Cleaning pool balls?

as someone mentioned in a post earlier,

why not check out the Mini-buffer? I believe it was like 69$ i think, and basically was a 3ball buffer that you could do at home with a small power drill.
 
i tried "armor all" and it helped alot on my slow cheap cloth but i wouldnt do it if i had the good cloth..
 
StormHotRod300 said:
as someone mentioned in a post earlier,

why not check out the Mini-buffer? I believe it was like 69$ i think, and basically was a 3ball buffer that you could do at home with a small power drill.
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It's $59.95 plus $7.95 shipping.

I have one.... never used it much. I guess because it's not much better than polishing them by hand. Just as much trouble and only 3 at a time.

I just called the ph and they'll only charge me $3.00. Done deal. We didn't have a ph when I bought the Mini Buffer.
 
The best stuff is called "Brillianize". It is made for cleaning synthetic windows on airplanes & helicopters. It works better than anything else on pool balls. You can find the web site by doing a Google search (It is: www.Brillianize.com

I bought a ball cleaner from Joe Porper, and he recommended Brillianize as the best stuff to use with his machine. He should know.
 
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JimS said:
I have one.... never used it much. I guess because it's not much better than polishing them by hand. Just as much trouble and only 3 at a time.
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I have to agree about the Mini-Buffer.
I recently gave mine away to a teamate with a new table at home.
 
Cleaning Billiard Balls

I play at a pool hall where the owner thinks its a good idea to put the balls in the dishwasher. The color fades and they don't have a shine and they are dull. Even worse is when they are still hot.


Dead Money said:
What about running them all thru the dishwasher?
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JimS said:
So... I wash them in warm water with Dawn dish soap. Auto detailing freaks will tall you that only Dawn will remove all the dirt/grime etc. I then use a good automotive cleaner/polish. Not a wax. Wax will make the balls act funny.. unrealisticly,at least for a while, and I don't need the wasted time learning to account for the changing conditions of the new wax and as it wears off. Get a good car cleaner and polish and spend an hour or so doing a good job. Use a microfiber towel. Muellers sells Karseal ball cleaner and polish and I can testify that it works well. You'll love the cb action you'll get for a while :D :D

.
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Jim: I was using turtle wax. Bobby Hunter pointed out that it builds up and pointed me to Color Back by turtle wax which is a cleaner and a polish and it seems to work fine.

1. What do you think about using it ? and
2. Is it legal?

See below:

"16. Balls and Ball Rack
All balls must be composed of cast phenolic resin plastic and measure 2 ? (+.005) inches [5.715 cm (+ .127 mm)] in diameter and weigh 5 ? to 6 oz [156 to 170 gms]. Balls should be unpolished, and should also not be waxed. Balls should be cleaned with a towel or cloth free of dirt and dust, and may also be washed with soap and water. Balls contaminated with any slippery substance - treated with a polishing or rubbing compound and/or waxed - must be cleansed and dewaxed with a clean cloth moistened with diluted alcohol before play."

WPBA Rules
 
I mentioned this idea on another thread regarding ball cleaners but in case anyone didn't see it, I think it's really worth mentioning again. If you don't care about fancy contraptions, and you simply want to clean your pool balls without any hassle, this is a very good option. I use it, and it works just fine.

Get a little carpet, glue it to the inside of an automotive oil catch pan, buy a 20 dollar 10" orbital buffer, and throw the balls in the bucket. :)

Here is a great cleaner to use that is available locally at just about any parts supply store. I do believe someone above mentioned it as well. I will add, that you can buy a plastic squirt bottle at Home Depot for 2 bucks, and cut this mixture by 50% with water. It will last forever.

http://www.properautocare.com/meplplclpo2.html
 
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I like your idea 3andstop. A couple of things that might help others.

A similar bucket can be purchased from the Dollar store for $6.00. Just cut the top off.

Have a cleaning cloth such as a face wash cloth.

Have a separate polishing cloth such as lamb's wool or similar.

Use Aramith ball cleaner. They state that it is not wax, though it sure acts like wax so it is legal for the WPA and other venues.

I used Pledge spray wax for many years and it does not seem to be much different from Aramith.

edit: gluing some sort of terrycloth towel to the base of your bucket would also be a good addition. There is less need for polishing when you get done.
 
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JoeW said:
I like your idea 3andstop. A couple of things that might help others.

A similar bucket can be purchased from the Dollar store for $6.00. Just cut the top off.

Have a cleaning cloth such as a face wash cloth.

Have a separate polishing cloth such as lamb's wool or similar.

Use Aramith ball cleaner. They state that it is not wax, though it sure acts like wax so it is legal for the WPA and other venues.

I used Pledge spray wax for many years and it does not seem to be much different from Aramith.
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Thanks Joe, I'm not sure I understand the need to buy a bucket that has to be cut. I simply throw the balls in this bucket, it was something like 4 bucks, and I squirt the clear plastic cleaner over them and hold the random orbital buffer over them for about 3 minutes. They rotate very randomly based on the pressure you apply, and they are done. No need to wipe anything off afterwards.

On a side note, I've found pledge to leave a little oily film unless it is manually wiped after, perhaps this is what you need the clothes for.

edit: gluing some sort of terrycloth towel to the base of your bucket would also be a good addition. There is less need for polishing when you get done.
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I just glued some carpet to the bottom and side of the bucket. I mentioned that in the above post. I don't need to manually polish anything after I buff them. Its very fast and very thorough.

Besides not having to fabricate anything, if you want to buff your car someday, you don't have to disassemble anything, your buffer is available. :)
 
3andstop, after a while do you find that you have to change out the carpet? Have you experimented with different carpet? I have a scrap of berber left over that is pretty short pile carpet and i am wondering if it matters. +rep for the great idea.thx again
 
uwate said:
3andstop, after a while do you find that you have to change out the carpet? Have you experimented with different carpet? I have a scrap of berber left over that is pretty short pile carpet and i am wondering if it matters. +rep for the great idea.thx again
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I haven't had an issue with the carpet. The cleaner I use, (and it is cut with water as I mentioned), leaves hardly any residue. I only use a tad sprayed from one of those plastic spray bottles.

The buffing pad does the buffing and I think the berber carpet will be fine. It should last forever.
 
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