Hook Again with Kitty Litter?

[nu2]

Hi all,

I have recently purchased the Hook Again kit and currently in testing with my BWP. However, it does not look like the Hook Again powder that comes with it can be used for more than 2 balls (I even doubt if I can have enough for the 2nd ball). Then I come across this forum and saw people mentioning about Kitty Litter, now it makes me wonder who does it work, and if I need to go for any particular brand or so. After all, the 2.5 gallon of Hook Again powder does cost a lot (~$70) and it makes me think if it's really worthy for spending so much on one ball or just simply getting another one.

Thanks,

[JoshWithrow]

Unless I'm mistaken the one thing that will determine so-so performance (kitty litter) from great performance (Hook Again Compound) is the surface area that comes into contact with the ball. The Hook Again compound is far finer than any kitty litter and therefore makes contact with more of the surface area on the ball.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

[Mike_N_Nashville]

Josh,

Good question. I have seen other people mention kitty litter as well but have never tried it myself.

Personally I buy the 2.5 gallon buckets of Hook Again compound. My opinion is no more often than I treat my balls in the chamber it is worth the extra money to make sure I'm doing what is best for them.

I view it similar to buying a high performance race car and then wanting to put cheap plugs, wires, and oil in it when it comes time to do the maintenance.

Mike

[JoshWithrow]

You're right, Mike. Very good analogy. And to keep things in perspective, it's not like you're treating a ball more often than every 70-80 games (or you shouldn't be). For some people that's once a month, and for others that's once every couple months. And you can extend that duration with a good thorough regular cleaning regime.

[Rowdy]

I seem to be the resident expert on kitty litter. However,I will give credit where credit is due. The idea is not mine. It came from one of the guys at Hammer. I called way back when to ask what I could do to keep my first BWS alive. I was told that the guys who roll at Hammer have a bucket of kitty litter that they put the ball in. Turns out,it works! After all,speedy dry for motor oil and cat litter are made by the same company at the same plant. It's the same stuff. As for granule size,try some different brands of kitty litter. There are some that look just like the stuff in Hook Again. Probably is. If you really want to cheap out,buy the $3.00 bag at Wally World and then stick the bag of kitty litter in a garbage bag,unopened. Now run it over a few times with a Chevy Suburban. Presto! Instant smaller granules.

[cobaltstg2]

how do you clean it with the kitty litter just wondering

[JoshWithrow]

how do you clean it with the kitty litter just wondering

Put the ball in a bucket, pour kitty litter over ball, set the bucket in the sunlight that comes thru a window (or under a lamp... not a Wendy's French Fry lamp, but a normal incandescent one is fine), come back in three days. Wash with Powerhouse Energizer (tm) cleaner. Profit.

[Rowdy]

You're not trying to clean the ball,Cobalt. The kitty litter pulls the oil out of the ball. After you're done with the kitty litter,clean the ball with PowerHousetm Cleaner for whatever kind of ball you have.

[Rowdy]

Are we gonna start putting the tm after every brand name,Josh?:) Gonna have to put it after Hammertm,too.:D

[PJR300]

Do you have a preferred brand of Kitty Littertm that you use?

[JoshWithrow]

Trademark™ Brand Kitty Litter

[TenPinSniper]

On the Speedy Dry, don't go for the Clay Granules, look for something a little finer...

To me hook again reminds me off ultra fine saw dust... probably more like a particle board saw dust, it does have some slightly bigger particle and translucent white crystal.

I've heard that it can be used once, it probably not gonna work as good the second time, but it still could be an improvement.

Edit:
(This is a maybe on the second time, just heard that it would still work.)

[mongoliantreesloth]

Whatever brand of kitty litter you choose, make sure it's the white crystal sort. Go down to the local kitchenware shop and buy a mortar and pestle - they sell them for mashing up herbs and spices. Try to get one made of stone - they last longer.

Place kitty litter in the mortar (the bowl) and grind to a fine powder with the pestle. What you're looking for is an average grain size smaller than sand grains. Finer is better basically. Powder would be even better.

Grind enough to fill the treatment chamber and away you go.

[pba6285]

The Hook again compound is nothing more than Oil Dritm that you can get at Wally World or any auto parts stores.

When I was at the Powerhouse Pro Shop Classes at the Robby's Plant I saw the bags of OilDritm and watched them dump the bags in a hopper and fill the Hook again compound jugs out of the hopper.

[VmsTopGun]

Whatever brand of kitty litter you choose, make sure it's the white crystal sort. Go down to the local kitchenware shop and buy a mortar and pestle - they sell them for mashing up herbs and spices. Try to get one made of stone - they last longer.

Place kitty litter in the mortar (the bowl) and grind to a fine powder with the pestle. What you're looking for is an average grain size smaller than sand grains. Finer is better basically. Powder would be even better.

Grind enough to fill the treatment chamber and away you go.


I'm still thinking that a blender or food processor is the way to go....

[JoshWithrow]

The Hook again compound is nothing more than Oil Dritm that you can get at Wally World or any auto parts stores.

When I was at the Powerhouse Pro Shop Classes at the Robby's Plant I saw the bags of OilDritm and watched them dump the bags in a hopper and fill the Hook again compound jugs out of the hopper.

Amazing :eek:

[TenPinSniper]

Keeping in mind that you don't want the clay granule oil dri. You want something finer, I have found something close in a bucket, but don't think it was the right product.

[hbhammerhead]

i watched a video on the ebonite website and they showed exactly how to use the hook again system and as far as i understood the compound powder is one time use for one ball. go watch the video. it's a complete cleaning video. bare with it.

http://www.ebonite.com/products/detail_compnvs.php

[TenPinSniper]

Yes it is advertised as a one time use product, but I have heard from my proshop that he has reused some of the old product on his balls, he gets rid of the older stuff that has been crystalized. Then adds some new if needed. He did staed that it does not work nearly as good, but it will get some of the oil out of the ball.

[Rowdy]

One time on a ball that has 75 or more games on it. So what? It's part of owning a high performance bowling ball. If you keep up with the hot water deal and clean the ball religiously,you can stretch it out to once every 350 to 450 games or so on the Hook Again. NOW is it too much money for the Hook Again? You want a HP ball,you gotta do the upkeep on it.

[Cobalt]

Hook Again compound isn't a fine powder, it actually looks to be a combination of 3 or 4 different things mixed together. It works very well, and I wouldn't use the cat littler on a ball, because it has other stuff in it that is designed to cover up/neutralize odors that could have bad effects on a ball.

[Rowdy]

You only use the kitty litter that comes in the cheapo bag. It's straight oil dry-type stuff,no odor eliminators or colored things to tell you when it gets wet. Yes,it's very coarse,so wrap the bag in a garbage bag and run it over a few times with a heavy vehicle. Makes it just the right size for bowling ball use.

[TenPinSniper]

On the Speedy Dry, don't go for the Clay Granules, look for something a little finer...

To me hook again reminds me off ultra fine saw dust... probably more like a particle board saw dust, it does have some slightly bigger particle and translucent white crystal.


Keeping in mind that you don't want the clay granule oil dri. You want something finer, I have found something close in a bucket, but don't think it was the right product.

Hook Again compound isn't a fine powder, it actually looks to be a combination of 3 or 4 different things mixed together. It works very well, and I wouldn't use the cat littler on a ball, because it has other stuff in it that is designed to cover up/neutralize odors that could have bad effects on a ball.

Think you misunderstood, just said the product is finer, never called it powder, there are some parts of it that are fairly close. I did comapre it to fine saw dust, but even that is generally more course than powder. The Clay Oil Dri is really granular and not close to the same type of material as Hook Again.

Basically, I was trying to drive the point home is not your basically Oil Dri.

[tjb0621]

Has any one tried this product http://www.xsorb.com it is am all purpose organic product that works on most spills (not acids) it is amasing as to how much and fast it works on spills. Its a very fine powder and I am somewhat worried that it may clog pores of some balls. About $18.00 per bottle. Plenty to do a ball and then some. Any thoughts before I try it?

[JoshWithrow]

It won't clog the pores. The balls pores aren't that large.

You know, it wouldn't hurt to try so long as you do it on a ball you wouldn't miss (an old/retired ball).

[Cobalt]

Think you misunderstood, just said the product is finer, never called it powder, there are some parts of it that are fairly close. I did comapre it to fine saw dust, but even that is generally more course than powder. The Clay Oil Dri is really granular and not close to the same type of material as Hook Again.

Basically, I was trying to drive the point home is not your basically Oil Dri.

Sorry to not have been more specific in my comment, it wasn't aimed toward what you had said, it was more at hbhammerhead. He called it a powder, thats all.

[Curacao_Dejavu]

The Hook again compound is nothing more than Oil Dritm that you can get at Wally World or any auto parts stores.

When I was at the Powerhouse Pro Shop Classes at the Robby's Plant I saw the bags of OilDritm and watched them dump the bags in a hopper and fill the Hook again compound jugs out of the hopper.

I have not found oil dri,
I found floor dry at the local napa store.
will that work too ?? , which is better ??


other question.
instead of the scotch brite pads I found a "cross fire 320" what's it's equivalent on abralon ?

Leopold
Leopold

[ashley1_scott]

Has any one tried this product http://www.xsorb.com it is am all purpose organic product that works on most spills (not acids) it is amasing as to how much and fast it works on spills. Its a very fine powder and I am somewhat worried that it may clog pores of some balls. About $18.00 per bottle. Plenty to do a ball and then some. Any thoughts before I try it?

Can you give me an update on this, also can you verify which one of the products on the website you were talking about. was it the 'Paint Solidifier' or the 'XSORB Edge Aggressive Absorbent'.
Did it work if so was it as good as the 'Hook again'

[ravenhammer]

and I wouldn't use the cat littler on a ball, because it has other stuff in it that is designed to cover up/neutralize odors that could have bad effects on a ball.

It might turn your Hammer ball into a storm ball:eek: