Bake vs Bath?

[bowl1820]

Polished, smooth balls do tend to absorb less oil. They don't pick it up like a rougher surface does.

[Mike White]

Polished, smooth balls do tend to absorb less oil. They don't pick it up like a rougher surface does.

Don't be too sure about that.

While examining many bowlers track flare, to identify their pap, I'd say the only reason a polished ball would pick up less oil is because they tend to be used in an area of the lane that has less oil on it to begin with.

I have them throw the ball more in the middle of the lane so it will make the track flare much more visible,.

The real issue with oil absorption is that the oil is sitting on your ball between turns and gets absorbed.

This is why I prefer to wipe my ball clean after the shot then go wait for my next turn, rather than wait until just before my next shot to wipe the ball.

[bowl1820]

Polished, smooth balls do tend to absorb less oil. They don't pick it up like a rougher surface does.

Additional info from a similar post:
Polished balls can absorb the same amount, but at a slightly slower rate.

also:
some polishes fill up pores in the cover, rough surfaces have more (sometimes much more) surface area for absorption than smooth, and the surface tension of liquids on highly curved surfaces is higher, forcing the oil into the pores faster. Bit like paper towel vs writing paper or even cardboard. They will still remove oil from the lane pretty fast though, especially high flaring balls - difference is you will actually get to wipe off some of the oil they pick up.

[Mudpuppy]

Additional info from a similar post:
Polished balls can absorb the same amount, but at a slightly slower rate.

also:
some polishes fill up pores in the cover, rough surfaces have more (sometimes much more) surface area for absorption than smooth, and the surface tension of liquids on highly curved surfaces is higher, forcing the oil into the pores faster. Bit like paper towel vs writing paper or even cardboard. They will still remove oil from the lane pretty fast though, especially high flaring balls - difference is you will actually get to wipe off some of the oil they pick up.

150% correct from my observations. I used to throw a dull ball first game through 2-5 frame of second game to soak up the oil and then throw the polished ball for the remainder of the series. The dull ball soaked up a ton of oil - it is a lot more porous so it is exactly as Mr. 1820 is saying. Like the difference between raw sheet metal vs primed sheet metal vs finished paint & clear coated sheet metal on a car. What one do you think will rust faster?

[Tinyfxds]

I do know that whatever way you decide to wash your bowling balls. 140 degrees is the absolute max temperature you should use. Anything higher than that, you risk having the plasticizers come out of the ball and physically altering the composition of that ball. Our pro shop professional recommends 1-1.5hr at 135 degrees.

[MICHAEL]

I do know that whatever way you decide to wash your bowling balls. 140 degrees is the absolute max temperature you should use. Anything higher than that, you risk having the plasticizers come out of the ball and physically altering the composition of that ball. Our pro shop professional recommends 1-1.5hr at 135 degrees.

Having been an Iron Worker for 30 years, I know a lot about heat, and what it can do to various metals... If you use a wire machine to weld steel, and have the voltage up too high, it can crystalize the weld! Makes sense that bowling balls would also have a max temp! thanks tinyfxds!

[dnhoffman]

Don't be too sure about that.

While examining many bowlers track flare, to identify their pap, I'd say the only reason a polished ball would pick up less oil is because they tend to be used in an area of the lane that has less oil on it to begin with.

I have them throw the ball more in the middle of the lane so it will make the track flare much more visible,.

The real issue with oil absorption is that the oil is sitting on your ball between turns and gets absorbed.

This is why I prefer to wipe my ball clean after the shot then go wait for my next turn, rather than wait until just before my next shot to wipe the ball.

I'd be very sure about it.

[MICHAEL]

All I know is by experience, and I have to say, when I put my balls on the spinner, turn it on, spray cleaning fluid on to the ball while its spinning with a white cotton hand towel up against it, I get a ton more residue from the solid, Matte balls, then I do the pearl polished balls. NOT EVEN CLOSE! Even when I play the same line. Nothing Scientific about my observation just something I noticed.

Same with my Wife's bowling balls. Her matte/solid balls put MUCH MORE oil on the rags. The Science of polish filling in the pours, makes perfect sense to me. I know when you polish a Covet fiberglass sports car. Polish makes the water bead up, much more then without!

[Mike White]

All I know is by experience, and I have to say, when I put my balls on the spinner, turn it on, spray cleaning fluid on to the ball while its spinning with a white cotton hand towel up against it, I get a ton more residue from the solid, Matte balls, then I do the pearl polished balls. NOT EVEN CLOSE! Even when I play the same line. Nothing Scientific about my observation just something I noticed.

Same with my Wife's bowling balls. Her matte/solid balls put MUCH MORE oil on the rags. The Science of polish filling in the pours, makes perfect sense to me. I know when you polish a Covet fiberglass sports car. Polish makes the water bead up, much more then without!

Which is why you don't use car polishes for your bowling ball. They have a different chemical makeup, and have different intended purposes.

Car polishes act more like a protectant, and have oil/silicon/wax based chemicals to repel water, and will potentially block the pores.

Bowling ball polishes act more like very fine sand paper, and a friction reducing agent. It doesn't (or at least shouldn't) block the pores.

[MICHAEL]

Which is why you don't use car polishes for your bowling ball. They have a different chemical makeup, and have different intended purposes.

Car polishes act more like a protectant, and have oil/silicon/wax based chemicals to repel water, and will potentially block the pores.

Bowling ball polishes act more like very fine sand paper, and a friction reducing agent. It doesn't (or at least shouldn't) block the pores.

if that's the case then what's the difference between a 4000 pad finish , and polish? I will look a little deeper, I am convinced that their is a (form of polish) of some kind in say, Reata shine.

could the (friction reducing agent be in reality a polish, not car polish, but polish just the same. When I use them vs high grit pads, the difference is night and day.