Author Topic: What is the MTBF of particle balls? (Read 2237 times)

FBM357 · « **on:** August 17, 2005, 06:54:05 AM »

Given you bowl on synthetics with avg-above avg revs factored in the equation, what is the 'life expectancy' of a particle ball? (estimate) Also, how many times can you resurface a ball before ultimately reaching "ball death"?
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"The sages to the contrary - ONE MAN'S POISON IS USUALLY ANOTHER MAN'S POISON, TOO!!!"

FBM357 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 17, 2005, 02:54:42 PM »

for those who don't know MTBF = mean time between failure :0

shelley · « **Reply #2 on:** August 17, 2005, 02:59:31 PM »

quote:
Given you bowl on synthetics with avg-above avg revs factored in the equation, what is the 'life expectancy' of a particle ball? (estimate) Also, how many times can you resurface a ball before ultimately reaching "ball death"?

I would expect that with a good cleaning regimen, most particle balls should last at least 75-100 games (nearly a single league-season). With regular deep cleaning, I'd guess 150+. Probably another 75+ with each resurfacing.

Most balls can be resurfaced several times before they're out-of-spec. Dunno about dying. I would expect that the particles go all the way through the shell, so as long as there's coverstock material left, the surface should be ok. But after a few resurfacings it can start to get too small to be legal (in particular, the ball return may have trouble holding on to it). Basically, if the logos and serial numbers are still in tact, it should be ok.

If you can't get 300 games out of a well-cared-for ball, I'd be surprised.

SH

a_ak57 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 17, 2005, 03:00:48 PM »

One thing though, find out what kind of particles the ball has. Some particles will actually get sanded down too if you use sandpaper on them, some will retain their shape. Just something to think about.
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- Andy

FBM357 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 17, 2005, 03:21:51 PM »

anyone have an idea of how much of the balls surface is removed before considered useless? I mean, how much of the surface is gone after resurfacing using scotchbrite pads vs sandpaper?

Also, do you actually keep count of the # of games bowled or is it a 'guesstimate'?
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"The sages to the contrary - ONE MAN'S POISON IS USUALLY ANOTHER MAN'S POISON, TOO!!!"

azus · « **Reply #5 on:** August 17, 2005, 03:32:09 PM »

I donÂ´t belive in ball death. If a ball that only holds for 100games, why would you buy one? I think that if you clean the ball after evry time you used it, and baking it 1-2 maybe 3 times a year, you can have a ball that last for years.

shelley · « **Reply #6 on:** August 17, 2005, 03:41:29 PM »

quote:
anyone have an idea of how much of the balls surface is removed before considered useless? I mean, how much of the surface is gone after resurfacing using scotchbrite pads vs sandpaper?

Dunno. There's a tolerance of about 0.1" in diameter (about 0.3" in circumference) and given that you can get about three or four resurfacings out of a ball, one resurface job probably removes about 0.0125" from any particular point on the surface.

There may be a difference in using scotchbrite versus sandpaper versus abralon or trizact. Some say that sandpaper wears the particles smooth and kills the reaction while scotchbrite only really removes surface, leaving the particles alone. Some have particles so hard that those abrasives aren't sufficient and trizact has to be used. You'd have to contact the manufacturer to find out the recommended material for a given ball.

quote:

Also, do you actually keep count of the # of games bowled or is it a 'guesstimate'?

Just a guess. I figure 3 games per week per league. I don't bowl much outside of leagues. For a 36-week league, there are 108 games in a season. Of course, I don't usually use the same ball all night and some nights I don't use it hardly at all. If you find yourself nearly always using a different ball for the last game of the night, then there are really only two games per week instead of three.

That said, my Mutant probably has 250+ games on it (two leagues last year, plus this summer, plus some practice and one tournament). I clean it every week league. Still has lots of reaction. It could probably go for a resurfacing and deep cleaning, but I'm very happy with it. I'm a pretty low-rev player, so my equipment will probably last longer than Robert Smith's.

SH

Speedburner89 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 17, 2005, 03:43:15 PM »

not long enough

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The self proclaimed "confined mind"

"I've got to stop Babara Striesand from taking over the world" - Robert Smith

Snowboarders kick @$$!

icetink · « **Reply #8 on:** August 17, 2005, 11:31:18 PM »

My Track Phenom has a good 400+ games on it. It has been resurfaced once and it's gone through the Ebonite Hook Again system the same time around 250 games. I clean all my balls after 3 games and wipe the oil off between shots.

I also have a Storm Super Power Pearl which I've had since summer 2001. I'd say it's well over 500 games by now. It's also been resurfaced once and gone through the Ebonite Hook Again system. Still backends and hits very well!
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Dino
Evolutionary. Revolutionary.
Track

Edited on 8/18/2005 0:19 AM

Author Topic: What is the MTBF of particle balls? (Read 2237 times)

FBM357

What is the MTBF of particle balls?

FBM357

Re: What is the MTBF of particle balls?

shelley

Re: What is the MTBF of particle balls?

a_ak57

Re: What is the MTBF of particle balls?

FBM357

Re: What is the MTBF of particle balls?

azus

Re: What is the MTBF of particle balls?

shelley

Re: What is the MTBF of particle balls?

Speedburner89

Re: What is the MTBF of particle balls?

icetink

Re: What is the MTBF of particle balls?