swingset
02-22-2012, 08:34 PM
I've read an awful lot about ball rejuvenation, from the bath method to ovens to dishwashers, pros and cons and arguments for all of the methods.
I think the conventional wisdom is that 150 degree constant heat is what most pro shops and manufacturers seem to recommend, and the ovens in pro shops do just that.
I have some expertise in "sweating oil" because of a background in furniture restoration, where varying methods to baking out oils and finishes are approached with ovens or chemical/hygroscopic means.
Sweating a bowling ball seemed very straightforward to me, and one of the simplest wood "baking" ovens a person can assemble work on a very simple principle. Put your object in some duct work, and blow some heat in there. Vent for proper temperature, wait, wipe, repeat.
So, knowing this I tried to assemble the cheapest, simplest and most reliable ball oven I could so that others might benefit from it. Here's what I have and it works perfect.
Materials:
1 bucket or trash can, metal is preferable but plastic will work too as the temperatures are relatively low. Mainly you want to trap the blown heat around the ball, so anything in the shape of a bucket or box could work.
1 small electric heater. The kind you buy for an office or bedroom, typically very inexpensive. I think I paid $12 for mine on clearance years ago.
1 kitchen themometer. You can use just about any kind, if it has a range of 150 degrees....you can even use two to really control the entrance/back of the design.
1 towel or paper towels to soak up oil that drips off. Ball sits on this.
That's it! Observe:
http://www.localnumber69.com/temp/Ball_Heater_1.jpg
Note, it can and will deliver a perfect 150 degrees:
http://www.localnumber69.com/temp/Ball_Heater_2.jpg
So, how do you control the temp? Pretty easy. Put the heater on high, aiming into the bucket. When the temp gets to 150, move the heater a small way out of the mouth of the bucket until the temp stabilizes at 150. Might have to experiment at first, but that's all it takes. Viola.
You can measure the heat at any place in front or behind the ball to see if the temp is consistent, but I found it to be within a couple of degrees at the mouth or the back of the bucket, so it's good enough.
I baked the oil out of this Storm, took 3 sessions of 12-15 minutes in the oven until it stopped leeching oil.
After the last session, I wrapped the ball in some rags to catch any more that leeched out, then cleaned the surface with my patented super ball cleaner (citrus degreaser & 90% alcohol, mixed 50/50).
You can for sure let your pro-shop do this, but this works and works well...and won't foul your wife's oven or dishwasher. For marital harmony, and all that jazz.
I think the conventional wisdom is that 150 degree constant heat is what most pro shops and manufacturers seem to recommend, and the ovens in pro shops do just that.
I have some expertise in "sweating oil" because of a background in furniture restoration, where varying methods to baking out oils and finishes are approached with ovens or chemical/hygroscopic means.
Sweating a bowling ball seemed very straightforward to me, and one of the simplest wood "baking" ovens a person can assemble work on a very simple principle. Put your object in some duct work, and blow some heat in there. Vent for proper temperature, wait, wipe, repeat.
So, knowing this I tried to assemble the cheapest, simplest and most reliable ball oven I could so that others might benefit from it. Here's what I have and it works perfect.
Materials:
1 bucket or trash can, metal is preferable but plastic will work too as the temperatures are relatively low. Mainly you want to trap the blown heat around the ball, so anything in the shape of a bucket or box could work.
1 small electric heater. The kind you buy for an office or bedroom, typically very inexpensive. I think I paid $12 for mine on clearance years ago.
1 kitchen themometer. You can use just about any kind, if it has a range of 150 degrees....you can even use two to really control the entrance/back of the design.
1 towel or paper towels to soak up oil that drips off. Ball sits on this.
That's it! Observe:
http://www.localnumber69.com/temp/Ball_Heater_1.jpg
Note, it can and will deliver a perfect 150 degrees:
http://www.localnumber69.com/temp/Ball_Heater_2.jpg
So, how do you control the temp? Pretty easy. Put the heater on high, aiming into the bucket. When the temp gets to 150, move the heater a small way out of the mouth of the bucket until the temp stabilizes at 150. Might have to experiment at first, but that's all it takes. Viola.
You can measure the heat at any place in front or behind the ball to see if the temp is consistent, but I found it to be within a couple of degrees at the mouth or the back of the bucket, so it's good enough.
I baked the oil out of this Storm, took 3 sessions of 12-15 minutes in the oven until it stopped leeching oil.
After the last session, I wrapped the ball in some rags to catch any more that leeched out, then cleaned the surface with my patented super ball cleaner (citrus degreaser & 90% alcohol, mixed 50/50).
You can for sure let your pro-shop do this, but this works and works well...and won't foul your wife's oven or dishwasher. For marital harmony, and all that jazz.