What to Use in a Ball Cleaner???

[12squared]

The room owner in my town has started using glass cleaner (generic Windex?) in his ball cleaner. Although shiny, lately it seems as if the balls are sticking to each other more often (skidding). They have even skidded when hitting the object ball square in the face; trying to soft follow about 8-10 inches, the cue ball leaves the ground and stops.

I'm curious whether or not glass cleaner could be the culprit or it's just coincidence. Any suggestions or comments?

Thanks, Dave

 

[dukeboy1977]

wax

The room owner in my town has started using glass cleaner (generic Windex?) in his ball cleaner. Although shiny, lately it seems as if the balls are sticking to each other more often (skidding). They have even skidded when hitting the object ball square in the face; trying to soft follow about 8-10 inches, the cue ball leaves the ground and stops.

I'm curious whether or not glass cleaner could be the culprit or it's just coincidence. Any suggestions or comments?

Thanks, Dave

Whats wrong with turtle-wax? Thats what we use, and it works just fine

 

[Bob Jewett]

... I'm curious whether or not glass cleaner could be the culprit or it's just coincidence. Any suggestions or comments? ...

I think the glass cleaner might make the cue ball retain more chalk. I once used a car polish on an old set of balls and the throw seemed to double even though the balls looked clean and shiny. Maybe there was some kind of chemical reaction with the plastic.

If I had to put something in the ball cleaning machine, I'd try either the Aramith product or some very fine abrasive, like jeweler's rouge. We used the Aramith cleaner (by hand) at the USBA Nationals this year and there were relatively few complaints. And you know how picky carom players can be.

 

[Strokerz]

I use arimath ball cleaner. $6.00 a bottle any supplier carries it. Works great!
BK

 

[Cuebacca]

I think the glass cleaner might make the cue ball retain more chalk. I once used a car polish on an old set of balls and the throw seemed to double even though the balls looked clean and shiny. Maybe there was some kind of chemical reaction with the plastic.

If I had to put something in the ball cleaning machine, I'd try either the Aramith product or some very fine abrasive, like jeweler's rouge. We used the Aramith cleaner (by hand) at the USBA Nationals this year and there were relatively few complaints. And you know how picky carom players can be.

Bob, what is your opinion on using liquid soap and water? I haven't tried it, but I presume that you are familiar with the results.

 

[Bob Jewett]

Bob, what is your opinion on using liquid soap and water? I haven't tried it, but I presume that you are familiar with the results.

I think it gets the balls clean without putting on any wax (which has the problems described above) but it can't restore the shine. This is most noticible with new balls that have a few minor scuff marks. Polishes (like Aramith polish or metal polish) can restore the shine on the scuffed spots. If you have a well-used set that has no hope of being shiny again, then I'm not sure mild polishes are of much help. I've heard of rooms that replace the balls every six months, but that requires fanaticism.

 

[Cuebacca]

I think it gets the balls clean without putting on any wax (which has the problems described above) but it can't restore the shine. This is most noticible with new balls that have a few minor scuff marks. Polishes (like Aramith polish or metal polish) can restore the shine on the scuffed spots. If you have a well-used set that has no hope of being shiny again, then I'm not sure mild polishes are of much help. I've heard of rooms that replace the balls every six months, but that requires fanaticism.

Thanks! Good to know.

I don't think my poolhall replaces anything in 6 years, much less 6 months. LOL.

 

[DeepBanks]

I've heard of rooms that replace the balls every six months, but that requires fanaticism.

. . . and some money! A good set of pool balls is $100 plus . . .

 

[CrownCityCorey]

The room owner in my town has started using glass cleaner (generic Windex?) in his ball cleaner. Although shiny, lately it seems as if the balls are sticking to each other more often (skidding). They have even skidded when hitting the object ball square in the face; trying to soft follow about 8-10 inches, the cue ball leaves the ground and stops.

I'm curious whether or not glass cleaner could be the culprit or it's just coincidence. Any suggestions or comments?

Thanks, Dave

Save yourself the trial and error hassle and just get a cleaner made for pool balls (LeManifik or Aramith).

 

[Rich R.]

The room owner in my town has started using glass cleaner (generic Windex?) in his ball cleaner. Although shiny, lately it seems as if the balls are sticking to each other more often (skidding). They have even skidded when hitting the object ball square in the face; trying to soft follow about 8-10 inches, the cue ball leaves the ground and stops.

I'm curious whether or not glass cleaner could be the culprit or it's just coincidence. Any suggestions or comments?

Thanks, Dave

Bludworth makes a concentrated solution for his ball cleaning machine. I don't see why it wouldn't work in any other machine.
You just mix a small amount with water, put in a spray bottlle, and spray the balls when you put them in the machine to be cleaned. It works great. I'm sure you can order it from Bludworth's web site.

 

[sygfrid]

Bob, what is your opinion on using liquid soap and water? I haven't tried it, but I presume that you are familiar with the results.

soap & water will only remove some of the dirt & chalk marks. in my experience, after the balls have dried, "spots" are still visible and the balls lose their luster a bit (very evident on my pro-cup tv balls).

for me, nothing beats the aramith's very own cleaner in removing the dirt, stains, & "spots"... especially if the balls are buffed using a machine as the polish tend to "melt" creating a deep, mirror-like gloss (remember how you make military booths shine using melted wax?)

 

[12squared]

Thank you all for your replies & suggestions. I will pass them on to the room owner.

Does anyone know if using glass cleaner will damage the finish of pool balls over time?

Thanks.

 

[Bob Jewett]

... Does anyone know if using glass cleaner will damage the finish of pool balls over time? ...

I think you should avoid both ammonia and chlorine in whatever you use.

 

[Cuebacca]

soap & water will only remove some of the dirt & chalk marks. in my experience, after the balls have dried, "spots" are still visible and the balls lose their luster a bit (very evident on my pro-cup tv balls).

for me, nothing beats the aramith's very own cleaner in removing the dirt, stains, & "spots"... especially if the balls are buffed using a machine as the polish tend to "melt" creating a deep, mirror-like gloss (remember how you make military booths shine using melted wax?)

Cool, once I finally get my home table going, I'll definitely spring for the Aramith polish. I could see trying to make one of those home-made single ball polishers using a power drill and whatever it was that people attach to it. I'll have to wait until I strike it rich to get a commercial multi-ball polisher for home use. If money were no object, I'd definitely do that though. That would be so pimp!