Best Ball Cleaner for the price

[JoeW]

What do you think the retail price of this machine should be?

Best ball cleaner for the price. This is an industrial grade machine. You must supply your own drill or use the crank supplied with the machine.

Currently I am thinking of charging at least $75.00 plus shipping (about $20.00 for 1,000 miles from Pittsburgh, PA).
This is a 16 ball cleaner / polisher. The balls are placed in two removal Plexiglas holders and sit on top of a terry cloth towel attached to 3/4" inch plywood platen. The platen is supported by four wheel casters mounted on a 1/2" black pipe bearing (see Photo 3).

Place a drop of Aramith ball Cleaner on each ball and spin the platen.

You can use a drill and the supplied connector to spin it fast (see Photo 1). A Ryobi 12 amp portable drill spins the platen faster than is needed.

The crank supplied with the machine allows the user to rotate the platen at a sufficient speed for cleaning and polishing. A homeowner may find it easier to use the crank than to go find their portable drill (see Photo 2).

After the balls have been cleaned, hold a soft cloth (not supplied) on top of the balls and polish to the desired shine.

The photos displayed are of the prototype. This machine has been tested and works as it was designed to work. The completed machine will look better than the one in the photos.

Approximate specifications:
21 inches X 21 inches
Six inches tall
Weighs 25 pounds
Oak frame stained Mahogany, Polyurethane finish
3/4" Plywood platen with terry cloth towel
Hand crank
Drill attachment (no drill supplied)

Suggestions for improvement are welcome.

I will make and wholesale (three or more) to interested vendors.

Photo 1 Ball Cleaner with Portable drill connector and drill (drill is not supplied)

Photo 2 Ball Cleaner with hand crank.

Photo 3 Ball Cleaner base displaying the bearing system.

If you would like to order one (two weeks to make) send me an email. Current price is $75.00 plus shipping.

 

[billiardshot]

Sorry JoeW. I just don't see it. Plexiglass to hold balls without protection ?? from edge. Check these two design out below. Your bucket polisher I like better.


http://www.google.com/patents?id=wogCAAAAEBAJ&dq="billiard+ball+"cleaner

http://www.google.com/patents?id=gOBDAAAAEBAJ&dq="billiard+ball+"cleaner

 

[JoeW]

I have felt that can be used to line the plexiglass. I found that it is not needed as the plexiglas is softer than the balls. I'll check again but I do not think that the plexiglas removed the shine. Thanks for the suggestion, I'll check it out.

If it turns out that people thought that felt was required it would actually be easier to make th ball holder because I could use something other than plexiglas which is difficult to cut with a hole saw.

The problem with a felt ball holder (which I have already tried) is that the felt picks up the Aramith ball cleaner and quickly gets dirty.

 

[billiardshot]

On my polisher I use Deer Hide strip smooth to ball. Here another patent search, which use lamb wool. Close to your design.
http://www.google.com/patents?id=4y...her&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=0_1#PPP3,M1

 

[JoeW]

[/IMG]

You were right Billiardshot. The felt yields a better shine. Guess I should have thought of that. Here is a photo of the revised machine with one side felted. The felt is glued and stapled so it can't be easily removed. It is can be replaced in about 30 minutes if anyone's machine gets too dirty.

I used the Aramith cleaner and there was a little residue on the felt that wiped off. Guess I'll have to use it a few time to see what works best. I also learned that felt can be cleaned with spray on woolite or some such product. So It looks like this may be the best way to go. Thanks for the suggestion.


Turns out that I like the crank better than the drill. The dril is too fast. The crank allows better control.

The URL that you referenced above cleans 8 balls and is more involved than mine. Mine is noisy in use but operates very smoothly and it cleans 16 at once. I have small wrinkles in the platen and this helps the balls rotate off the standard path so that all sides of the balls get cleaned.

 

[vin]

75-100 is ok

 

[billiardshot]

Look nice. Good luck with your venture.

Bob Watson

 

[Solartje]

looks like a good start.

I'm wondering, are the small wheels really needed. I supose the weels make the most noise. The drill can manually changed to any speed no?
If you want the drill to rotate at 1turn /second, and remove the wheels i can't imagine it still being noisy?

just my 2c. Good luck with the sale !

 

[JoeW]

The wheels do make noise but they help to stabalize the machine. I have learned from past experiments that they are needed for reliable operation. I suppose there are better bearing I could use but that would drive the price up.

 

[3andstop]

Joe cutting plexiglass with a hole saw is tough, try it with Lexan, you won't have any trouble at all.