Author Topic: Removing inserts (Read 2483 times)

nospareball · « **on:** January 17, 2007, 07:37:34 AM »

Ok, so I decided to try and save some money and change out my finger inserts by myself, at home. Getting them out was a total pain in the ass! I'm sure if I had the correct tools it would have been a snap, but I went at it with a blade, bad idea!

After totally mutilating the old inserts and finally getting them out I was left with lots of glue and rubber still in the holes. What do pro shops use to get this crap out? I've tried scraping it out, sandpaper, green pad, nothing seems to bite into the glue. What's the secret? Do they normally just use the same size bit to clean up the holes?

BowlerKidR · « **Reply #1 on:** January 17, 2007, 03:48:23 PM »

99.9% of the time we take out grips with an Exacto blade. We slip the blade in between the grip and the hole, usually in the top of the hole (farthest from thumb hole) because most pro shops do not glue that area, and then slowly, but firmly, wiggle the Exacto blade around the hole. When you get to a glue spot, we usually have to apply more pressure and or use a little bit of sawing action to get the grip cut. Like i said, 99.9% of the time this works.

If who ever installed your grips the first time around is a hack and doesnt know what to do and they put glue around the hole (from top of grip to bottom of grip) then you have to do a little more. Usually in this case i we have troublt cutting the glue because it is deep and hte exacto blade isnt long enough, so we just go at it with a flat head screw driver and try to pry it out. Once we get it out we have large chunks of grips and glue left on the hole. To get that out we would use 1 of 2 things. First we would take the exacto blade and slowly go and hack away at it until most of it is gone. If that dosent work, or the glue is too deep, the alternative is to hack at it with a Bevel Knife which is much longer.

If all else fails...take it to a pro shop, have them do it for you, and then watch them and watch what they do to remove it. If at this point u cant get it out yourself, then it might need to be redrilled, which in the 3 years of pro shop experience i have, i have had to do maybe 2 times.
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charlest · « **Reply #2 on:** January 17, 2007, 04:04:04 PM »

nospareball,

For the future, the secret to removing them easily, and it can be VERY easy, is to use the minimum amount of glue in the first place. Since I use shims in the back of the insert (between vinyl and hole), I ask my driller to glue them on the sides. He puts one small drop on each side and that's it. It's all that's needed.

I use a 1/8" flat bladed screwdriver to separate the insert from the hole wall. It takes moments and they are all reusable, if I sell the ball and remove them. At most there's a couple of tiny pieces of vinyl stuck to the wall. I can replace them when the wear out or they rip. 1, 2, 3.

I've seen inserts glued all the way around to no earthly purpose. Almost impossible to remove when you need new ones or for any other purpose.

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"None are so blind as those who will not see."

azguy · « **Reply #3 on:** January 17, 2007, 04:25:52 PM »

A small knife, screwdriver will work but if you are going to change them yourself, why not go ahead and buy a remover. They are not that much, if you are careful you don't tear up the insert and it leaves very little in the hole (glue etc).

I have nothing against those who use other items, just IMO, if you are going to do that, use the tool that allows you to do a good job with little effort, JMO.
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JohnP · « **Reply #4 on:** January 17, 2007, 04:28:26 PM »

I use an insert puller similar to the one pictured in the link below. This leaves very little excess glue, which I scrape off with a bevel knife (although I like the acetone idea).

charlest -- I glue inserts all the way around on about the top 1/2". I have replaced too many grips that others have glued in only a couple of places and they have come out in use. Mine don't come out, and they're not that much more difficult to remove. -- JohnP

http://www.blockbusterbowling.com/catalog/CatalogMgr.pl?cartID=b-4130&SearchField=category&SearchFor=INSERTS&template=Htx/deptinserts.htx&hdr=INSERTS&displayNumber=10

charlest · « **Reply #5 on:** January 17, 2007, 07:15:52 PM »

quote:
I use an insert puller similar to the one pictured in the link below. This leaves very little excess glue, which I scrape off with a bevel knife (although I like the acetone idea).

charlest -- I glue inserts all the way around on about the top 1/2". I have replaced too many grips that others have glued in only a couple of places and they have come out in use. Mine don't come out, and they're not that much more difficult to remove. -- JohnP

http://www.blockbusterbowling.com/catalog/CatalogMgr.pl?cartID=b-4130&SearchField=category&SearchFor=INSERTS&template=Htx/deptinserts.htx&hdr=INSERTS&displayNumber=10

John,
My driller and I have been doing this for ... I honestly don't know how many years. Only one came out when I used old, bad glue, and I've drilled over a 100 balls over the past 5 years or so (for me, that is). AND I've replaced my and other's inserts; not one has come out.
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"None are so blind as those who will not see."

Brickguy221 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 17, 2007, 08:58:19 PM »

quote:
For the future, the secret to removing them easily, and it can be VERY easy, is to use the minimum amount of glue in the first place. Since I use shims in the back of the insert (between vinyl and hole), I ask my driller to glue them on the sides. He puts one small drop on each side and that's it. It's all that's needed.

I use a 1/8" flat bladed screwdriver to separate the insert from the hole wall. It takes moments and they are all reusable, if I sell the ball and remove them. At most there's a couple of tiny pieces of vinyl stuck to the wall. I can replace them when the wear out or they rip. 1, 2, 3.

I've seen inserts glued all the way around to no earthly purpose. Almost impossible to remove when you need new ones or for any other purpose.

Yo!!!!!...Charlest and I must have come out of the same mold as I do EXACTLY the same things he does here. I also agree there is no purpose to glue the inserts all of the way around. Especially if you need to shim an insert as I do because of swelling and shrinking of my fingers.
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Brick

Laybzz74 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 17, 2007, 09:05:19 PM »

Me "three" !!! I use MiloSport shims, and a little glue "east and west" does it; BTW, VISE makes a GREAT little retractable razor knife ... that's what I use to remove insert. Oh, ad I use super glue gel, not the liquid ... sems to stay in palce better when you place the drop.
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charlest · « **Reply #8 on:** January 17, 2007, 10:09:06 PM »

quote:
[
Yo!!!!!...Charlest and I must have come out of the same mold as I do EXACTLY the same things he does here. I also agree there is no purpose to glue the inserts all of the way around. Especially if you need to shim an insert as I do because of swelling and shrinking of my fingers.
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Brick

Brick,

I understand John's reasons for doing what he does. With his gizmo, he can easily extract the inserts. You, I, and Robb need the back not to be glued in.
But once I had an insert stay on my finger after I delivered the ball and once the insert went flying down the lane. Thereafter I made darned sure I used good glue and have never had a problem since.

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"None are so blind as those who will not see."

charlest · « **Reply #9 on:** January 17, 2007, 10:10:51 PM »

inferno2112,

The knife looks good, but my screwdriver works fine. Besides I've got so many "magic" single purpose tools now, I'm trying to cut down on them.
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"None are so blind as those who will not see."

Brickguy221 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 17, 2007, 10:19:52 PM »

quote:
The knife looks good, but my screwdriver works fine.

I agree once again. I have that knife, but still prefer my screw driver. For what ever reason, the screw driver works better for me.
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Brick

nospareball · « **Reply #11 on:** January 17, 2007, 11:05:52 PM »

Thanks for the help guys! I finally got most of the residue out of the holes. I used a small flat blade and just worked on it for a while. I couldn't get the new inserts all the way in, so I trimmed a little off the bottom.

Thanks again!

Author Topic: Removing inserts (Read 2483 times)

nospareball

Removing inserts

BowlerKidR

Re: Removing inserts

charlest

Re: Removing inserts

azguy

Re: Removing inserts

JohnP

Re: Removing inserts

charlest

Re: Removing inserts

Brickguy221

Re: Removing inserts

Laybzz74

Re: Removing inserts

charlest

Re: Removing inserts

charlest

Re: Removing inserts

Brickguy221

Re: Removing inserts

nospareball

Re: Removing inserts