Author Topic: all these years of reading about cracking... (Read 2963 times)

michelle · « **on:** December 14, 2009, 07:24:13 AM »

Ever since I came back to bowling after the first period away from the game (most of the early resin era up through 2000), I have been reading people talk about equipment that just up and cracked for no apparent reason. Always was left wondering how that could happen...

Well...still wondering HOW it happens, but I found out yesterday that I lost my Storm Core Power LRG as it simply did nothing but sit in the closet. It has probably been four years since I threw it (close to that long since I bowled anything anywhere it seems) and so it has done nothing but occupy space in a bag.

This was one of those big, all the way around the ball cracks with separation so noticable, you can see the core under the shell ALL THE WAY around the crack.

Strange things I tell ya...

Juggernaut · « **Reply #1 on:** December 14, 2009, 03:41:55 PM »

Just a sign of the times. It isn't the first ball to crack and it won't be the last.

I've heard that the shells continue to cure, which might account for them getting more britle over time.
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Gene J Kanak · « **Reply #2 on:** December 14, 2009, 03:49:03 PM »

I went a long time without this happening to me, but now I've had four different balls do this on me this year, and all of them were stored indoors in climate controlled condtions. It's a shame.
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ryne299 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 14, 2009, 04:00:46 PM »

i heard from a guy at ebonite that balls cracking that are in storage have somethin to do with the core being heavier than the coverstock and if its layin in the same spot for too long the core will be weighed down and pretty much bust through the cover and cause the cracking.... so if youre gonna store your balls for a long period make sure you turn them over and try to use a ball cup or somethin like that

kidlost2000 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 14, 2009, 04:04:00 PM »

Used to be some what common for me as well. Even with them sitting indoors in a box by them selves at room temp. They would just up and crack.

At the time I used finger inserts and a thumb slug. I later went away from finger inserts around 2000-01 and in that time have had only two crack. In that time I've also drilled more bowling balls then ever.

I think/guess a big part of it was the glue making contact with the outer shell. Because of the finger inserts. I still use thumb slugs and glue, but most of the glue goes below the outer shell and for my guess makes it less likely to crack.

The two of mine that did crack, one was from the thumb, the other the pin/ right finger area. Both in doors at room temp.

My brother over this same span still uses inserts, drills fewer bowling balls and has had as many or more crack on him. Usually starting from the fingers.

So no matter the glue, I think that may have something to do with it from my experience. Just a guess.

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" men lie, women lie, numbers don't "

michelle · « **Reply #5 on:** December 14, 2009, 04:45:19 PM »

quote:
I went a long time without this happening to me, but now I've had four different balls do this on me this year, and all of them were stored indoors in climate controlled condtions. It's a shame.

Yeppurs...that is the true irony here. The balls that I have abused all to hell and back (had a couple of bags that actually sat in the truck for a few years) are fine. And yet the one that was in a nice cozy climate controlled environment decides to commit suicide...

I'd be inclined to run with the theory of settling except these were already on a padded surface (both the bag and the carpet/pad underneath).

scotts33 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 14, 2009, 04:54:31 PM »

I still have your old Granite Gargoyle michelle still a solid ball in fact EVERY Visionary ball since they started in 98 and none have cracked. Hmmmmmm no filler.
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Scott

JessN16 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 14, 2009, 05:16:20 PM »

Just lost a Storm Thunderstruck Pearl last week -- that had a total of 6 games and had lived a pampered life on a ball rack.

I think there's something to the theory of rotating the balls' position in whatever they're stored in (a bag, on a rack, etc.).

It's getting more common but that doesn't make it right.

Jess

Bluff · « **Reply #8 on:** December 14, 2009, 06:44:21 PM »

A/C , Heat , A/C , Heat Cracked
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Buzzhead · « **Reply #9 on:** December 14, 2009, 07:43:53 PM »

I have only had this happen one time in all my years of bowling.....
to my Nebula, which I bought used.... and plugged.....could I have sent it back? YUP, did I? Nope ball is just too damn good to let go.
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JustinWi · « **Reply #10 on:** December 14, 2009, 09:32:19 PM »

Plasticizer is the chemical that keeps the reactive urethane molecular structure open and porous. It is constantly evaporating. As it evaporates, the urethane matrix shrinks and as a result can crack.

It happens to balls that are static more often due to constant stresses in one area. Balls that are in use distribute stresses more evenly around the shell and are more prone to crack around finger holes, thumb holes, and other weak points in the coverstock, instead of simply splitting open.

Remember these modern resins are rigid sponges with very very open molecular structures.

1MechEng · « **Reply #11 on:** December 15, 2009, 07:16:18 AM »

IMO, I suspect that the cracking is related to the loss of moisture/oil/plasticizer from the cover over time. I'm also interested in the theory of continued curing after production and usage, but that theory has some potential flaws. Why do some balls wait more than a year or two to crack? I have to think that the resin in the balls is 98-99% cured after 6 months time.

I'm not very convinced of the theory that sitting in one spot is the cause. The stresses from sitting on a rack are extremely minor compared to those imparted on the ball during impact with the pins. There's no shock or vibration when sitting. Remember that the coverstock of the ball is usually 73-78 Shore D, so there's some very small deflection in the cover due to elasticity.

I'm also not sold on the glue theory. Most of the cracking is occuring when sitting, not when being thrown on the lanes. Any (finger/thumb) hole in the ball is going to add a stress point in the coverstock. Cracking from the fingers is not likely due to glue, as there are many people out there NOT using inserts who have had balls crack. However, the size of the holes with inserts may be a factor in the initiation of cracking.

Just my $0.02 worth as a mechanical engineer with a background in stress analysis.

If any bowling ball company wants to hire me to do some testing on these theories, I am currently seeking employment.

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Dan
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michelle · « **Reply #12 on:** December 15, 2009, 08:06:36 AM »

quote:

I'm also not sold on the glue theory. Most of the cracking is occuring when sitting, not when being thrown on the lanes. Any (finger/thumb) hole in the ball is going to add a stress point in the coverstock. Cracking from the fingers is not likely due to glue, as there are many people out there NOT using inserts who have had balls crack. However, the size of the holes with inserts may be a factor in the initiation of cracking.

And...along the glue theory...this crack was nowhere near the fingers unless one considers an inch and a half to be so close as to be a possible starting point of the crack.

scotts33 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 15, 2009, 08:22:02 AM »

quote:
MO, I suspect that the cracking is related to the loss of moisture/oil/plasticizer from the cover over time. I'm also interested in the theory of continued curing after production and usage, but that theory has some potential flaws. Why do some balls wait more than a year or two to crack? I have to think that the resin in the balls is 98-99% cured after 6 months time.

That makes sense to me 1MechEng.

Also why I believe Visionary and LM/L (on their old stuff) have less or the least amount of cracking issues because of use of no filler and urethane is thick all the way to the core.
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Scott

Jesse James · « **Reply #14 on:** December 15, 2009, 08:48:41 AM »

quote:
Plasticizer is the chemical that keeps the reactive urethane molecular structure open and porous. It is constantly evaporating. As it evaporates, the urethane matrix shrinks and as a result can crack.

It happens to balls that are static more often due to constant stresses in one area. Balls that are in use distribute stresses more evenly around the shell and are more prone to crack around finger holes, thumb holes, and other weak points in the coverstock, instead of simply splitting open.

Remember these modern resins are rigid sponges with very very open molecular structures.

I agree with this synopsis. This is a very objective and precise description of what does happen with all these newer high-tech balls.

I will however, offer one other observation as well. The absorbtion of oil into the pores of these very porous pieces, acts as a kind of lubrication, allowing the ball to not get brittle. Which in turn delays any cracking or splitting.

In other words, you have to constantly use your balls on a regular basis to keep them in tip, top condition. All of the balls that I have had crack on me were balls that I had not used in quite awhile. In essence, they had not been on the road for a spell, so they just fell apart.

P.S. Also the reasoning regarding Visionary and LM balls makes sense as well. Solid covers, all the way to the cores, which do not experience much expansion fluctuations.

No doubt, over time the fillers and covers of most balls are contracting at two completely different rates, causing constant internal stresses. Kind of like when GM first started putting aluminum heads on cast iron engines, and the heads would warp, when place under constant heat. Two different rates of expansion and contraction, don''t mix well.
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Edited on 12/15/2009 9:54 AM

Author Topic: all these years of reading about cracking... (Read 2963 times)

michelle

all these years of reading about cracking...

Juggernaut

Re: all these years of reading about cracking...

Gene J Kanak

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ryne299

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kidlost2000

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michelle

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scotts33

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JessN16

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Bluff

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Buzzhead

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JustinWi

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1MechEng

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michelle

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scotts33

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Jesse James

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