Hello fellow proshop operators out there.  I have a Vice IT question.  The shop I work at is going to be getting the ITs this month.  We currently carry the Griploc system and me personally I use Turbo Switch Grips so I can use my thumb mold.  I am wondering how everyone converts these two other systems to the ITs?  I am certain we are getting the new proshop kit with the new ball jig and I see in the description that there are "Switch Grip conversion sleeves" included so I can envision how those work and I noticed last night that a standard 1 3/8" slug will not fit into the Switch Grip outer sleeve...so I quess I will have to drill out the Switch Grip outer and install this new sleeve.  That takes care of Turbo.

Now for the Griploc.  The Griploc insert is the same diamater as a 1 1/4" slug so this is my idea.  I can knock off the locking tabs in the Griploc by running a 1 1/4" bit down through the outer sleeve and then sand accordingly so that the 1 1/4" slug will fit inside it and turn without too much effort.  By doing this I believe the Griploc sleeve will function as the Vise IT top sleeve...has anyone tried this?  Then I would just drill the bottom and install the Ball IT and away we go..thus saving a IT top sleeve.  My question with this method is since I wont be using the 1 5/16" bit that you would normally use to drill for the top sleeve and ball IT...will the Ball IT mount ok in the depression (lack of a better term for the hole left at the bottom of the thumb hole where the Ball IT goes) at the bottom of the hole?  From what I can tell as long as the Ball IT has the tapered edge of the drill bit to sit on and glue..the diameter does not matter.

Sorry I went on for a long rant guys...that the engineer in me coming out.  I'm excited to try this.

Thanx.

Jarrett
Concord, NH
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Jarrett Roseboom
Ebonite fan
pics of my equipment
http://s638.photobucket.com/albums/uu109/jarrettcr/My%20Bowling%20Equipment/

Oh cool..thanx man...i totally spaced it on the depth part.  doesnt the depth that they set the drill bits that come in the kit leave the slug high anyway?

Yeah, I saw the new Ferrari jig.  We have a AMF Vacujig and its not accurate enough to do ovals on the press so I mostly do it by hand...but now this new ball jig will let me experiment on cutting ovals..even though not too many people out here use ovals.

Thanx again.

Jarrett
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Jarrett Roseboom
Ebonite fan
pics of my equipment
http://s638.photobucket.com/albums/uu109/jarrettcr/My%20Bowling%20Equipment/

You need to be aware that one of the most important factors in the IT kit is that from top to bottom, the hole thats drilled is very square to the bottom of the hole and the ball-it that is inserted. If not you will run into issues with the slug binding. There is also a purpose for the gap between the slug and the wall of the hole that was drilled by the 1 5/16 bit.

Why try to re-engineer the thing and possibly sacrifice your quality and integrity of work. If your customers have problems, it only going to make the IT and your shop/work look bad


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"USBC is concerned that technology has overtaken player skill in determining success in the sport of bowling"

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Just tried to use the griploc with the tabs cut out and it doesn't work. TOO MUCH vacuum of the insert going down I think. Trying to sand the sleeve lower would not be worth the time and effort in my opinion!
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Use "IT" and BOWL UP A STORM!!

You need a good Mill for the iT. Drill will make you go crazy. I have the whole kit and I end up selling it.

Only use iT if you drill 3 or 4 + ball a week or thumb expand a lot when warmed up.

If you drill 1 ball in a year Stay away from it !!!!

iT is all Hype if you ask Me!!
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"A man with no skills can be taught. A man with no honor, has nothing."

Yeah raider...that is what I will do.  I'm going to try the Switch grip conversion sleeves to change over a couple of my balls and then on new balls just use the 1 7/16 bit...I dont mind using 1 3/8" slugs.

Durbin...our Vacujig has seen better days and our vacuum pump is shot and we havent gotten around to replace it as we need all the plumbing and the pump...and Bowl New England hasnt gotten around to buying it for us.  The crank handles have a lot of play in them and over the years of neglict of not being maintained..its in rough shape.  Plus not a lot of people I drill for use oval thumbs...so I've never needed to do it on the press.

Bluff...between myself, my friends, etc I drill well over 70 high end balls and year and have been installing Griplocs and Turbo Switch grips for over 5 years...so I know how to install them.  I'm an engineer by trade so I take my time and the IT does not scare me to install.  Alot of my friends use them to keep a consistant feel from ball to ball and when their hand shrinks or swells.  I check that the tables on my press are square to the chuck each time I use it and I am very confident drilling on this drill press so I am very confident I can drill the ITs correctly.  If they didnt cost so much for the Starter Kit..I would have bought it for myself already.  This is the time in bowling where everyone is into the interchangable thumb rage and I'm no different.

Raider...when we get the kit I will shot you a message to let you know how I went.  I'm hoping we get the new Ferrari jig with it too.


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Jarrett Roseboom
Ebonite fan
pics of my equipment
http://s638.photobucket.com/albums/uu109/jarrettcr/My%20Bowling%20Equipment/