Expert: - 1/16/2008

Question
I have a reactive gold/red/blue tornado, Ebonite! As my ball needs a clean i have been told that you can clean the ball at home using a few small simple steps!
obviously the ball picks up oil from the lanes and absorbs into the ball so i was told to leave the ball out in the sun for 2-3mins untill you see it sweating oil, you then get something that has alchoel in it and wipe the ball over 2 times!
Is this true?
Thanks

Answer
One of the easiest ways to get oil out, is to not let lane conditioner(oil) get in. I'm a big fan of wiping the ball off before every shot. Microfiber towels help remove oil from the surface actively as you bowl. By keeping the surface clean, you don't get oil, all ready on the ball from the last shot, effecting ball reaction.

My store has halogen spot lights focused on the main counter and I noticed the sweating, years ago, in an oil soaked ball sitting on that counter.

The Ebonite company doesn't sanction any heating of the covers of their bowling balls (as in sun, oven, etc.) as a solution to oil absorption and reaction loss. But they do have a system (called Hook Again)using dry chemicals to draw oil and unfortunately some of the plasticizers out of a bowling ball.  

While the process you mention sounds very specific, I'd suspect it to be less than effective for more than a game. If you remove lane conditioner actively (while you bowl)and  immediately after you complete your games, it has less time to soak in.

Warming the surface has some merit. Brunswick's research shows that a controlled system to sweat balls of oil has merit. But the other major companies would point out that warming a ball to quickly (warm coverstock surface and cool core occasionally split apart) creates problems, the least of which is a voided warrentee. Oil comes out but so does some of the chemical structure of the cover (plasticizers), causing (they feel) brittleness and loss of structural integrity.

Plain rubbing alcohol (70 to 90 percent) will help clean the ball (it's what we use by the gallon in the store, and it's an ingredient in several ball cleaning products). Anything added (fragrance, color) will leave a residue, which can lead to other problems.

Controlling the heat source is the key to addressing the oil in the ball problem. Ebonite will tell you, hot tap water (usually 120 degrees or so, hotter is not better) will warm the surface and float the oil out of/off the ball. You must soak the ball (submerge it in a bucket or container) for like a half hour. Still oily, they suggest do it again.

I hope this addresses your concerns, wipe that ball and have fun.