Thread: Bowling ball Urethane brush

Had a bowling ball sitting around from the thrift store (thought i could get some material out of it for scales but it didn't work) and figured out a way to make brush handles from it.

The plastic shell is only about a half inch thick so i started by taking "plugs" out of it with a hole saw.

They are then popped out with a screw driver and sanded flat on both sides.Here they are stacked and glued with CA.

Some turning action and the final product.

You rolled a "strike" with that one Vern.
A very ingenious idea that turned out beautifully.

Pete <:-}

Beautiful handle! It turned out great.
Just need a bowling pin or something engraved in it now.
BTW, how were you originally going to make the scales? Were you thinking the ball was same material all the way through, or the shell material just couldn't be flattened?

Originally Posted by JP5

Beautiful handle! It turned out great.
Just need a bowling pin or something engraved in it now.
BTW, how were you originally going to make the scales? Were you thinking the ball was same material all the way through, or the shell material just couldn't be flattened?

Thanks, yeah i thought i could cut a piece out and flatten it by heating it with a torch. I suppose a oven might have worked better but it just cracked when i tried flattening it.

Wow, it must be really rigid if you can't flatten it using a torch. What grit did you sand them before gluing? Same as wood?

I think it was around 150 grit.

That's a really neat brush, beautiful! This place cracks me up because you never know what you're going to see, somebody can make a brush or scales out of just about anything, stuff I'd never dream of. Makes me see the world a little different, looking at things like "could that be a brush handle? do I see scales there?" Really cool idea, made my day seeing the circles cut out of an old bowling ball like that.

Thanks. I know what you mean. When you have "razor on the brain" your always looking for that next item to re-purpose into something shave related.

Boy! If there was a prize, you would be the winner!

Wait! The prize is that nice brush. Very clever.
Enjoy!

A sweet looking brush that should be practically indestructible. Great idea and execution.