Styrofoam container in garage to help control termperature

[NewToBowling]

Winter is coming and I want to just leave my bowling balls in the garage. Here in Denver it gets pretty cold. Wondering if a big styrofoam cooler would help keep the balls relatively warm and constant instead of being ice cold.

[Tony]

Does the garage have any heated area or any walls attached to a heated space ? If there is no source to generate heat the balls will eventually reach the same temp as the garage.

[Amyers]

All that a cooler does is attempt to maintain the temperature of the object inside of it. It can't heat what isn't hot and can't cool what isn't cold. The efficacy of a styrofoam cooler is pretty low even if the balls were warm it wouldn't take it long to lose that heat.

If you want to maintain your equipment keep it in a temperature controlled environment. Unheated garages have to much variation to be a good place to store bowling equipment.

[NewToBowling]

Makes sense but should help slow down the cooling process

[Tony]

Because you have access to power in the garage (I presume) you have countless ways to make a storage area with some sort of heating device.
There are many different type of AC powered heat generating equipment. Going with the cooler idea, using a better insulated one with a small mat in the bottom of it, like the mats they make for pets with an adjustable rheostat could keep the balls warm. There are many different type's of mini heaters made that could be used for your situation

Any sort of container that's well insulated could serve as your heated storage for the ball, in fact if one of the walls is common with the house you could potentially connect a section of duct or vent to allow warm house air to get into your ball storage.

[jab5325]

Using a styrofoam container for this type of use is about like urinating on a forest fire to put it out.

If the garage is unheated, it's best to store them inside. Otherwise, you're risking cracking.

[Mike White]

Using a styrofoam container for this type of use is about like urinating on a forest fire to put it out.

If the garage is unheated, it's best to store them inside. Otherwise, you're risking cracking.

I guessing not everyone has the same level of urinating ability as you seem to have.

Styrofoam is acting as an insulator, to try and keep the temperature outside of the container from affecting the temperature inside of the container.

It would work to keep cold out (in this example) just like it works to keep cold in (normal Ice and Beer example)


I suspect there is a reason where the option to store them inside is less desirable, than the risk of cracking.

i,e, female issues.

[jab5325]

I guessing not everyone has the same level of urinating ability as you seem to have.

Styrofoam is acting as an insulator, to try and keep the temperature outside of the container from affecting the temperature inside of the container.

It would work to keep cold out (in this example) just like it works to keep cold in (normal Ice and Beer example)


I suspect there is a reason where the option to store them inside is less desirable, than the risk of cracking.

i,e, female issues.

Since you're the expert......put your equipment in an unheated space, during a cold winter, in a styrofoam container. Then, transport it, bowl with it, and put it back in said container. Do this once per week for 32+ weeks.

Then, tell me how long your stuff lasts.

[Mike White]

Since you're the expert......put your equipment in an unheated space, during a cold winter, in a styrofoam container. Then, transport it, bowl with it, and put it back in said container. Do this once per week for 32+ weeks.

Then, tell me how long your stuff lasts.

I'm "smart" enough not to find myself in a cold winter to begin with.

Also, I have plenty of space inside where my bowling equipment can stay out of the freakin hot summers.

You are the one who made a comparison of the effectiveness of the styrofoam container,
but you compared it to something we don't have experience with.

How effective is your ability to put out a fire by urinating on it?

Who knows, maybe you have hidden talents.

BTW how many of those 32+ weeks would the "winter" be cold enough to need a styrofoam container?

For me, I think the styrofoam would work just fine, because winter here is 60 degrees.

[NewToBowling]

I think styrofoam container with ball wrapped in blanket should suffice. But if I'm going that far might as well move the balls inside the house

We only get a few nights during the year where it is brutally cold outside. For the most part in the garage it stays above freezing (although that isn't saying much :))

[foreverincamo]

Kick something else out of the house to the garage. Bowling balls don't do well with large temperature swings

[NewToBowling]

Kick something else out of the house to the garage. Bowling balls don't do well with large temperature swings

Not a question of space but convenience. I would hate lugging my 3 ball bag from car into house having to deal with a few steps and storing it in laundry room (wife prefers it out of site so in the corner is not an option). Easier transition from car to corner of garage

[jlwonderley]

I agree with Amyers and Mike White.
Unless you can create a 100% perfectly insulated container, the heat inside will transfer outside (albeit at some degree slower) until equilibrium is achieved. With nothing making or drawing in more thermal energy, it will be useless. A cooler (yes, even with an added blanket) is not nearly effective enough for this purpose.

The only reason a (adjoined) garage is usually just a bit warmer than outside is because the main part of the house DOES have a source of new energy (furnace, wood stove, etc.) and some of the heat makes it way into the garage, even without a duct. Also, it protects from wind-chill factor.

[Amyers]

I'm "smart" enough not to find myself in a cold winter to begin with.

Also, I have plenty of space inside where my bowling equipment can stay out of the freakin hot summers.

You are the one who made a comparison of the effectiveness of the styrofoam container,
but you compared it to something we don't have experience with.

How effective is your ability to put out a fire by urinating on it?

Who knows, maybe you have hidden talents.

BTW how many of those 32+ weeks would the "winter" be cold enough to need a styrofoam container?

For me, I think the styrofoam would work just fine, because winter here is 60 degrees.

At 60 degrees you don't need a cooler to begin with so the point your making here is purely argumentative. If you want to protect your equipment keep it in a temperature controlled environment if not take your chances with the cold. If you choose to take your chances don't waste your time with a cooler it's not doing anything but making you feel better about it.

[Mike White]

At 60 degrees you don't need a cooler to begin with so the point your making here is purely argumentative.

I think by the time we got to the 32+ weeks of "winter" we had left reality.

[Jessiewoodard57]

My PSO was talking about ball storage at leagues a few days ago and he was saying the Storm ball rep said that Storm now suggests storing them in the house wrapped in a plastic bag thumb hole down.

[bowl1820]

My PSO was talking about ball storage at leagues a few days ago and he was saying the Storm ball rep said that Storm now suggests storing them in the house wrapped in a plastic bag thumb hole down.

That originally came from a blog post by Jeff Richgels about balls cracking and a article in the Fall 2008 edition of Pro Shop Insider written by Rich Jacobson.

Click here for The 11th Frame: The Ebonite article that tells you how to keep resin balls from cracking – and how I got it wrong (http://www.11thframe.com/news/article/6806)

Click here for the Ebonite Article (http://www.11thframe.com/PZN/richgels/blog/6806/Fall%202008%20PSIx.pdf)

[Tony]

I think by the time we got to the 32+ weeks of "winter" we had left reality.

This place is not too far off ...

. CASPER, WYOMING Snow is common in this town and has occurred as early as September and as late as early June. The average daily winter temperature is 22°F, and on average, 181 days of the year have temperatures at or below 32°F. Casper is among the top five most windiest spots in the nation. The prevailing winter wind blows from the southwest, with the emphasis on “blows.” Some wind gusts have been clocked at over 60 m.p.h.

[Tony]

My PSO was talking about ball storage at leagues a few days ago and he was saying the Storm ball rep said that Storm now suggests storing them in the house wrapped in a plastic bag thumb hole down.


Are you sure he didn't have any other suggestions .......... could he perhaps have said at some time "in a Styrofoam cooler in the garage" ?

[jlwonderley]

Are you sure he didn't have any other suggestions .......... could he perhaps have said at some time "in a Styrofoam cooler in the garage" ?

:D Lol. You cheeky sob.

Think I may have gotten posts mixed upped before, meant to say Amyers and Tony I was agreeing with, no offense Mike.

[Jessiewoodard57]

That originally came from a blog post by Jeff Richgels about balls cracking and a article in the Fall 2008 edition of Pro Shop Insider written by Rich Jacobson.

Click here for The 11th Frame: The Ebonite article that tells you how to keep resin balls from cracking – and how I got it wrong (http://www.11thframe.com/news/article/6806)

Click here for the Ebonite Article (http://www.11thframe.com/PZN/richgels/blog/6806/Fall%202008%20PSIx.pdf)

Thank you guess the rep got it there interesting article

[jlwonderley]

That originally came from a blog post by Jeff Richgels about balls cracking and a article in the Fall 2008 edition of Pro Shop Insider written by Rich Jacobson.

Click here for The 11th Frame: The Ebonite article that tells you how to keep resin balls from cracking – and how I got it wrong (http://www.11thframe.com/news/article/6806)

Click here for the Ebonite Article (http://www.11thframe.com/PZN/richgels/blog/6806/Fall%202008%20PSIx.pdf)

That's great to know, in case I need to store a ball long-term. Never considered the effect of gravity here. Although logically, a ball certainly could crack from temperature. Most likely uneven temperatures, or quickly changing temperatures.

Isn't the inner part, surrounding the core and inside the cover, made of less dense material? Wouldn't that mean that it would expand or contract more relative to the cover? Therefore heat in excess of the designed operating temperatures might cause cracking, while cold below that range instead might cause separation.

[Mike White]

That originally came from a blog post by Jeff Richgels about balls cracking and a article in the Fall 2008 edition of Pro Shop Insider written by Rich Jacobson.

Click here for The 11th Frame: The Ebonite article that tells you how to keep resin balls from cracking – and how I got it wrong (http://www.11thframe.com/news/article/6806)

Click here for the Ebonite Article (http://www.11thframe.com/PZN/richgels/blog/6806/Fall%202008%20PSIx.pdf)

From the Ebonite Article...

"Bowling balls cure during the manufacturing process at a very specific temperature for a certain amount of time. Though the surface is fully cured by the time it leaved the factory, they continued to cure for a period of months to years."


So when it leaves the factory is it fully cured, or not?

I think not, and that is the source of the cracking.

I've had a ball in the shop, on the display wall crack, and it was handled by customers rather frequently.

[jlwonderley]

From the Ebonite Article...

"Bowling balls cure during the manufacturing process at a very specific temperature for a certain amount of time. Though the surface is fully cured by the time it leaved the factory, they continued to cure for a period of months to years."


So when it leaves the factory is it fully cured, or not?

I think not, and that is the source of the cracking.

I've had a ball in the shop, on the display wall crack, and it was handled by customers rather frequently.

I don't know... he's contradicts himself there. Obviously it'd can't both be fully cured, and also continue to cure. I think he meant that they are cured as much as can be during manufacturing process, but continue to cure to some extent afterwards.

Also, what does it mean for it to "cure?" Curing in terms of plastic, etc. means hardening right? So the cover continues to harden for months to years... To me that would mean cracking would become more and more likely, as the material loses elasticity.

BTW, if storing long-term on a flat surface causes cracking due to all the weight being rested on a single point on the ball's spherical surface, why not just distribute the weight, instead of having to rotate it? Might a ball cup/holder be sufficient?

[bowl1820]

BTW, if storing long-term on a flat surface causes cracking due to all the weight being rested on a single point on the ball's spherical surface, why not just distribute the weight, instead of having to rotate it? Might a ball cup/holder be sufficient?

While a ball cup might be better than a flat surface, it can still happen.

If you leave a ball sitting unmoved on a ball cup long enough, it can develop a dent in it from the holder.

[jlwonderley]

While a ball cup might be better than a flat surface, it can still happen.

If you leave a ball sitting unmoved on a ball cup long enough, it can develop a dent in it from the holder.

I have a holder that is a ring type, so the middle is open and I believe the ball doesn't contact the surface below it. It's made of a soft rubbery material with well-rounded edges. I haven't calculated it or anything, but I'd guess this would be enough.
If not, how about this idea: take some kind of bag, fill it with sand, and use that to hold the ball. It'll make it's own perfectly molded hole to nestle into.