I just called the local bowling alley and I get to pick up some free bowling balls tomorrow. Been wanting to make some bowls out of them.

Sounds like fun.  I've seen the videos and it looks like too much mess for me.

3 hours ago, HandyDan said:

Sounds like fun.  I've seen the videos and it looks like too much mess for me.

You and me too, biggest reason I don't do resin!!

 

I have done a lot of resin but smaller things. It hasn’t been any harder to clean up than wood chips for me. We will see how the ball goes. I might change my mind after.

 

I believe I'm out of resin and I don't think I'll get any more. It not only creates a huge mess, it gets into my chuck and messes up the movement. It can be expensive and in most cases wood is cheaper.

Be sure to take pics along the way Rusty, sounds interesting.

14 minutes ago, Cal said:

Be sure to take pics along the way Rusty, sounds interesting.

Will do.

 

Well I picked up six balls. I got started on one today.

I tried using my vacuum Chuck to get the mortise done so I could chuck it. Did not work too well. Kept slipping a little and vibrating. Next time I will try it with my regular chuck. You have to go slow because it chips easy. I was using carbide tools.

Is the ball the same color all the way through?  Some videos I've watched the center core was white.

I didn't know that anyone was even doing this. Very cool ! Could you sand a flat spot and then drill and tap for the arbor ?

Paul

Dan not easy to see but in the first picture you can see the large white center. It probably would have shown up better but I took the picture in a hurry. I had to go somewhere. The white center is softer so that should make hollowing it out easier.

 

Paul I don’t have a sander large enough. Next one I do I will use my four jaw chuck and that should keep it in place. I turned it slow to keep the mess in a small area. I will speed it up as I get farther along.

Here are a few more pics. Started to hollow out the inside. Drilled out the center with a 1.5 inch forsner bit. Then started to work it out with the round carbide tool. Have to go slow. Well the picture of the inside didn't turn out. Will have to take another one.

Looking very nice.  How thick is the color.  Could the ball be sawn into turning blanks of usable size?

 

The white looks like it will also finish smooth.

Is that a wood center? Think it would be cool to shape the outside so the white shows in some areas.

8 hours ago, Gerald said:

Is that a wood center? Think it would be cool to shape the outside so the white shows in some areas.

No there is no wood. I think it is some sort of acrylic but not sure. If I go slow it comes off in long strips just like the purple.

16 hours ago, RustyFN said:

The white looks like it will also finish smooth.

 

Thanks, wasn't expecting to see that much color.

Edited November 24, 20205 yr by HandyDan

Well it is done. Wasn’t too bad and didn’t make any more mess than a wood bowl. The secret seemed to be to turn it slow for the major rough out and then speed it up to get it smooth.

That is cool as all get out.  I like it!  You did an excellent job of turning, looks smooth as glass.