Do cleaners really get oil out of a ball?

[Ric Clint]

I don't think so... of the balls that I've tried WITHOUT using Doc's ELIXER on them... I've experimented with a few balls and after each set, I'd clean them with Track's Clean N' Dull and after 50 games I could still tell that the ball had died a little bit!

So even with a strict cleaning regimn/routine... my balls (reactive and particle) still die out... so I'm beginning to think - why even bother trying to keep them clean, it doesn't help them live longer.

It's seems that a user on here (luckylefty, jeffrevs, charlest... somebody???) said something about the had a friend that said when a ball has lane oil on it, that it helps keep more oil from getting on the ball and actually helps the ball live longer? Or something like that?

Anyways, I'm wondering if cleaning is even helping balls live... I don't know if they do or not??? It doesn't seem like it!

I mean, how can these cleaners actually take oil out of a ball??? What is in them to do this? And I do agree, that when I use a cleaner on a ball that has got dirt and oil rings, that it does take them off and make the ball look clean on the outside... but what about the oil that is in the actual ball itself, on the inside of the ball... once it's in there, it's in there... and that is what supposedly kills a ball!





Edited on 10/27/2004 3:28 AM

[Burak Natal]

Ric, cleaners actually do not extract the lane oil absorbed by the bowling ball nor prevent the oil absorbtion like Doc's Elixir.. They clear the surface with limited penetration to the coverstock and prevent the remaining oil etc (stacked on the ball) being absorbed by the ball. If proper cleaning is not done, it will definitely absorb more oil after you put it back to the bag.
In my experience, cleaning increases the "effective" life of a bowling ball up to 30-50 games. Of course some other parameters like surface preparation and so also effects it. Proper cleaning should be done at least in every 6 game set..

If you consider the "effective" life is 200-250 max (to me generally it is not more than 150), for 30-50 games, it worths to clean them..

quote: .. said something about the had a friend that said when a ball has lane oil on it, that it helps keep more oil from getting on the ball and actually helps the ball live longer? Or something like that?

This is the most weird thing I've ever heard. Unlogical and totally out of scientific facts!! Certainly there must be some misconception..

Heating extracts oil from the ball, which I'm sure you know it very well. I've experienced it in many balls from different manufacturers, but especially from Brunswick. Of course, balls which treated well and less games on will respond more to the oil extraction process. That can be another reason to clean them regularly..

Burak

[Ric Clint]

Thanks!

I'm guessing that the Dyno-Thane SOAKER balls are the only balls that may not need to be cleaned with a cleaner... since the word is that they don't obsorb oil as fast and some are saying that they actually get stronger as time goes by. But I don't know if these people that are saying this actaully use a cleaner on them... or if they just throw the balls back in bag and never clean them or what?

[TWOHAND834]

Guys,

Actually, I think if you clean them pretty regularly from day one, that they will help keep the ball from absorbing oil.  Example:  I have a Green Gargoyle that I have had now for 4 years.  I have used Clean and Dull as well as a couple other cleaner/polishes.  After almost 4 years of having the ball with NO extensive resurfacing (I touch the ball with 600 grit sandpaper or a gray scotchbrite about once every 2-3 months and polish back up), my Gargoyle was exposed to the sun inside my car and VERY LITTLE oil sweat from the ball.  I have seen balls only used for 6 months that when subjected to a heating source sweat more than a 300 pound person in 90 degree heat (weird analogy).  So to answer your question about cleaning the ball in reference to oil absorption, in my opinion, if you maintain the ball from day one without going more than 6-9 games between cleanings, you would be surprised at how little oil gets absorbed into the ball.
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Atlanta (Buford), GA
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[charlest]

quote:Thanks!

I'm guessing that the Dyno-Thane SOAKER balls are the only balls that may not need to be cleaned with a cleaner... since the word is that they don't obsorb oil as fast and some are saying that they actually get stronger as time goes by. But I don't know if these people that are saying this actaully use a cleaner on them... or if they just throw the balls back in bag and never clean them or what?

Ric,

We don't always clean balls to remove oil from beneath the surface, but to clean dirt and oil from the surface. Oil, so it does not soak into the ball; and dirt, so it doesn't interfere with the ball's surface contacting the lane's surface. In other words, so it continues to roll true.
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we also choose the consequences of that action.