This weeks dilemma.

[Gary]

I want a couple to carving mallets so I do a little research and decide that lignum vitae is the way forward for the heads and decide that some old wooden bowls would be ideal. So Saturday afternoon I bid on what appear to be a set of four woods in average condition. Place a bid of £10 on them and off I go out for the day, thinking no more about it.

Well guess what, I win and they arrive so I put them to one side. My thoughts they'll be showing signs of age, a few splits that'll turn out. I wasn't even sure they'd be a set but what the hell I bought them for the wood.

So I open them up today and my first surprise they're in the original box. The next is the seller sent me five bowling magazines and then I get to the woods. They're in mint condition, no splits or dings and appear ready for next summer.

Now here's my dilemma, do I make the mallets or take up bowls?

At the minute I'm undecided seems such a shame to throw them on the lathe.

 

[MusicMan]

I would try and get another crappy one or more, photograph these nicely, write them up well on eBay, and you'll probably more than cover your costs.

 

[SteveF]

are you sure they are wood?

Steve

 

[novocaine]

are you over 60? if so take up bowls.

unless you are Paul Kaye.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3ABzHqYWuE

 

[Gary]

are you sure they are wood?

Steve

Yes.

 

[Racers]

I don't think wooden bowls are used any more so the won't get used for their original purpose, so I would reuse them.
I cut flats on about 40 lignum bowls for someone who made them into door stops.

They make very good mallets.

Pete

 

[Fitzroy]

Man I was confused for a bit until I worked out you were talking about bowls not bowls. Give the wood a new life doing something else would be my vote. Now off to look at bowls on eBay as a mallet is on my to make list.

F.

 

[Bod]

Ask at your local bowls club.
Members often leave their woods at the club when their membership has to come to an end. Hence plenty of spare woods that are not used.

Bod

 

[Jonzjob]

Now that's a superb idea Bod! My daughter's m-in-law has been a bowl mover for more years than she could remember and in the same club. I will be posing a question to her in the near future!!

Ta mate!