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STROUD AND DISTRICT SKITTLES LEAGUE Founded 1935 |
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Skittle Pins and Balls The Stroud and District Skittle League would like to thank the following for their Sponsorship
* All Skittle Pins are Supplied Unmarked - We recommend marking the Front Pin with White Tape so that it can be rotated ** Skittle Balls cannot be skimmed if they have metal pins inserted. Minimum size of Skittle Balls is 4 1/2" CURRENT STATUS Skittle Pins Due to Storage limitations I rarely hold Pins in Stock however these can be turned fairly quickly; but please allow 2-3 weeks for Delivery. Pins are made from sycamore and oiled ready for use. I can source Bristol Pins if Required PLEASE NOTE I NO LONGER SUPPLY PINS MANUFACTURED BY DRAKES PRIDE. I HAVE FOUND THESE TO BE VASTLY INFERIOR. I WOULD RECOMMEND ANY TEAM LOOKING FOR A SET OF PINS TO AVOID THESE Skittle Balls Our Supplier has a new source of Lignum Vitae wood. I try to hold a small stock of 5" and 4 7/8" Skittle Balls, but this cannot be gauranteed. 4 3/4" sets are made to order but can be turned. Please be aware if you order a set of this size you MUST purchase them SO PLEASE ENSURE YOU REQUIRE THIS SIZE I now have an alternative source who can supply 5 1/2" or 6" Skittle Balls; please enquire for details. For more information regarding Pins and Balls Please Contact 07770 654491 or email . We only supply Lignum Vitae Skittle Balls as these are preferred by the majority of teams; these come ready to use. To help preserve the wood it is recommended that the ball is treated with French Polish at the end of each season. We have been fortunate to obtain an excellant supply of both 4 7/8" and 5" Skittle Balls, our supplier has decribed it as the best wood he has turned and he anticipates very few problems. We hope to have new sets of Pins available for the start of the 2011-2012 season. According to appendix II of CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), Lignum Vitae is listed as a potentially endangered species (reference WIKIPEDIA), hence there has been problems obtaining the wood. As a result we are unsure as to when we will receive further stocks. Phenol Resin, or Composite Skittle Balls are generally available, but these are not as long lasting and not a popular with teams (for Composite or Rubber Balls please enquire for price and availability). Skittle Pins are made from Hardwood such as Beech or Sycamore, and are supplied treated. The timber that tends to deteriorate over time by denting rather than splitting, ideally they should be rubbed down with a linseed oil rag at the end of each season. A set consists of 9 (nine) wooden pins, none of which are marked. We suggest marking your Front Pin using Tape (e.g. White Electrical Tape), as you can then rotate this pin during the seasons. MARKING YOUR SKITTLE BALLS Many teams ask about how best to mark their set of Skittle Balls so they don't get mixed up with other teams sets, having spoken to our supplier here are a few ideas and a few Do nots. DO'S 1 - Permanent Marker / Paint - This is probably the easiest option as it has no effect on the Skittle Balls. The only problem is you might need to reapply periodically as it is likely to wear off. 2 - Drill Holes - I saw a set with 3 holes drilled as a triangle. Not a bad idea but it would cause problems if there were any issues with the balls (unlikley with the new wood but something to consider). 3 - Golf Tee - A novel idea which was suggested by our manufacturer. One team drilled a hole about 1/2" deep, applied some Super Glue to A Golf Tee and Plugged the Hole. The hole does not need to be the full length of the Tee as you can trim off the end. The advantage is that you can purchase Tees in varying colours, also as they are plastic the Balls can be skimmed. As above it could hovever cause a problem if there was a fault with the wood. DO NOT 1 - Plug with Wood - Drilling and plugging with wood could cause the Ball to Split 2 - Tap In a Nail - Unless you don't want to get the Balls skimmed as this would not be possible but to the Metal head. IMPORTANT NOTE The Skittle Balls we supply are made from Lignum Vitae, which is a tropical wood and is extremely hard and heavy, whilst Pins are made Beech or Sycamore. They are manufactured to the highest possible standard and supplied treated and ready for use. In order to help preserve them we advise that you store them in a Cool and Dry Location and treat the Balls / Pins with French Polish every year or two. The game of Skittles is extremely abusive to Pins and Balls, which will suffer from wear and tear during usage. We are therefore unable to guarantee that we can replace them after they have been used. If a problem arises during the first few instances of play, please STOP using immediately and advise us as a matter of urgency. If the problem is clearly due to a fault in the timber or workmanship we will look at replacement. Problems do occur due to the condition of the skittle alleys, we cannot replace balls which have been damaged through poorly maintained alleys. |
