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Author Topic: Pros/Cons of Rubbing Alcohol?  (Read 6334 times)

GUFF76

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Pros/Cons of Rubbing Alcohol?
« on: May 25, 2007, 05:05:56 PM »
Hello, just wondering what results, positive and/or negative anyone has obtained by cleaning their ball(s) with rubbing alcohol instead of manufacturers ball cleaners?
 
 Im asking this because, for about 2-3 months i noticed a HUGE drop-off in reaction of my Total NV, even though i clean it after every set and have given it a hot-water bath, i even took the surface down to 2000 with a coat of factory finish polish with no luck.

 I was all ready to give up and get rid of it when i remembered reading about many people using rubbing alcohol, so i decided to give it a try and the results have been amazing, my ball is completely rejuvenated.

 At first i just attributed this to lighter-then-usual oil amounts, but then i tried it a second time, when there was a lot more oil, not flooded by any means, but definitely well oiled and the results were even better.

Should i continue to use it every time to clean the ball, or will this possibly cause damage due to over-use?

Thanks!
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J_Mac

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Re: Pros/Cons of Rubbing Alcohol?
« Reply #1 on: May 26, 2007, 01:15:37 AM »
What manufacturer's ball cleaning product were you using?

I'm not entirely sure about damage over time, but there are much better cleaners out there than just rubbing alcohol.  Modern lane oils aren't really broken down that well by alcohol anymore.  Back when they were mineral oil based, isopropyl alcohol would do a mediocre job of cleaning the surface of the ball.  

A good cleaner that a lot of people on here use is composed of Simple Green, Isopropyl Alcohol (I prefer 91% or 99% if it's available) and water.

Get a 32 oz. all purpose sprayer from a local hardware store and pour in 8 oz. undiluted Simple Green, 8 oz. Isopropyl Alcohol, and at least 8. oz. water.

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"A word to the wise ain't necessary -- it's the stupid ones that need the advice."  Bill Cosby
"Never argue with an idiot. They bring you down to their level and beat you with experience."
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GUFF76

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Re: Pros/Cons of Rubbing Alcohol?
« Reply #2 on: May 26, 2007, 01:24:29 AM »
I have Ebonite Powerhouse Energizer Ball Cleaner.

I was thinking about doing the Simple Green mixture as well, ive read mainly positive results of its usage.

Thank you!
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Martin710

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Re: Pros/Cons of Rubbing Alcohol?
« Reply #3 on: May 26, 2007, 08:51:23 AM »
One very well kmown online supplier of bowling balls told me a few months ago that high performance balls are made to last only 60-80 games. This comment surprised me very much at the time but lately I found out that some of the balls that I was playing with lost a lot of their effectiveness after about 100 games and this even though I wiped them after every throw and cleaned them after every three-game set with the recommended cleaners of the balls'manufacturers. This topic has been debated a lot on this forum so I don't want to start another discussion. As far as I'm concerned, the only means (although not perfect) of giving back some life to those balls are: Hot water bath, oven baking or resurfacing. Another alternative is to buy mid-range balls which have a better durability. Remember that Norm Duke won a tournament this year with mid-range balls from Storm. I know some 200+ bowlers that use only mid-range balls.
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mainzer

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Re: Pros/Cons of Rubbing Alcohol?
« Reply #4 on: May 26, 2007, 04:31:46 PM »
I only use rubbing alcohol on my equipment and have had very few problems. The problems were my 16 pound hercules died after about 400-500 games and my 2nd Total Annhilation died after about the same number. IMO if you clean your stuff after each use rubbing alcohol is fine. My friends find the same conclusions.
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Mainzerpower
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MainzerPower

Nails

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Re: Pros/Cons of Rubbing Alcohol?
« Reply #5 on: May 26, 2007, 04:45:40 PM »
Rubbing alcohol is an OK cleaner at best.  It won't hurt the ball, but all it can do is remove light surface dirt.  When you're not using a real bowling ball cleaner, at least use a citrus degreaser or Simple Green.  There is absolutely nothing about rubbing alcohol that could possible revive a ball.  Either you were throwing the ball better, or maybe the back ends were cleaner allowing the ball to hook, finish, and hit better.
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BowlingWolf

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Re: Pros/Cons of Rubbing Alcohol?
« Reply #6 on: May 26, 2007, 04:55:42 PM »
Alcohol (not necessarily the rubbing kind) is definitely good.

But if that doesn't work due to a large accumulation of oil on the ball, try some moonshine that is made of the following ingredients:

1-lye
2-rubbing alcohol
3-wood alcohol
4-paint thinner
5-bleach
6-formaldehyde
7-embalming fluid

If moonshine made from the above is applied to a bowling ball, guaranteed it'll be cleaned, although probably not rejuvenated.
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BowlingWolf
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BowlingWolf

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Re: Pros/Cons of Rubbing Alcohol?
« Reply #7 on: May 26, 2007, 04:56:45 PM »
I was just kidding, of course.

Rubbing alcohol has always worked well for me.
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BowlingWolf
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novawagonmaster

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Re: Pros/Cons of Rubbing Alcohol?
« Reply #8 on: May 26, 2007, 06:21:45 PM »
I use iso alcohol to clean my balls after each set. For me it works just fine. I have only had to give one ball a bath so far (Solid Uranium with 100+ games).
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Jon (in Ohio)
CHROME WON'T GET YOU HOME!
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