BallReviews
General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: lilpossum1 on January 27, 2014, 10:31:31 PM
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Is it safe to clean a ball with? I have heard it damages balls, but I have also heard that is only older balls. A lot of pro shops clean glue off of balls with acetone. Thanks in advance for answers
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If I remember right, acetone is not usbc approved.
Brad
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No, it's only used to clean glue on small areas. It's way too harsh to be using as a ball cleaner.
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It's not only illegal, it is also very dangerous. EXTREMELY flammable and not safe for human contact, no matter what anyone says. There are tons better ways and liquids to clean balls. Acetone basically melts members of the plastic family which includes urethane and resin.
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Plus acetone smells like a$$
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I'd stay away from that stuff. Ka-BOOOOOM :o
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I think this about sums up the question. Thank you. Change of topic, but I heard a hot water bath is also bad. Is this true?
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Although I have not used the hot water bath method, I would presume it to be harmless.
When I watch oil pouring out of balls for hours in our Revivor, I wonder how much you're really getting out of the ball with hot water, but it's probably safe.
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Although I have not used the hot water bath method, I would presume it to be harmless.
When I watch oil pouring out of balls for hours in our Revivor, I wonder how much you're really getting out of the ball with hot water, but it's probably safe.
Yep, the beauty of a Revivor type extraction is that it's observable and measurable -- there are no guesses or assumptions about how much oil is actually extracted. The method has enough of a track record and manufacturer study to be determined safe if appropriate temperature settings are used.
To the topic, acetone is a big no-no for cleaning. As already mentioned, it's too strong a solvent. There are too many other safe and effective alternatives.
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Hot water is not only safe, but one of the best ways to revive an oil soaked ball. While it is a bit messy, about 3 baths in a large bucket of 120-130 degree water, wiping the ball dry after about 10 minutes each time will remove a lot of oil. The key is that most hot tap water is about 20 degree too cool to be really effective. You need to get water near boiling and add half hot tap water and half stove heated water to each bucket. Nothing wrong with a reviver, but hot water is inexpensive and anyone can do it at home
My ball driller discovered this method years ago. He brought back an old PK 18 shell that I had about 200 games on, and it acted like new.
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Exposing a ball to those temperatures for the period of time it takes to get all the oil out really isn't good on them . . but the temperature is the right range. It just takes a lot of effort a time to keep it there. Depends on how much your time is worth.
Hot water is not only safe, but one of the best ways to revive an oil soaked ball. While it is a bit messy, about 3 baths in a large bucket of 120-130 degree water, wiping the ball dry after about 10 minutes each time will remove a lot of oil. The key is that most hot tap water is about 20 degree too cool to be really effective. You need to get water near boiling and add half hot tap water and half stove heated water to each bucket. Nothing wrong with a reviver, but hot water is inexpensive and anyone can do it at home
My ball driller discovered this method years ago. He brought back an old PK 18 shell that I had about 200 games on, and it acted like new.
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And as far as the acetone too, the stuff evaporates so you gotta keep the lid on it! The fumes are toxic, and yeah, the only use for it is to remove glue and other things that are difficult to remove.
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I can tell you acetone is not safe it is volatile!!! I was cleaning a ball lane oil and some glue cleanup and the mixture of fumes ignited by a LED light and small fireball. So don't think acetone is safe.
:-[ :(
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I think this about sums up the question. Thank you. Change of topic, but I heard a hot water bath is also bad. Is this true?
Not only safe but extremely effective. Mo Pinel even recommended it for Mo-rich bowling balls. Really easy and mess free if you own a dishwasher. Google dishwasher to de-oil ball. Been covered many times. Depends on what you have on hand and how much you like to spend money you don't need to.
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Thank you all for your input!
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Not only safe but extremely effective. Mo Pinel even recommended it for Mo-rich bowling balls. Really easy and mess free if you own a dishwasher. Google dishwasher to de-oil ball. Been covered many times. Depends on what you have on hand and how much you like to spend money you don't need to.
Actually, when Morich's website was completely active in English, his first choice for de-oiling a ball was to use a Revivor machine. He recommended water as a second choice if a Revivor was not available. A recent example of Mo Pinel's endorsement of dry heat can be found in Bowlingchat:
http://forum.bowlingchat.net/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=5304&start=20 (http://forum.bowlingchat.net/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=5304&start=20)
I hope this clears up any confusion you might have on Mo Pinel's assessment.
As far as "spending money you don't need to", please clarify that many dishwashers raise water temperatures to levels that exceed ball manufacturer heat warranty limits. Many readers will take your comments on dishwashers that it's a method that safely works in all cases.
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No confusion on my part. Get some help for that OCD condition of yours.
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No confusion on my part.
Good. Then that means:
1) You understand you've been misrepresenting Mo Pinel's position on his prefered method for oil extraction.
2) You understand that some dishwashers can actually be harmful due to unsafe water temperatures for ball de-oiling.
I'm glad we have common ground on the subject.
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Sorry, OCD man, you aren't dragging me into this again. You've been shot down here numerous times on the subject, you've been shot numerous times on the subject on other sites. First you had a problem with the time needed. Shot down. Then you questioned the temp, again shot down. You were even given building codes regarding water temps. Then you questioned dishwasher sanitize cycle temps. Again you were shot down.
You can keep being the little mouse giving the finger to the hawk that is swooping down on him all you want but I ain't concerned anymore. You go fiddle with your home made e-z bake oven. Run along now. I suggest you get some Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, or any combination of modern anti-depressants out there to treat your OCD.
Good luck.
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So instead of just admitting you gave out incorrect information and setting the record straight, you delve into fantasy about my statements being "shot down".
If you haven't misrepresented Mo Pinel's position on the preferred method for oil extraction, please provide an appropriate link. Prove me wrong. The ball is in your court. In the mean time, I'll provide still another Pinel position statement for you to read and hopefully embrace:
http://forum.bowlingchat.net/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=262 (http://forum.bowlingchat.net/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=262)
And my statement about dishwashers was simple and clear -- many modern models automatically heat water (in the most basic Normal mode) to temperatures that exceed some ball manufacturer warranty limits. Period. All this nonsense about "sanitation cycles" and "building codes" is a superfluous tap dance you injected to avoid having a rational discussion.
We're here to discuss and provide accurate information that all can take advantage of. If you're really about "posting the honest truth", then demonstrate it. Nobody is going to think less of you for admitting you didn't understand specific facts about the application of heat.
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To the original topic, has anyone actually destroyed a ball using acetone as a cleaner over an extended period of time?? I know it can melt plastics and resins, but I'm curious if anyone here has taken acetone cleanings to that point. Thanks.
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acetone can mess up the coverstock i have been told over the years. with how short a period of time the coverstock last these days you do not need any more help wearing it down.
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Is denatured alcohol the same thing as acetone? If not, is it a better alternative??
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No, denatured alcohol isn't the same thing as acetone, but both are illegal by USBC rules. Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol is legal, but isn't very effective. -- JohnP
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No, denatured alcohol isn't the same thing as acetone, but both are illegal by USBC rules. Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol is legal, but isn't very effective. -- JohnP
John,
I believe that denatured alcohol is no longer illegal. ... Nope, it's no longer on the "NOT APPROVED EVER" list
http://usbcongress.http.internapcdn.net/usbcongress/bowl/equipandspecs/pdfs/Non_approved_cleaner_polish.pdf (http://usbcongress.http.internapcdn.net/usbcongress/bowl/equipandspecs/pdfs/Non_approved_cleaner_polish.pdf)
It's approved anytime.
Storm uses it as one ingredient in several of their cleaners.
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To the original topic, has anyone actually destroyed a ball using acetone as a cleaner over an extended period of time?? I know it can melt plastics and resins, but I'm curious if anyone here has taken acetone cleanings to that point. Thanks.
I used to use it all the time. Never ran into a single problem. Now I would use it to revive oiled up covers and I would see color transfer to a paper towel with it. I stopped using it years ago when I discovered the "warm" setting on my oven. It runs at an even 120. That makes life a lot easier, and more legal...
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No, denatured alcohol isn't the same thing as acetone, but both are illegal by USBC rules. Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol is legal, but isn't very effective. -- JohnP
John,
I believe that denatured alcohol is no longer illegal. ... Nope, it's no longer on the "NOT APPROVED EVER" list
http://usbcongress.http.internapcdn.net/usbcongress/bowl/equipandspecs/pdfs/Non_approved_cleaner_polish.pdf (http://usbcongress.http.internapcdn.net/usbcongress/bowl/equipandspecs/pdfs/Non_approved_cleaner_polish.pdf)
It's approved anytime.
Storm uses it as one ingredient in several of their cleaners.
I stand corrected, didn't know they changed it. -- JohnP