Red Circles

[Rain-Man]

I was using a perfect white ball with a real nice red circle. The next 1 the ball has a "yellower" tint and the red circle was nowhere near as crisp. I gave that ball back and got another nice red circle ball. They were both Aramith balls supposedly . Beats me but I've had a similar experience

You gave back the real Aramith ball.. The real white one with the 'crisp' red circle is a knock off...

 

[WildWing]

Yes, the composition of the phenolic resin used in the various balls is different from one type to the other.. This is directly from Aramith saying as much: Aramith Cue Balls

Very informative, thanks. By the way, no knock intended on the red circle cue ball. It's very consistent, and I think is one of the more premium of the single cue balls available.

 

[Rain-Man]

Very informative, thanks. By the way, no knock intended on the red circle cue ball. It's very consistent, and I think is one of the more premium of the single cue balls available.

I agree. Its my preferred cue ball of choice... :thumbup:

 

[dzcues]

I should know better but...

I will throw in my 2¢.

It is a fact that phenolic balls darken over time when they are not being used. I submit that it is not that they are "light-starved" but that they acquire a micro thin layer of oxidation. It doesn't matter if the balls are stored in a box in a basement or left on a windowsill in daily direct sunlight - they will darken.

Once the balls are brought out of retirement & you begin to play with them, the oxidation is rubbed off by the friction of the cloth during play & the underlying light color is once again visible.

A few observations that back this up:
- Cue ball shift knobs darken despite being exposed to sunlight daily. Buffing will lighten them up again.
- Cue ball ferrule blanks will darken despite being exposed to fluorescent lighting 24 hrs/day. Machining them when installed removes the dark "skin". They will darken at the same rate whether they are exposed to light or not.

.

 

[peteypooldude]

You gave back the real Aramith ball.. The real white one with the 'crisp' red circle is a knock off...

I'm seeing a lot of knock off red-circles. I just looked at the one on my table and it's white "not bright white" and the circle looks as if the red circle bleeds into the white.
Idk why I can't post a pic on here from my iphone. I can email,tweet and text them but can't get them on AZ for some reason
I just noticed where a pic was posted. I've got a good one I guess

 

[Rain-Man]

I will throw in my 2¢.

It is a fact that phenolic balls darken over time when they are not being used. I submit that it is not that they are "light-starved" but that they acquire a micro thin layer of oxidation. It doesn't matter if the balls are stored in a box in a basement or left on a windowsill in daily direct sunlight - they will darken.

Once the balls are brought out of retirement & you begin to play with them, the oxidation is rubbed off by the friction of the cloth during play & the underlying light color is once again visible.

A few observations that back this up:
- Cue ball shift knobs darken despite being exposed to sunlight daily. Buffing will lighten them up again.
- Cue ball ferrule blanks will darken despite being exposed to fluorescent lighting 24 hrs/day. Machining them when installed removes the dark "skin". They will darken at the same rate whether they are exposed to light or not.

.

Excellent.. Thank you for your input, I never even considered oxidation as the culprit, but that seems to be spot on.. I will take one of the brand new balls I have and buff a spot on it today as an experiment.. Thanks..

 

[Rain-Man]

I'm seeing a lot of knock off red-circles. I just looked at the one on my table and it's white "not bright white" and the circle looks as if the red circle bleeds into the white.
Idk why I can't post a pic on here from my iphone. I can email,tweet and text them but can't get them on AZ for some reason
I just noticed where a pic was posted. I've got a good one I guess

Yes, that sounds to be a good one then. Not bright white, and exactly as you've described the red circle...

 

[Sloppy Pockets]

I will throw in my 2¢.

It is a fact that phenolic balls darken over time when they are not being used. I submit that it is not that they are "light-starved" but that they acquire a micro thin layer of oxidation. It doesn't matter if the balls are stored in a box in a basement or left on a windowsill in daily direct sunlight - they will darken.

Once the balls are brought out of retirement & you begin to play with them, the oxidation is rubbed off by the friction of the cloth during play & the underlying light color is once again visible.

A few observations that back this up:
- Cue ball shift knobs darken despite being exposed to sunlight daily. Buffing will lighten them up again.
- Cue ball ferrule blanks will darken despite being exposed to fluorescent lighting 24 hrs/day. Machining them when installed removes the dark "skin". They will darken at the same rate whether they are exposed to light or not.

.

Interesting. I just now bought a set of Centennials off Ebay. They are brand new in the box. The seller said they were left over from his old pool room and had yellowed from being in the box for over 20 years. I guess since they weren't played while they sat in the box that's why they are yellow, not the lack of light on them all those years.

Here's a pic of them: