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Author Topic: Ball Spinner Torque  (Read 12051 times)

St. Croix

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Ball Spinner Torque
« on: January 26, 2014, 03:07:34 PM »
I am purchasing a ball spinner. I have done a lot of research including reading the ball spinner threads on Ball Reviews and checking the websites of Vertex, Innovative Products, Donkee, and Jayhawk. From what I have read, torque is a major factor, but I could not locate any torque specifications for any spinner. Jayhawk touts its spinners as having the most torque on the market, although Jayhawk spinners appear to be much more expensive than the other brands. Horsepower is listed but not torque. Is torque simply a function of horsepower-more horsepower more torque?

Many thanks in advance for any comments, suggestions, or recommendations.
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johnfoe

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Re: Ball Spinner Torque
« Reply #1 on: January 26, 2014, 03:58:32 PM »
I'm not a professional

I think torque can be something that means as you apply pressure to it, such as sanding, that it won't slow down.  Might make things faster if sanding or get a better polish on the ball.

I personally have the 1/2 HP from innovative spinner.  Might not be great, but does the job for me.  If I used it daily it might not be the best option, but I've refinished almost all of my balls with good success.  Plus other family bowlers like that I have it.  Doesn't save much money, but I feel I earned the value of it back in the last year.

Also my personal recommendation is to buy the abralon pads on ebay, seems to be the cheapest.  I would buy the 20 for $50 pack on ebay and tell them all the various ones you want.  20 sounds like a lot, but cheaper in the long run and allows you to get multiples of them.


I might not have the right answer, but those are my thoughts since I bought one about a year ago.
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dR3w

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Re: Ball Spinner Torque
« Reply #2 on: January 26, 2014, 05:25:24 PM »
For a motor at full speed Torque = HP / speed.  So in essence it is a function of Horsepower.  Start up torque is a little different, but I won't go into that detail.  So if two ball spinners run at the same speed, and have the same power rating, they have the same torque.

Quote from: St. Croix on January 26, 2014, 03:07:34 PM
I am purchasing a ball spinner. I have done a lot of research including reading the ball spinner threads on Ball Reviews and checking the websites of Vertex, Innovative Products, Donkee, and Jayhawk. From what I have read, torque is a major factor, but I could not locate any torque specifications for any spinner. Jayhawk touts its spinners as having the most torque on the market, although Jayhawk spinners appear to be much more expensive than the other brands. Horsepower is listed but not torque. Is torque simply a function of horsepower-more horsepower more torque?

Many thanks in advance for any comments, suggestions, or recommendations.
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vkowalski1970

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Re: Ball Spinner Torque
« Reply #3 on: January 26, 2014, 07:22:49 PM »
I have the 1/2 Hp vertex and it's great.
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charlest

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Re: Ball Spinner Torque
« Reply #4 on: January 26, 2014, 08:26:43 PM »
Quote from: vkowalski1970 on January 26, 2014, 07:22:49 PM
I have the 1/2 Hp vertex and it's great.

I have the 1/3 HP Vertex. It has enough torque that I cannot stop it with my hands pressing firmly on the ball. I am 6' and over 200 lbs, but not musclebound; I remain surprised that I cannot stop the Vertex's cup from spinning; I could stop my old Donkee spinner's cup from spinning.

In a car's engine, horsepower provides the top speed a car with its weight can achieve Torque provides the acceleration that allows a car and its weight to get to XXX mph as quickly as possible. The greater the torque that faster the car will get to 60 or 80 or 120 mph. Torque seems a better measure of an engine's pure power than the term, horsepower, does.
« Last Edit: January 26, 2014, 08:28:56 PM by charlest »
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J_Mac

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Re: Ball Spinner Torque
« Reply #5 on: January 26, 2014, 08:49:37 PM »
Horsepower, torque and power to weight ratio is meaningless if you can't put the power to the pavement.

Jeff, being able to stall your old Donkee out might have been a flaw in it's drive system, or just a weak power source... you'd know the details better than I.
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Dave81644

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Re: Ball Spinner Torque
« Reply #6 on: January 27, 2014, 04:59:40 PM »
I am an electrician and i built my own spinner.
1/2 HP is the way to go.
1/3 hp will work fine for light use, occasional sanding, cleaning etc..
heavy use, resurfacing, pro shop daily use should be a 1/2 hp in my opinion.

Torque is not even required in a conversation about a ball spinner.
If I were sizing a motor for a 5' diameter fan, then i would have to take torgue into consideration. this is such a small motor load, torque doesn't matter
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charlest

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Re: Ball Spinner Torque
« Reply #7 on: January 27, 2014, 07:35:20 PM »
Quote from: J_Mac on January 26, 2014, 08:49:37 PM
Horsepower, torque and power to weight ratio is meaningless if you can't put the power to the pavement.

Jeff, being able to stall your old Donkee out might have been a flaw in it's drive system, or just a weak power source... you'd know the details better than I.

When it vibrated badly on the lower speed and vibrated HORRIBLY, so much so as to be unusable, on its highest speed, I sold it, bought the 1/3 hp Vertex (the only one available at the time) and never looked back. That was almost 10 years ago now. I keep wanting to buy the 1/2 hp Vertex, but I can't kill the old one. Based on my experience, I can't do anything but strongly recommend the Vertex series.
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dR3w

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Re: Ball Spinner Torque
« Reply #8 on: January 27, 2014, 08:51:16 PM »
I'm not trying to knock Donkee, but I had one as well.  It was two speed, that was nice.  Other than that it wasn't very good.  If I applied pressure the motor would slow and stop.  The motor lasted a few years. (past the warranty date)  I replaced the motor with a model from Grainger.  I don't think it was a great match, as the new motor seemed to rotate faster at both speeds.   The thing really vibrated a lot, even before I bought the new motor.  I kept it in a sink , and it would move all over the place.  The ball holding cup wasn't the best either, as it would leave like a plastic rubbed ring on some balls. 

I recently bought a new Innovative personal spinner to replace it.  It seems pretty nice.  Starts up easily and seems smooth and fairly powerful.  So far no problems.  I do wish it had two speeds though.


Quote from: charlest on January 27, 2014, 07:35:20 PM
Quote from: J_Mac on January 26, 2014, 08:49:37 PM
Horsepower, torque and power to weight ratio is meaningless if you can't put the power to the pavement.

Jeff, being able to stall your old Donkee out might have been a flaw in it's drive system, or just a weak power source... you'd know the details better than I.

When it vibrated badly on the lower speed and vibrated HORRIBLY, so much so as to be unusable, on its highest speed, I sold it, bought the 1/3 hp Vertex (the only one available at the time) and never looked back. That was almost 10 years ago now. I keep wanting to buy the 1/2 hp Vertex, but I can't kill the old one. Based on my experience, I can't do anything but strongly recommend the Vertex series.
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themagician

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Re: Ball Spinner Torque
« Reply #9 on: January 27, 2014, 09:57:29 PM »
I have a 1/3hp Vertex that is close to if not 10 years old. It is possible to slow it down with extreme amounts of pressure, but there really isn't ever a case you should do such a thing.
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Dave81644

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Re: Ball Spinner Torque
« Reply #10 on: January 27, 2014, 10:24:28 PM »
alright, im gonna figjam a little
i built mine with a 1/2 hp motor on a frequency drive
infinite speed adjustment, although the motor isn't rated to run long periods of time below 300 rpm.
usually use clean n dull at 250 rpm, change surfaces at no more than 300 and polish at 450 ish
I figure the lower i can keep the shell temp of the ball, the better for longer shell life.
bought a Donkee bowl for 20 bucks and attached it to the shaft with a $5 dollar part from the hardware store.
also got a plastic sink on clearance at Home depot for 30 bucks.
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St. Croix

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Re: Ball Spinner Torque
« Reply #11 on: January 28, 2014, 12:24:00 AM »
Quote from: charlest on January 27, 2014, 07:35:20 PM


When it vibrated badly on the lower speed and vibrated HORRIBLY, so much so as to be unusable, on its highest speed, I sold it, bought the 1/3 hp Vertex (the only one available at the time) and never looked back. That was almost 10 years ago now. I keep wanting to buy the 1/2 hp Vertex, but I can't kill the old one. Based on my experience, I can't do anything but strongly recommend the Vertex series.


Fellas, I appreciate the posts which are all helpful. I am leaning toward the Vertex 1/2 horsepower. Jeff, I am sure that you have used your spinner MANY times in nearly 10 years. That record of durability says a great deal about the product.
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charlest

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Re: Ball Spinner Torque
« Reply #12 on: January 28, 2014, 04:42:33 AM »
Quote from: St. Croix on January 28, 2014, 12:24:00 AM
Quote from: charlest on January 27, 2014, 07:35:20 PM

When it vibrated badly on the lower speed and vibrated HORRIBLY, so much so as to be unusable, on its highest speed, I sold it, bought the 1/3 hp Vertex (the only one available at the time) and never looked back. That was almost 10 years ago now. I keep wanting to buy the 1/2 hp Vertex, but I can't kill the old one. Based on my experience, I can't do anything but strongly recommend the Vertex series.

Fellas, I appreciate the posts which are all helpful. I am leaning toward the Vertex 1/2 horsepower. Jeff, I am sure that you have used your spinner MANY times in nearly 10 years. That record of durability says a great deal about the product.

While I, of course, don't use it as much as a pro shop would, I have used it anywhere from 2 - 4 times a week on a regular basis. I believe Vertex does warrant their spinners for pro shop use. Normally any product is not warranted for commercial use; I think this shows how much confidence they have in their product.
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Artimust

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Re: Ball Spinner Torque
« Reply #13 on: January 29, 2014, 09:24:02 PM »
Great topic and posts.  I was planning on picking up a Donkee when I get my tax returns, but gonna check the other options instead. Jay hawk is too expensive though.
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St. Croix

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Re: Ball Spinner Torque
« Reply #14 on: January 29, 2014, 10:13:10 PM »
Innovative Bowling and Vertex spinners are pretty close from what I have read. There is much good information and valuable insights on spinners under the "Coverstock Preparation."
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