Pool balls shrink in the cold, too;) (Precise data included)

iusedtoberich

iusedtoberich

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I decided to see how much ball temperature affects ball diameter. I put an Aramith made Rempe cue ball in the freezer for one full day, took it out, and measured its diameter and temperature. I did this every few minutes until the ball reached room temperature and its diameter stabilized. The measurements were carefully taken with accurate, precise, and calibrated equipment. I was also very careful to wipe the frost off of the ball at the colder temperatures, as its thickness would affect the measurements. The ball measures 2.2393" at 34 F, and 2.2432" at about 80 F, for a size difference of 0.0039". This is about the same size as a piece of notebook paper, for reference.

I used a Rempe ball, instead of one of my nice sets, incase the rapid expansion and contraction would cause any of the inlays to shift. There was no damage evident to the Rempe ball. However, I believe all of the Rempe markings are painted on, and not inlaid (I'm not sure of this).

Enjoy!

Screen Shot 2018-02-25 at 12.07.36 PM.jpg
Data follows a linear trend line

IMG_2761.jpg
Starrett 2-3 inch micrometer in a stand used for meaurments. All diameters taken with the micrometer anvil and spindle touching the Rempe center ball figures.

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2 inch Webber gage block (super accurate) used to verify micrometer calibration.

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Infrared thermometer used to measure surface temperature of the ball. Also used it to measure the micrometer frame.

Screen Shot 2018-02-25 at 12.08.33 PM.jpg
Raw data.
 
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iusedtoberich said:
I decided to see how much ball temperature affects ball diameter. I put an Aramith made Rempe cue ball in the freezer for one full day, took it out, and measured its diameter and temperature. I did this every few minutes until the ball reached room temperature and its diameter stabilized. The measurements were carefully taken with accurate, precise, and calibrated equipment. I was also very careful to wipe the frost off of the ball at the colder temperatures, as its thickness would affect the measurements. The ball measures 2.2392" at 34 F, and 2.4332" at about 80 F, for a size difference of 0.0039".

I used a Rempe ball, instead of one of my nice sets, incase the rapid expansion and contraction would cause any of the inlays to shift. There was no damage evident to the Rempe ball. However, I believe all of the Rempe markings are painted on, and not inlaid (I'm not sure of this).

Enjoy!

View attachment 485257
Data follows a linear trend line

View attachment 485261
Starrett 2-3 inch micrometer in a stand used for meaurments. All diameters taken with the micrometer anvil and spindle touching the Rempe center ball figures.

View attachment 485258
2 inch Webber gage block (super accurate) used to verify micrometer calibration.

View attachment 485259
Infrared thermometer used to measure surface temperature of the ball. Also used it to measure the micrometer frame.

View attachment 485260
Raw data.
Click to expand...
You REALLY need to get out more.
 
iusedtoberich said:
I decided to see how much ball temperature affects ball diameter. I put an Aramith made Rempe cue ball in the freezer for one full day, took it out, and measured its diameter and temperature. I did this every few minutes until the ball reached room temperature and its diameter stabilized. The measurements were carefully taken with accurate, precise, and calibrated equipment. I was also very careful to wipe the frost off of the ball at the colder temperatures, as its thickness would affect the measurements. The ball measures 2.2392" at 34 F, and 2.4332" at about 80 F, for a size difference of 0.0039".

...

I believe you fat fingered the line in bold. Too rapid a temp change on the ol' digits, I reckon.
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garczar said:
You REALLY need to get out more.
Click to expand...

Ha ha... This all came about because I have measured a set of balls brand new, then played 200 racks with them, then measured them again. I wanted to see how much wear they would have. They actually measured larger! (A very small amount, about 0.0004 inches, that could be caused by many things, including measurement error). I was scratching my head at how this could have happened. I wanted to see how much of an affect temperature has on the ball diameter. It definitely has a significant affect for this level of precision measurement, and could very well be the cause of my larger diameter findings. That experiment will be continued and reported on fully in the future.
 
pwd72s said:
So warmer means bigger? No wonder they invented Saunas...
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Hmmm. By my calculation the ball needs to be at 160 degF to be the right size. Well within sauna range. "Let's go sweat the match."
 
Interesting! I would of thought it would have been a little more than .003. I believe nearly everything contracts when frozen with the exception of silicon, a few elements and of course water.
 
WildWing said:
So far, I'm really not sure whether we're talking shrinkage or wear.

All the best,
WW
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I'm not sure if this is a legit question, or a joke that went over my head :grin-square::grin-square:

If the former, this data is ONLY of ball diameter changes due to temperature changes. Nothing more.
 
Vietnamese and even some European Carom player's have told me they believe keeping the balls at a warm temp for Playing makes it easier

Keeping them under a light when not in use
 
beneath_the_sur said:
Just puttin balls I'm holes


Not making a decompression Chamber
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Ah, but a guy could spray his cueball and an interference ball with a compressed air can and make the balls cooler and smaller. This could allow the cueball to get past the interference ball and pot the object ball, where before the cooling, he was blocked.



Jeff Livingston
 
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