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Best ball plug??

Posted: December 18th, 2010, 6:18 pm
by kwettig
Just want some opinions on the best ball plug material from more experienced pro-shop operators. We are currently using Powerhouse and it works great but was wondering if anyone has a lot of experience with the quicker setting plug resins and their durability? Need to re-order soon so I might want to try something different if there's something a lot better/faster.

Re: Best ball plug??

Posted: December 18th, 2010, 6:26 pm
by TMack
We use Tech Line and have never had a failure. Plugs and repairs.

Re: Best ball plug??

Posted: December 18th, 2010, 9:41 pm
by guruU2
One shop uses Power House exclusively and has very few problems. My main shop has dab in them all: the new Strom product is good, Techline is good, Power House is very good as well as Lane Concepts' Pro Choice which is my slight favorite when I have a large amount of work to do and I need it done in a shorter period of time.

Re: Best ball plug??

Posted: December 19th, 2010, 3:58 pm
by KWagner1977
I will say that the Ebonite Ultra Safe ball plug is the most unpredictable ball plug I have ever used.

It's prone to flat spots and seems to shrink too much after cutting down and resurfacing, leaving a flat spot almost every time.

I'm at the point where I have to plug the ball, let it sit a few days instead of the 10-24 hours. Cut it down, let it sit again a few days and then put it on the Haus machine to get the plug uniform in size.

If I do not wait at least a few days on each step, after the ball gets uniform in size by the Haus, over night the plug shrinks and makes bad flat spots. The ball could be perfect and then hours over night its got flat shrunk plug.

It's not very cold where I plug, and I have tried bringing balls home in a stable temperature environment and I get the same thing. A nicely cut ball that turns into flat spots after a few hours.

Re: Best ball plug??

Posted: December 20th, 2010, 4:11 am
by bsbowlerama
We used to use DBA ball plug... had a lot of problems with bonding, and cracking. Tried Tech Line, and what a difference. Have not had a failure since switching! Finish time is probably cut in half with their product also. I put some left overs in ice cube trays to fill in some bigger holes... made them too big, and tried to break them with a hammer. They are almost indestructible. They have a rubbery quality, which is why I think the plug works so well.

Re: Best ball plug??

Posted: December 20th, 2010, 7:42 am
by kwettig
Thanks for all the opinions. We have a little powerhouse left and I think from a couple of these answers I might try Tech-Line next.

Re: Best ball plug??

Posted: December 21st, 2010, 5:25 am
by odddood
kwettig wrote:Thanks for all the opinions. We have a little powerhouse left and I think from a couple of these answers I might try Tech-Line next.

don't waste time trying other use TECH LINE is nigh n Day lol

Re: Best ball plug??

Posted: December 21st, 2010, 6:13 am
by StrikeTheory
Gone through a gallon or two of Pro's Choice by lane concepts, and it works really well.

I

Re: Best ball plug??

Posted: December 21st, 2010, 6:29 am
by steve s
I agree with the Tech Line product......no problems at all ....Steve S

Re: Best ball plug??

Posted: December 21st, 2010, 9:59 am
by kwettig
Tech-Line it is...

Anyone ever use the spray to get rid of air bubbles on the surface?

Re: Best ball plug??

Posted: January 1st, 2011, 6:59 pm
by kingpin
Has anybody tried the Thunder Plug by Storm yet? I've been using DBA for years and I'm interested in making a change. I'm all but sold on Tech-Line but want to entertain all possibilities.

Re: Best ball plug??

Posted: January 2nd, 2011, 1:34 am
by fufu
I only order tech line

Re: Best ball plug??

Posted: January 3rd, 2011, 1:41 am
by Dustin
Have been using DBA & was thinking about switching. After reading this, next order will be Tech Line.

Re: Best ball plug??

Posted: January 3rd, 2011, 11:34 pm
by Raiderh20boy
I have been using the Storm Thunder plug for a while now. I think it is OUTSTANDING! It is a 2:1 plug and is very durable and easy to work with. I have not had any problem with shrinking issues. I usually plug before closing and cut down the next day and drill. Their color kit is fantastic.

Re: Best ball plug??

Posted: January 5th, 2011, 7:02 pm
by dougsterner
When I started in the pro shop business 12 years ago I used DBA 321 since it was THE stuff to use. Well it was still a good product 5 years later but I had trouble getting it so I switched over to TechLine....wow!!! The quality was better, the cracking was very minimal and the color match was much easier. I tried the DBA Pro Cure quick plug when it came out and was VERY disappointed. All I ever got was air bubbles...had the same trouble with trhe Donkee Insta-Plug or whatever it is called.

2 years ago I had a coupon for Ebonite Powerhouse Everclear and it was on sale to boot!!! So I gave it a go....I fell in love. This is the best plug I have used. I had to get some TechLine again the last time I needed plug since my supplier didn't have any Everclear and I needed plug and I can tell the difference. The color matching of the Everclear is superior to the T-L and the total set time is more consistent.

I have heard nothing but good things about the new Storm plug. Wait, I lied.... I have heard 1 negative....it's $50 more than the other brands :-)

If you are dealing exclusively with Quick Plugs, then Wizard is the way to go but use it with caution....unless you use their color tints it is very difficult to get the color to match due to the milky color the plug turns as it cures. I use it to plug up the big holes from thumb slugs or switch grips. I pour the hole 3/4 full of that, leave it sit for an hour and then finish off the top 1/4 with T-L or Everclear to get the color match my customers have come to expect.

Doug Sterner
Doug's Pro Shop
Owego, NY

Re: Best ball plug??

Posted: January 5th, 2011, 9:59 pm
by Raiderh20boy
:?
$50??? My supplier 129 for Thunder Plug and 118 for Everclear!

Re: Best ball plug??

Posted: January 6th, 2011, 6:48 am
by kwettig
Ever had any problems using both the wizard with the everclear? That's an interesting way of doing it...

I agree that the everclear stuff is great for matching colors. And I don't have many problems from air bubbles. Maybe I'll just get both as its only an extra $100 or so to see the difference for myself...

Re: Best ball plug??

Posted: January 6th, 2011, 2:14 pm
by MoRichBowler300
Using powerhouse, haven't had a problem. The real issue with ball plug is that it never stops hardening and will eventually crack. It may not be for years down the road, but the simple chemistry of it just makes the stuff harden and harden forever. But whatever, you do what you can and hope the guy buys a new ball before the plug gets too weak. :)

Re: Best ball plug??

Posted: April 25th, 2018, 11:01 pm
by Fitz5872
Im having problems plugging a Tenacity. I filled the thumb hole half way, let it cure and then fill it the other half mixing purple with pearl and a drop of red. It hits the color beautifully and then proceeds to heat up too quickly and ends up cracking. Then I have to start over again.the hole was a 1” 7/16 hole we used for an It insert. I use DBA plugging and put two pumps resin and two pumps hardener. I still have some left over when I’m done so I know I’m not using too much. I’m so frustrated, some advise please. Thank you.

Re: Best ball plug??

Posted: April 26th, 2018, 12:36 am
by snick
I use CS Hybrid to fill large holes to 3/4 depth, wait 6-10 hours and top it off with techline. Works very well, with no shrinkage or cracking after cutting down, as long as I wait at least 24 hours before touching it.

I believe some shrinkage, etc... problems with ballplug may be due to a secondary chemical reaction that occurs when it heats up again during cutting and finishing. Allowing the compound to cure longer before cutting usually results in a better finish.

BTW, I have not had any problems with techline overheating after using about 4 gallons of it.