 that are not. None of them cracked and the room they are in varies in temperature along with the outside weather.
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MikeE.B.

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Re: Coverstock lifespan
« Reply #4 on: March 22, 2021, 08:14:53 PM »
Do you 'bake' the oil out? Rapid, and extreme, temperature changes will greatly increase the chance of a ball fully cracking. Other than that, it usually comes down to manufacturer quality. Circular cracks around the fingers holes can be avoided if you have a nice smooth bevel around the holes, use minimal super-glue for slugs/inserts, and place it well below the bevel.
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ignitebowling

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Re: Coverstock lifespan
« Reply #5 on: March 23, 2021, 07:32:58 AM »
I went away from using inserts and thumb slugs years ago and the number of bowling balls I have had cracked went to almost non existent. This is with drilling 15 to 20 a years at one time. Mostly Brunswick and pre buyout EBI. Then out of no where I had several crack in one year. Keep in mind the stuff is discontinued but it was newer drilled stuff I had less then a year of use. Lost a Destiny hybrid, Gauntlet Fury, Rebel, and one Brunswick ball I cant remember off hand.

Just sitting in a controlled environment. The crazy part was the Gauntlet Fury cracked all the way around the ball almost like a seam without coming off of the pin, fingers or thumb. Just split around the middle completely which was a new one to me. Had a Lord Field ball crack that was undrilled. Hear of others having similar issues with undrilled balls cracking by various brands. Probably the saddest was a guy with an undrilled 15lb IQ gold. Said it cost him a few hundred in what he would have sold it for obviously.


Any ball is subject to cracking for many different reasons. It sucks
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avabob

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Re: Coverstock lifespan
« Reply #6 on: March 23, 2021, 08:16:01 PM »
Had one ball crack while I was not bowling during shut down.  It was Emerald IQ.  Crack was all the way around.  At least a half dozen other balls were in the same place with no damage 
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Good Times Good Times

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Re: Coverstock lifespan
« Reply #7 on: March 24, 2021, 12:22:26 PM »
There has to be just an amount of process variance across all manufacturers.  Obviously some get cracks from this company and others that........however the plural of anecdote is NOT data.
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