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Author Topic: Ball plug and redrill...  (Read 9725 times)

MTD300

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Ball plug and redrill...
« on: December 18, 2008, 01:54:22 AM »
Hi everyone,

As a pro shop operator I feel that when a customer comes in to my store and pays $60 for a full plug (balance hole if neccessary) and redrill that not only do I match the colour perfectly to the ball with any swirl pattern or colour scheme but I finish the ball on the haus so it looks as new as possible.

I feel that $60 is a fair charge (including grips and slugs) for this and most of the time I will tell my customers that I can have the ball ready within 2 days.

A lot of time goes into this process and the end result I feel HAS to be professional.

So, how many of you would be happy with a ball finished like Nerco's? I'm sure most of you saw it?

Basically he waited 3 days for a ball that took 45-90 minutes to completely finish and was happy with the colour match of grey on a red/blue/purple gravity shift.

I'm not knocking the shop I just want feedback. The fit at the end of the day is the only thing that matters, and that it does in Nerco's case.

Thanks

Edited on 12/18/2008 11:40 AM

 

bowlallthetime

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Re: Ball plug and redrill...
« Reply #16 on: December 18, 2008, 11:42:06 PM »
I am happy as long as the plug color is the same as the ball.  I think the last post with the pics of swirl plugs looks bad.  It looks like a sad attempt to match the swirls in the ball.  does anyone else have pics of plugs that matched the ball well?

srlunatic

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Re: Ball plug and redrill...
« Reply #17 on: December 18, 2008, 11:48:07 PM »
Greetings!

The shop I work in charges 30 bucks for a full plug and redrill and 4.50 for each finger insert and 9 bucks for a thumb sleeve/slug.  Of course I work on an Air Force Base so can charge a little less.  I also am pretty anal about matching colors to the ball and having the ball in the OOB condition (from that awesome spreadsheet that floats around here) before redrilling.  With the ball without the holes it seems to add a shock and awe effect ...seeing their old beat up ball in the OOB condition.  

A lot of our business is in the plugging and drilling area so I try to be as perfect as possible.  

I have found this process works the best for me....

Start Haus for about 6 to 7 minutes..
Clean up Ball
180 Wet Sand
320 Wet Sand
Red Scotch Brite
Green Scotch Brite
either Grey Scotch Brite or 1000 Wet Sand
1500 WetSand..(if need to go this high)

Of course will modify that if the surface is say 2000 abralon and such..

I tend to use a very small amount of 3M Finesse It if needed at the 1000 Wet Sand stage but usually just a small drop on each side.

To me, it is worth the time and effort to do this as the smiles on the customers faces and the word of mouth really are something..(even if Service is making all the money and not me...*laugh*)


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Lillen

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Re: Ball plug and redrill...
« Reply #18 on: December 19, 2008, 12:38:08 AM »

agroves

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Re: Ball plug and redrill...
« Reply #19 on: December 19, 2008, 02:59:12 AM »
Necros ball looks like total dogshjt.  I'd never seen that crap outta the shop.  We color match everything.  My best color match, I did an older WD one finger green and one finger purple at the same time.  You couldn't tell there was any plug work at all.

We charge $40 plus tax.  Inserts are included for repeat customers.

We still use a router, I'd prefer the plug cutter but my "boss" loves the router.  We then blend the plug work with a razor, haus it for 20 minutes and take the surface up to whatever the customer wants.
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sheppy335

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Re: Ball plug and redrill...
« Reply #20 on: December 19, 2008, 06:23:21 AM »
If i brought a ball into you and you did all of that for 60 dollars i would be telling everyone to go to your shop. The last one i had plugged and redrilled the color didnt match at all.
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Sheppy
Oil is served Best with fingers!
Why does the 8 Pin laugh at me!

Sheppy

MTD300

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Re: Ball plug and redrill...
« Reply #21 on: December 19, 2008, 08:47:54 AM »
quote:
IMO this is good plug work..

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j195/Nellil/15%20Pounders/DSC00205.jpg
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Edited on 12/19/2008 1:39 AM


IMO That is AWFUL plug work.....
if you are happy with that then thats fine...

Over the next few days I'll post some pics of plug work that comes in and show you what to expect from a good plug and redrill...

six pack

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Re: Ball plug and redrill...
« Reply #22 on: December 19, 2008, 09:38:41 AM »
the guy I go to makes the pluged ball look like crap.but it's only 40 bucks to plug,redrill,grips and slug so I don't complain.I'm afraid of going to someone else,paying twice as much and have the same results.
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Necromancer

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Re: Ball plug and redrill...
« Reply #23 on: December 19, 2008, 09:45:45 AM »
quote:
Necros ball looks like total dogshjt.  I'd never seen that crap outta the shop.  We color match everything.  My best color match, I did an older WD one finger green and one finger purple at the same time.  You couldn't tell there was any plug work at all.

We charge $40 plus tax.  Inserts are included for repeat customers.

We still use a router, I'd prefer the plug cutter but my "boss" loves the router.  We then blend the plug work with a razor, haus it for 20 minutes and take the surface up to whatever the customer wants.
--------------------
--"I see your opinion, I just don't give a f$%k."


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Oskuposer

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Re: Ball plug and redrill...
« Reply #24 on: December 19, 2008, 09:49:50 AM »
its all about what the customer wants.  When i worked in a proshop i could car less what color my stuff was.  lol sometimes i would want my ball to look like skittles rolling down the lane.  When it comes to your customers then you have to give them the best match possible unless you dont want them to come around anymore.
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LaneHammer20

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Re: Ball plug and redrill...
« Reply #25 on: December 19, 2008, 05:42:19 PM »
I have never had a ball plugged and redrilled as of yet. But next week I may be having a used ball plugged and redrilled.The guy i go to is really good at drilling balls, always the same as the last one. All I am worried about it the surface being round and having no flat spots or bumps.


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nyy276

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Re: Ball plug and redrill...
« Reply #26 on: December 19, 2008, 05:58:34 PM »
quote:
Now for some plug FIGJAM's..... This is the type of quality I try to strive for with every customer's ball I plug.

http://www.putfile.com/pic/7583557
http://www.putfile.com/pic/7583558
http://www.putfile.com/pic/7549736
http://www.putfile.com/pic/4641364

It's just as important as that perfect fit IMO


^Those pics really give you nothing to FIGJAM about.  

Necro, I would have taken that ball and told the guy who did the work to shove it up his a**.

The problem with a good bit of pro shops is that they rape their customers wallets and then in return give them poor quality work.  And by poor quality I mean air bubbles, cracks, plug that is gummy or brittle, horrible color matches, and flat spots.

MTD, if you are going to charge that much for a full plug job w/ grips and slug, then I really hope your work is as good as you say it is.

Edited on 12/19/2008 10:17 PM

Hogsharley

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Re: Ball plug and redrill...
« Reply #27 on: December 19, 2008, 06:40:10 PM »
http://s132.photobucket.com/albums/q21/mikecart1/Bowling%20Arsenal/
quote:
Where can you find a picture of Necro's plugged ball
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"If you are good at something never do it for free." The Joker (Heath Ledger)

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3 holes of fun!!

six pack

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Re: Ball plug and redrill...
« Reply #28 on: December 19, 2008, 07:35:42 PM »
quote:
http://s132.photobucket.com/albums/q21/mikecart1/Bowling%20Arsenal/
quote:
Where can you find a picture of Necro's plugged ball
--------------------
"If you are good at something never do it for free." The Joker (Heath Ledger)

--------------------
3 holes of fun!!


yeah,that's not so hot!
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The harder I try the harder they fall
The harder I try the harder they fall

Necromancer

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Re: Ball plug and redrill...
« Reply #29 on: December 19, 2008, 10:41:47 PM »
quote:
quote:
http://s132.photobucket.com/albums/q21/mikecart1/Bowling%20Arsenal/
quote:
Where can you find a picture of Necro's plugged ball
--------------------
"If you are good at something never do it for free." The Joker (Heath Ledger)

--------------------
3 holes of fun!!


yeah,that's not so hot!
--------------------
The harder I try the harder they fall

I will assume you are referring to The One that is split in half.
Current Arsenal Gallery
H: Brunswick Fury, Columbia 300 EPX T1
M-H: Storm Shift Gravity, Hammer Black Widow
M: Storm X-Factor Vertigo, Ebonite Predator
M-L: Storm Recharge
S: Viz-A-Ball White
Bench: Brunswick Target Spare Zone, Ebonite 14 Fun Ball
GEMS: Brunswick Quantum Helix, Brunswick Quantum Double Helix

2008-09 Year 215.000 2008-09 Tourney 177.360 Last Tourney 182.667

Hall of Fame BR Member Since: April 3, 2001


Currently Retired from Bowling

nyy276

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