Cutting bowling Balls

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Seer

Seer

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I know I read the tutorial and yet I am going for it. A local bowling pro shop wants some pens to sell and keep. He gave me 2 balls (no pun intended) today and the acrylic is over 2 inches thick so I hope I can get something out of them. He likes the cigar pens so at least the blanks are short and not like a larger pen. Wish me luck because I think I will need it.
Jerry
 
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Good Luck Jerry and watch your fingers. I did a few pens a couple years ago and made 3 slices on the band saw and ruined 2 blades. I still have the other half of that ball on the floor looking at me. :) I have a black ebonite ball but I havent found the time, courage and sawblades yet to cut on it. I didnt find any fun in it.
 
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If there is a cabinet / countertop shop near you that cuts granite they will likely cut the ball for you. As Don said three bandsaw blades latter, I had a big mess. I did manage to keep all my digits (barely).

Good luck! Be careful. Round things move around.
 
Nothing more fun that cutting up a bowling ball! :rolleyes:

It's lucky if you found one with some 2" thick acrylic skin. Most of the new ones are only a 1/2 inch thick and with the radius of the ball you end up with nothing but junk unless you really want to work hard and cut up all the skin and re-cast it.

Do not cut the ball in half! You do not know what is inside. Maybe there is nothing in the center but more cement...or maybe there is a big ceramic counterweight that will bounce off pretty much anything you can throw at it <DAMHIKT!> You need to cut the ball off to one side..basically quarter up the ball into 6 pieces so you end up with a square block of cement left over in the middle.

Oh yeah...almost forgot...open all the doors and windows in the shop...could get real nasty and smoky in there!!!!!
 
Well the balls are valued at $300.00 new and have a very thick skin at least from what I can see in the holes. The centers are a weird size mica weight so I will be taking my time and trying to cut through the skin so I can break it in half then I guess the starts but we shall see if it is worth it for me and the guy I got them from. I
 
The skin is very thick at least from the thumb hole and I am going to try to spin it on a ball base to cut through the skin and then break the 2 halves apart fun huh I will post pics as I go along so you can all have a good laugh :-p will keep you posted.
Jerry
 
All I can say is GOOD LUCK and BE SAFE

I cut about 30 balls one summer destroyed 3 saws and about 15 blades.

Make a jig with a big chop saw to cut about 1/3 off to get a flat spot. Then you can start slicing them up like a watermelon. Use the ban saw to cut the core out of the slices then the end of a belt sander to remove the rest of the core. Be careful eye protection gloves heavy apron.

It's fun stuff have extra blades ready!!!

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