Expert: - 1/28/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hello Warren,

I want to know what do you think about the Ebonite Hook Again compound and about the Colombia Coverstock Performance Resuscitation ?
Do they work well ?
Do you know a substitute on the market like silica gel or other ?

BR,
Vincent

ANSWER: Vincent,
The Ebonite and Columbia products remove oil from ball coverstocks. We've used Ebonite's "Hook Again" (CPR is a similar idea), in conjunction with other techniques to improve oil soaked balls. The company recommended products, along with the soaking, sanding, or resurfacing techniques can recover a badly beat up and/or oil soaked ball.

NOTHING, in my experience, will bring a ball back 100. Before attempting to do anything, evaluate what would be an acceptable investment, and what would be an acceptable result. Discuss it with the pro shop person that will perform the service and get an estimate of what you might expect. If $50 for an oil soak and resurface recovers the ball to 60 percent of new, is the investment worth it to you? What about 75 or 80?

Soaking and sweating balls help also, but heating balls is not recommended by some manufacturers. Check out the Ebonite website (www.ebonite.com/resources), the "Resources" page for "Ball Maintenance Guide" for more info.

I've enjoyed the results of hometown mad scientists trying all manner of products and ideas to accomplish the same thing a manufacturer recommends and or product they produce.

From blanched and discolored balls, to balls with oven grill marks, I have replaced several balls, that probably would have been replaced anyway, for customers trying homemade remedies to save a beloved ball.
Whether the intent is to save a buck, or to save a ball, my trade association (IBPSIA) would be all over a "non-industry" product or technique that worked.

That is how car polishes, rubbing compounds and marine sanding pads became part of bowling.

Never heard of the silica gel idea. What is it supposed to accomplish?

Thanks for the question. Bowl well.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Warren,

Thanks for your previous answer.

I tried the Ebonite Hook Again on a bowling ball of a friend and he tried it yesterday.
It seems that the ball is powerful and hooks harder, we have to test it again when it will absorb a bit of oil and then will be more stable.
For me, more than oil absorption, is plasticizers absorption which is the big advantage of these solutions.
Concerning the Silica Gel, have a look at the US Patent US7473322, actually it looks like the Ebonite Hook Again compound and it is composed by silica gel, sphagnum (peat moss) and pine dust.
It is possible to buy on the market Silica Gel but I haven't information about the two others.
If you know other substances which can work like Hook Again Compound I’ll take them.

BR,
Vincent


Answer
Vincent,
When plasticizers are removed (with the oil, and they leach out somewhat over time), using the systems you mentioned or sweating or soaking a ball, the balls seem to become more brittle. FYI.

Thanks for following up. Are there any consumer products that contain the silica gel you mentioned? I've heard of cat litter being used to try to remove oil, unsuccessfully (the effect didn't last, some minimal impact was seen, but apparently not enough "stuff" was drawn out).