win a ball from Bowling.com
« previous next »
Pages: [1] 2 3

Author Topic: Rubbing Alcohol  (Read 4475 times)

rosanj06

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 73
Rubbing Alcohol
« on: April 07, 2009, 05:28:23 AM »
I have heard that rubbing alcohol can actually push oil into the ball, while actual ball cleaners help to extract it. I had a bottle of windex that I wa using and I just refilled the bottle with some rubbing alcohol. Is it a bad idea to be using rubbing alcohol?

I also poured a little bit of ball cleaner into the windex bottle. This special mixture has so many purposes, it especially cleans the beer pong table well after a long night

But really, will this be bad for my rocks in the long run?
Logged

 

FBM357

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1398
Re: Rubbing Alcohol
« Reply #1 on: April 07, 2009, 01:42:55 PM »
Not really an advocate of using rubbing alcohol, especially with todays ball covers.  I've used rubbing alcohol and Simple Green with some water in the past.

suggestion if I may....

Give Remedy Rx a ball cleaner a try.  Made by folks at ValentinoBowling.com.  Excellent product along with others you'll find on the site (Snake Oil ball polish, Resurrection - ball cleaner/resurface, UFO - new polish to extend length when desired (sounds like an Extenze plug .. ).  Order a sample pack and give it a try.  You'll be happily surprised.
--------------------
Hustle (Me) and Flow (Sixcranker)

Proud member of the Track Revolution - EMERITUS & Hitman

"If you teach someone to think they're thinking, they will love you.  If you teach someone to think, they will hate you!!!"




Edited on 4/7/2009 1:45 PM
Logged

Medichal

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 308
Re: Rubbing Alcohol
« Reply #2 on: April 07, 2009, 01:45:42 PM »
Lane Masters cleaner is great give it a try
Logged

  • Guest
Re: Rubbing Alcohol
« Reply #3 on: April 07, 2009, 02:29:07 PM »
Rubbing alcohol can dry out the rubber inserts and make them brittle. It's probably better than nothing, but there are other things I'd prefer to use.




--------------------
Lane Carter, Strike Zone Pro Shops - Salt Lake City, Utah
Brunswick Pro Shop Staff

www.brunswickbowling.com

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation.
Logged

Razr

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 139
Re: Rubbing Alcohol
« Reply #4 on: April 07, 2009, 02:38:47 PM »
Well I was told this from my pro-shop guy that rubbing alcohol basically kills your ball..

Rubbing alcohol is used for removing paint and such and todays bowling balls covers have tiny pours in the ball that help the ball get friction.

The rubbing alcohol basically wears down the cover and weakens the ball overall..

The only time I use it is if maybe I had a bad belt burn spot or if glue from gluing grips in got on the ball..just a small spot on the ball, not cleaning the entire thing with it.
Logged

Randy76

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 15
Re: Rubbing Alcohol
« Reply #5 on: April 07, 2009, 02:46:14 PM »
For me, rubbing alcohol takes away the shine quickly on my polished equipment.  I have seen people mix rubbing alcohol 50/50 with water to reduce the "alledged" harmful effects while still getting the cleaning ability.  Local pro shops use denatured alcohol as well for cleaning.

Randy76
Logged

J_w73

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2555
Re: Rubbing Alcohol
« Reply #6 on: April 07, 2009, 03:06:13 PM »
quote:
For me, rubbing alcohol takes away the shine quickly on my polished equipment.  I have seen people mix rubbing alcohol 50/50 with water to reduce the "alledged" harmful effects while still getting the cleaning ability.  Local pro shops use denatured alcohol as well for cleaning.

Randy76


denatured alcohol is illegal to use on a ball at anytime and can damage the cover and change the performance of the ball. denatured alcohol may have acetone, methyl ethyl ketone or other solvent in it that can "melt" or soften the cover.. overtime this can basically seal shut the pores in your ball and decrease the hooking effect.. or it may just soften the cover.
either way it is illegal.

isopropyl alcohol is legal and I have not had an experience with it ruining a ball.  I have heard some say that it will dry out the cover too much and promote cracking but I haven't seen it.
--------------------
16-17 mph,350 rpm,PAP 5 1/2 x 3/8up, HighGame 300 x 3, High Series 782
Book Average 215 / 205,PBA Xperience ave180



Edited on 4/7/2009 3:41 PM
Logged
350 RPM, 17 MPH

lenstanles703

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 346
Re: Rubbing Alcohol
« Reply #7 on: April 07, 2009, 03:16:22 PM »
I have used rubbing alcohol on my bowling balls for years. Never killed one yet. I tried many other cleaners, don't work as well and cost a lot more money.
--------------------
"We are all one"
Visionary test staff member
Logged

rosanj06

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 73
Re: Rubbing Alcohol
« Reply #8 on: April 07, 2009, 08:20:53 PM »
what about windex?
Logged

JohnP

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5819
Re: Rubbing Alcohol
« Reply #9 on: April 08, 2009, 11:01:36 AM »
quote:
Well I was told this from my pro-shop guy that rubbing alcohol basically kills your ball..


Was he trying to sell you a bottle of ball cleaner?  (Sorry, fellow pro-shop guys!) --  JohnP
Logged

Locke

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1482
Re: Rubbing Alcohol
« Reply #10 on: April 08, 2009, 11:16:43 AM »
Rubbing alcohol is completely safe. I have been using it for years. Its too bad that the USBC has gone with the ball companies and banned things like acetone. It is a great cleaner and it has no ill effects on bowling balls. They only say it does because it works so well. In a conversation with Mo Pinel several years ago my pro was told that Mo had done some testing with acetone and it does not soften the surface of the ball. It only takes out all the oil very well. On that note, there is no way anyone can know if you use it at home, it is undetectible. So use it if you want, I don't just because I don't want to risk it but if you want a good ball cleaner thats it.
--------------------
Always be sincere, even when you don't mean it

The Cell Pimp
Logged
Always be sincere, even when you don't mean it.

J_w73

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2555
Re: Rubbing Alcohol
« Reply #11 on: April 08, 2009, 11:28:17 AM »
acetone is banned from way back when people took polyester/plastic balls and soaked it in buckets of acetone to soften the ball up. The acetone would soften the cover and basically rubberize the ball so that it was like a tire and have a larger footprint on the lane..
--------------------
16-17 mph,350 rpm,PAP 5 1/2 x 3/8up, HighGame 300 x 3, High Series 782
Book Average 215 / 205,PBA Xperience ave180

Logged
350 RPM, 17 MPH

rosanj06

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 73
Re: Rubbing Alcohol
« Reply #12 on: April 08, 2009, 06:38:00 PM »
what about windex?
Logged

mainzer

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4405
Re: Rubbing Alcohol
« Reply #13 on: April 08, 2009, 07:23:41 PM »
All I really use to clean my gear with rubbing alchohol. With dull gear after about 12 games I will put it in Hot water for about 20 minutes adding hot water periodically. I have had 2 balls die. One a Wrath which had about 50 games on it and Total Annihilation which I used for almost a entire season then started playing with the cover over summer by the following fall it had puked on me.

You guys that pay 5 bucks for a ball cleaner are crazy.
--------------------
''If their is a life after death,
  then their is no death,
  and if their is no death,
  we do not live''
                   

Progressive Metal Band
EVERGREY


MainzerPower


Edited on 4/8/2009 7:26 PM
Logged
"No one runs...from the conquerer "

MainzerPower

mainzer

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4405
Re: Rubbing Alcohol
« Reply #14 on: April 08, 2009, 07:25:33 PM »
quote:
what about windex?


Don't use Windex Windex like most house old cleaners is fat or oil based, the idea of cleaning the ball is to take oil OFF not put it back ON.

Use Rubbing alchohol, ball cleaner, or just hot water
--------------------
''If their is a life after death,
  then their is no death,
  and if their is no death,
  we do not live''
                   

Progressive Metal Band
EVERGREY


MainzerPower
Logged
"No one runs...from the conquerer "

MainzerPower
Pages: [1] 2 3
« previous next »