Author Topic: Drilling my own stuff: What's the cheapest option? (Read 4020 times)

JessN16 · « **on:** January 11, 2008, 12:18:17 PM »

I've been kicking this around for a couple of years and I'm ready to take the plunge. Here's what I figure I need:

1) Some kind of drill press,
2) Some kind of ball jig,
3) Three drill bits: a 57/64 for the thumb, whatever finger inserts are, and a 21/32 for my pinky finger,
4) Ball spinner
5) Bevel sander
6) Scale

That's it. I've got my work-out tools already.

Now, the big questions: How much (the cheaper the better, so long as it works -- new, used, I don't care) and where can I get it?

Jess

tjj300 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 12, 2008, 03:21:33 PM »

The expensive part is the scale. I'm using a Craftsman floor drill press ($240), a used Rudel jig ($200), a used set of bits ($140), and a True Balance scale ($275)(just for statics). I made a shield for plug cutting with my router. 3 7/8" is enough, if you're just drilling for yourself you can make some sacrifices, you just have to open the chuck further to angle the bit out from between the chuck and the ball. You only need a mill if you plan on drilling ovals for a living. If you use an oval thumb, get a custom thumb kit and mold your own, then you just drill a round hole for the custom slug.

sdbowler · « **Reply #17 on:** January 12, 2008, 03:26:55 PM »

Jess I say more power to you if you can get this done and have it work out for you. It is something that I have also thought about doing for myself and my wife. However we no longer bowl enough to take advantage of buying all of the stuff.
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Brunswick
Kyle

JohnP · « **Reply #18 on:** January 12, 2008, 08:08:35 PM »

If you can wait until summer you might be able to find some good deals on e-Bay. I know that last summer there were several. I assume that marginal shops wait until the season is over to go out of business, then get rid of their equipment. -- JohnP

Smash49 · « **Reply #19 on:** January 12, 2008, 09:35:59 PM »

Jess

I would suggest taking the class. If you do end up doing a better job than the guy in the shop you may have a good little business. The same thing happened with a friend of mine that moved to Virginia. The pro shop there was run by someone with zero knowledge. He drilled one ball upside down and when the customer came back to complain he said "I dunno???". Gee it lopes! You can get a copy of Bwll Taylor's Fitting and Drilling a Bowling Ball. It is now back in print. The hands on is really good and it helps.

Smash49
--------------------
Smash49

Slick, tacky, wood or synthetic it does not matter your slide is correct with Bowlers Slide Sock. The Finest Slide Sock on the Planet!!!
www.bowlersslidesock.com
www.strikingcatbowling.com

bigb4life · « **Reply #20 on:** January 13, 2008, 02:14:48 AM »

Gil mac's are decent but they can be tricky too with the bridges and stuff. I have all the guides to the gil mac as we have one sitting around.......We decided to buy a brand new one from ebonite and i think gil macs are junk for doing any kind of slug installationbuy a press. I'd be willing to teach you but im quite far away and couldnt do it until the summer as i work as a mechanic too. If you want to take a course there is one for $1500.00 which might save you from screwing up your equipment and plugging balls.

novawagonmaster · « **Reply #21 on:** January 13, 2008, 07:18:10 AM »

How can you say Gil-Macs are junk?

The one I am using works great, and the one at my local center also works great. That center used to do a tremendous volume in ball sales and drilling over the years. It has tapered off quite a bit in the last decade, but he used to be very busy drilling balls on his Gil-Mac.

There is nothing tricky about using a Gil-Mac if you passed 5th grade math class. The fractional measurements are all clearly marked on the machine. It's simply a matter of being able to compute fractions. I have no problem cutting slugs and plugs on mine either...even came with a spare plug cutting bit.

Sure, the modern milling machines are more precise for drilling ovals, but what is it worth to you? I've you've got the dough to spend on something like that, go for it. If you want to get into drilling on the cheap, and you run across a nice used Gil-Mac, don't be afraid of it. They work just fine. Just make sure you get all of the bits you need, as they are very expensive to buy separately (they are a twist-lock bit made for this machine only).

--------------------
Jon (in Ohio)
CHROME WON'T GET YOU HOME!
F.O.S. Proud Saw user...see profile.

pnj1967 · « **Reply #22 on:** January 13, 2008, 08:25:54 AM »

Classic Bowling Supply in Indiana and Florida do have classes for learning how to drill, also Ebonite does classes also on this. Some times though you have to have a pro shop to get you in (you would pay), not sure any more on these classes, but give them a call.

Some other places also have classes, Inovative & Jayhawk.

http://www.classicproducts.com/contact.htm

http://www.powerhousebowling.com/

http://www.kegel.net/training/kegel_training_proshop.htm

http://www.jayhawkbowling.com/Training/PSClasses2.html

quote:
quote:
JessN16, If you really need to ask this , stop and dont do any thing untill you can get a chance to work/help out in a proshop.

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Enjoy the people on the ballreview.com forum. Like to help when I can.

Users and Companies, I wont deal with, read my profile

Well, like I said above, that's not an option for me. My local shop is what is pushing me to start drilling on my own, because they're inconsistent on their best day with ratty customer service.

Plus, I'd only be drilling for myself. So if I mess something up, I'm the only one it affects.

I'd heard a lot of this same advice when I started building golf clubs -- I needed to take a bunch of training classes, apprentice at a shop, etc. That wasn't an option, though, as I lived far away from any shops at the time, in a rural area. So I bought an instructional book and some parts I figured I would learn on, then step up to bigger things. I was still playing with those "experiments" when I put the game down three years ago and playing better than I ever did. If you're meticulous, patient and careful, you can do it with some practice, I feel.

Jess

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Enjoy the people on the ballreview.com forum. Like to help when I can.

Users and Companies, I wont deal with, read my profile.

Edited on 1/13/2008 9:50 AM

pnj1967 · « **Reply #23 on:** January 13, 2008, 08:39:47 AM »

http://cgi.ebay.com/How-To-Measure-Drill-And-Weigh-A-Bowling-Ball_W0QQitemZ300189303640QQihZ020QQcategoryZ1467QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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Enjoy the people on the ballreview.com forum. Like to help when I can.

Users and Companies, I wont deal with, read my profile.

bigb4life · « **Reply #24 on:** January 14, 2008, 12:54:32 AM »

Just remember, you get what you pay for!

novawagonmaster · « **Reply #25 on:** January 14, 2008, 05:57:32 AM »

quote:
Just remember, you get what you pay for!

If someone was expecting to open up a high volume pro-shop, I would agree with the above statement.

For someone wanting to drill a few balls for himself (and maybe some family and friends), a $7000 outfit is not going to do any better than a $2000 set-up. Holes are holes. If your bits are sharp, the pitches are accurate, and you can hit your lines, it does not matter what you spent on your machine. The only matter that complicates things is drilling ovals. Most small-time guys do this with a dremel, a workout tool, or a bevel knife (or a combination of the above) after the ball has been removed from the press.

--------------------
Jon (in Ohio)
CHROME WON'T GET YOU HOME!
F.O.S. Proud Saw user...see profile.

Edited on 1/14/2008 12:16 PM

ccrider · « **Reply #26 on:** January 14, 2008, 10:38:56 AM »

Interesting topic. I purchased a jet drill with an amf jig and some other supplies from a member for 1200 bucks. Good deal.

I am a do it yourselfer and am slowly studying and learning to drill my own balls. I still have the proshop 50 miles away measure and drill balls for me. Just to compare. There is not a full time pro shop in our city and having everything to drill my own balls saves me time and money.

By the armidillo(sp) from amf with the dvd instruction video. It is less than one hundred bucks and is the best money I have spent so far. They give complete instructions and examples on how to measure, weigh and lay a ball out. Once you see it, you understand more than reading could ever get you to understand.

Also, buy Bill Taylors book. Some of the information is arguably outdated, but again, it explains the basics very clearly and give you easy to follow instructions.

Purchase a set of pitch guages. You need them to measure pitches.

There is a member on this site that sells inserts for 1.50 each. You want beat that price anywhere. I will p.m. you his info when I get home.

Last, buy used balls and plug material. I use the wizard kit with the dye. Used balls are cheap. You can plug them, drill them, play with pitches etc. and if it does not work, chunk them.

Hope this helps. Send me a p.m. if you have any questions.
CC

Gunny · « **Reply #27 on:** January 14, 2008, 03:45:58 PM »

^^^^^^^^i second what he said

jls · « **Reply #28 on:** January 14, 2008, 03:50:25 PM »

quote:
^^^^^^^^i second what he said

Hey Gunny, I see your buddy W. Snipes is in a little tax trouble.
I sure hope you did not do one of your 1-2-3 in an out drillings for him.
He is liable to sell you out to the IRS.

BTW, In misc., there is a post about people who cheat at golf. The poster seems to think, that if one cheats at golf, they will cheat at other things in life.

Gunny, do you play golf???

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jls, proud watcher of womens golf

Edited on 1/14/2008 4:55 PM

sdbowler · « **Reply #29 on:** January 14, 2008, 04:13:07 PM »

quote:
quote:
^^^^^^^^i second what he said

Hey Gunny, I see your buddy W. Snipes is in a little tax trouble.
I sure hope you did not do one of your 1-2-3 in an out drillings for him.
He is liable to sell you out to the IRS.

BTW, In misc., there is a post about people who cheat at golf. The poster seems to think, that if one cheats at golf, they will cheat at other things in life.

Gunny, do you play golf???

--------------------
jls, proud watcher of womens golf

Edited on 1/14/2008 4:55 PM

Let it go.
--------------------
Brunswick
Kyle

Gunny · « **Reply #30 on:** January 14, 2008, 08:12:37 PM »

is the we-todd posting nonsense again?

Author Topic: Drilling my own stuff: What's the cheapest option? (Read 4020 times)

JessN16

Drilling my own stuff: What's the cheapest option?

tjj300

Re: Drilling my own stuff: What's the cheapest option?

sdbowler

Re: Drilling my own stuff: What's the cheapest option?

JohnP

Re: Drilling my own stuff: What's the cheapest option?

Smash49

Re: Drilling my own stuff: What's the cheapest option?

bigb4life

Re: Drilling my own stuff: What's the cheapest option?

novawagonmaster

Re: Drilling my own stuff: What's the cheapest option?

pnj1967

Re: Drilling my own stuff: What's the cheapest option?

pnj1967

Re: Drilling my own stuff: What's the cheapest option?

bigb4life

Re: Drilling my own stuff: What's the cheapest option?

novawagonmaster

Re: Drilling my own stuff: What's the cheapest option?

ccrider

Re: Drilling my own stuff: What's the cheapest option?

Gunny

Re: Drilling my own stuff: What's the cheapest option?

jls

Re: Drilling my own stuff: What's the cheapest option?

sdbowler

Re: Drilling my own stuff: What's the cheapest option?

Gunny

Re: Drilling my own stuff: What's the cheapest option?