Post by: Brickguy221 on February 11, 2008, 03:23:30 PM
My only worry here is getting the lateral part of the hole in the right place in the ball each time as well as having the pitch right.
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"Whenever I feel the urge to exercise I lie down until the feeling passes away."
Brick
Post by: TDC57 on February 11, 2008, 11:34:51 PM
Post by: BrunsNick on February 11, 2008, 11:55:24 PM
A lot of people do around here, especially those with oblong shaped thumbs. Best way to go IMO.
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Nick Smith ... A.K.A. Les Badderâ„¢
Brunswick -=- PBA 03-08
http://www.BrunsNick.com
http://www.AskTheBowler.com
http://www.BigBapparel.com
Friends don't let friends drink the Kool-Aid!
Post by: nextbowler on February 12, 2008, 01:22:27 AM
recommend them.
Post by: Brickguy221 on February 12, 2008, 01:26:44 AM
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"Whenever I feel the urge to exercise I lie down until the feeling passes away."
Brick
Post by: Brickguy221 on February 12, 2008, 01:28:48 AM
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"Whenever I feel the urge to exercise I lie down until the feeling passes away."
Brick
Post by: BrunsNick on February 12, 2008, 01:50:29 AM
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Nick Smith ... A.K.A. Les Badderâ„¢
Brunswick -=- PBA 03-08
http://www.BrunsNick.com
http://www.AskTheBowler.com
http://www.BigBapparel.com
Friends don't let friends drink the Kool-Aid!
Post by: solid9 on February 12, 2008, 02:59:19 AM
I have been using molded thumbs for the last 3 years, best money I ever spent on bowling.
Post by: Cobalt Bomb on February 12, 2008, 03:17:38 AM
Thanks.
Post by: dpunky on February 12, 2008, 05:37:14 AM
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Ken - aka "dpunky" - Certified USBC Level I Coach
Post by: Hogsharley on February 12, 2008, 06:11:49 AM
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3 holes of fun!!
Post by: Pinbuster on February 12, 2008, 06:18:31 AM
Like BrunsNick said they make a small notch on the center line so that the mold picks that up, it is on the back side of the thumb so you don't feel it. When the insert is made from the mold that leaves that small mark on the insert and that mark is lined up on the center line of the new ball.
As long as the new thumb hole is drilled at the same pitch then the inserted thumb insert will be oriented and pitched the same way.
The mold will pick up every little nuance of the thumb hole, bevel, taper, etc.
If you leave tape in the hole it will pick that up as well including the texture of the tape.
Just be sure to use a thumb hole in a condition (size) that you can use when your thumb is at it's maximum size. You can still add tape when your thumb shrinks.
Post by: bowler851 on February 12, 2008, 06:25:43 AM
Post by: TheGom on February 12, 2008, 09:19:29 AM
Thanks BG
Post by: justdale on February 12, 2008, 09:25:08 AM
Wait can't say that or others will find a way to create a link on religion again.
They are really good
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Dale Williams
Columbia 300 Utah Amateur Staff
Post by: Pinbuster on February 12, 2008, 09:26:41 AM
Then the shop uses the sleeve and the mold to produce custom slugs from plug material. These are normally sold for the same price as any sleeve.
While I guess you could buy a kit for home use there would be some significant start up cost. Seems like the sleeves and silicone was around $100 (enough to make several molds). The quick dry plug was about $50 a quart.
Post by: RandyO on February 12, 2008, 11:02:54 AM
http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/product.php?pid=74&
Post by: mrbowlingnut on February 12, 2008, 11:09:26 AM
Post by: Brickguy221 on February 22, 2008, 04:13:57 PM
Anne Marie Duggan installed one of these Custom Made Molds in one of my balls Tuesday. I finally found time to try the ball today and all I can say is .... WOW .... I didn't have to do anything to the ball/thumb hole. Took the ball to the lanes and started bowling with it as if it had been in my bag forever. I am having her make some more molded thumb inserts for me to install in my other balls.
For you guys that have a ball that has a perfect fitting thumb, don't be afraid to get a mold made of that thumb and try it in one of your balls and go from there. If it is done by an experienced qualified person at doing this, you won't be sorry, believe me, but you will be amazed at the fit.
PS: I forgot to thank Mike Austin for putting me onto this thumb mold thing, so..... Thanks Mike, I appreciate more than you will ever know.
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"Whenever I feel the urge to exercise I lie down until the feeling passes away."
Brick
Edited on 2/23/2008 12:44 PM
Post by: Doug Sterner on February 22, 2008, 04:27:26 PM
I used a mold for awhile but found that variations in the material I used to make the mold caused a different feel. I use regular ball plug and found that Tech Line, 3-2-1 DBA and EverClear all made the mold feel different. Also color variations from clear to black and others gave me a different feel.
I am sure there is an explanation for the problem I had but it was my experience and just wanted to pass it along as an FYI.....
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Doug Sterner
Doug's Pro Shop
Owego, NY
http://dougsproshop@aol.com
www.dougsproshop.net
Lane 1 Buzzsaw...The Official Power Tool Of Bowling
Post by: Cobalt Bomb on February 22, 2008, 04:34:10 PM
Post by: BrunsNick on February 22, 2008, 04:38:04 PM
Just having the kit will only get you so far, it would be more cost effective to just let a pro shop take care of you. The silicone doesn't have a good shelf life, and the average consumer will not use enough to make it worth their while.
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Nick Smith ... A.K.A. Les Badderâ„¢
Brunswick -=- PBA 03-08
http://www.BrunsNick.com
http://www.AskTheBowler.com
http://www.BigBapparel.com
Friends don't let friends drink the Kool-Aid!
Post by: Doug Sterner on February 22, 2008, 08:43:56 PM
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Doug Sterner
Doug's Pro Shop
Owego, NY
http://dougsproshop@aol.com
www.dougsproshop.net
Lane 1 Buzzsaw...The Official Power Tool Of Bowling
Post by: sdbowler on February 22, 2008, 09:31:35 PM
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Brunswick
Kyle
Post by: pocketsmasher51582 on February 22, 2008, 09:37:19 PM
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- Joe
Smashin pockets since '99.
http://BeansProShop.com
Home of the Secret Sauce!
Post by: BrunsNick on February 23, 2008, 02:53:19 AM
quote:
I tried them a long time ago. I did not really like it. The problem I had was if I used tape the tape would leave a really nasty residue in the thumb hole. It would take along time to get the junk out so I stopped using them.
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Brunswick
Kyle
Try it again using Ultimate Wizard Plug. Hardens and works out just like a slug.
The VISE resin doesn't harden enough and they can sometimes be gooey and porous.
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Nick Smith ... A.K.A. Les Badderâ„¢
Brunswick -=- PBA 03-08
http://www.BrunsNick.com
http://www.AskTheBowler.com
http://www.BigBapparel.com
Friends don't let friends drink the Kool-Aid!
Post by: Mike Austin on February 23, 2008, 08:15:18 AM
quote:
For the people asking about using them.
For one your better off letting your pro shop do it.
Secondly, if your pro shop is just starting tell them NOT to buy the Exacator kits from their distributor.. biggest rip off in the business. I believe a 32oz bottle runs for like $80-$90.. that's stupid.
I forget what we use in the shop.. but its a rubber making kit that comes in a one gallon bucket, and has blue activator liquid to mix with it when you wanna make a mold. The one gallon bucket costs like $65 before shipping.
BIG difference in price.. AND these have a much much better shelf live especially for those customers who want a mold, but only buy a ball once a year!
chris-m,
For those customers that only buy a ball once a year, you shouldn't have to make them another mold, only the insert itself. In your case, that gallon of silicone/rubber better have a good shelf life.
That is a big price difference, but the Vise system has always worked so well for me, never any problems. Now their quick plug on the other hand.... not always so good. Too many air bubbles and like Nick said, it never seemed to get hard all the way. I got used to the feel, but it was too much different than a urethane slug. For a period of time I used a thumb mold in a Switch Grip. That was the best of both worlds.
Anne Marie doesn't use the Vise quick plug, not sure the brand she is using, think it is Tech-Line.
Glad Jim's thumb worked out well. He had a one of a kind thumb in one of his balls that felt great. It was originally a Pro Sports Taper Thumb grip. He had carefully sanded (over time) on the thumb. There was not much bevel. Sanded away some of the taper and also added in some oval. There is about a 1% chance that he would ever be able to duplicate that thumb hole by hand. I told him get rid of that thumb or make a mold of it. I knew it would work for him if he gave it a try.
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www.myspace.com/strikes4days
Check out Tony's Journals - they are FREE!!
http://www.allbowling.com/journal/public.php?uid=67&leagueid=563
Post by: Atochabsh on February 23, 2008, 10:30:52 AM
Erin
Post by: TheDude on February 23, 2008, 11:30:33 AM
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Timothy @Juniors Pro-Shops
LaSalle, Quebec
Located inside Pont Mercier Lanes.
Edmonton, Alberta.
Located inside Ed's Rec Room.(WEST ED MALL)
King Of Roto-Grip In Canada.
Keep them honest!
Post by: nextbowler on February 23, 2008, 04:11:04 PM
well. About four years ago I got one from K&K Bowling and it was great. I
have had many balls drilled from that mold and all have worked extremely well.
All balls fit exactly the same.
Post by: notsohotshot on March 05, 2008, 01:27:00 PM
Post by: gokenong on March 06, 2008, 08:16:19 PM
Post by: raiderh20boy on March 06, 2008, 08:32:52 PM
Looks like a minature ------